Does money equate to happiness?

Croz 15 years ago

Originally Posted by just do it

absolutely it does.
Simply question if I bought you a mansion would you be happy.

Happiness is relative....

If you bought someone a mansion on the day they lost their loved one, would they be happy? I don't know... so there you go
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- TheGrooby 15 years ago
  
  Originally Posted by Croz
  
  Happiness is relative....
  
  If you bought someone a mansion on the day they lost their loved one, would they be happy? I don't know... so there you go
  
  Losing a loved one and being bought a mansion are apples and oranges. Having someone you love removed from your life forever is the low end of low. Having someone buy you a mansion is exciting as hell I would think, but not the highest end of high. Thus, the death takes precedent over being bought a mansion on your scale of happiness/sadness.
  
  What if someone bought you a mansion the same day your car blew up in the parking lot of Wal-Mart? You gained a house but lost your ride... Where do your feelings stand? That's a better comparison of relativity, I feel.
  
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Istvan Horvath

15 years ago

Originally Posted by just do it

Simply question if I bought you a mansion would you be happy.

Unless you take care of the monthly utility bills+maintenance+property taxes+cleaning it... etc. NO, it wouldn't make me happy!
Why would I need all that head ache?

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koolphoto 15 years ago

Does money equate to happiness? It helps.

Just curious sam22i. Why all the question posts?
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Leather

15 years ago

Originally Posted by Istvan Horvath

Unless you take care of the monthly utility bills+maintenance+property taxes+cleaning it... etc. NO, it wouldn't make me happy!
Why would I need all that head ache?

AGREED! Money alone cannot buy happiness. Having money and most importantly knowing how to use it responsibly and live within your means creates security, and it is much easier to be happier once you know your basic needs are accounted for but it isn't everything.

I think everyone has their own definition of personal happiness but we all can aggree that at a minimum we all want a certain level of comfort. Money can be traded for things that make us comfortable, but once you get past that basic level, money on its own isn't enough to be completely fulfilled.

However, if you are one of those people who ONLY need money to be happy, I am pretty envious of you. It is easy to make money, but having meaningful relationships and creating a family etc is a lot harder but I think obviously satisfying since people keep doing it!

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ss442

15 years ago

I think that may have to do with ones definition of happiness. To me, freedom means happiness and having the money to go where you want and when you want is happiness.

So, in that sense, yes!

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Istvan Horvath 15 years ago

Originally Posted by ss442

I think that may have to do with ones definition of happiness.

This reminds me what a friend of mine posted yesterday in my Facebook Wall - Istvan's friends can download the first chapter of my book "From Pain to Pleasure: The Proven Pathway to Happiness" FREE at this link...etc. (go and see it on my FB wall - he has a more philosophical(?) approach to it, although with a great sense of humour. Hey, it's free.
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Croz

15 years ago

Originally Posted by sam22i

Simple question just wondering on your opinion, no wrong or right answer

What's your take on all this?

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kbnor

15 years ago

Does money equate to happiness? The answer can never be a 100% 'yes'. In some cases it can be 'to a smaller degree'. In some cases it can be a resounding 'no'.
True happiness and joy comes from within.

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rrm

15 years ago

Don't need money to be happy, which is a state we can choose to be in regardless of our circumstances, but no denying that money can help alleviate stress, buy useful things, help others, and improve the quality of our lives. To that end, why else would I have an internet business?

p.s. Unfortunately, my good looks cannot pay my bills. A few crisp Jacksons, however, can make up for my lack in that area.

Ron

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infomaniacs

15 years ago

I don't think money equates to happiness, but I would rather be rich and miserable rather than poor and miserable

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sam22i

15 years ago

People who say it doesn't surely there is an element of money which gives you freedom which equates to happiness, just my view!

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James Harrison

15 years ago

Welll, money can buy me a 458 Italia... and that would most certainly make me happy. BUT on the other hand, I don't really want a materialistic existence.

Who knows.

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JohnMcCabe 15 years ago

Money does not equate to happiness. It can, however, eliminate a lot of annoyances during the search.

Author Harvey Mackay said in one of his books that if you can solve a problem with a checkbook, it isn't a problem. It's an expense.
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Online Bliss

15 years ago

Trust me,
Money has to be coupled with Good Health
or it means nothing except a means to pay for better health care!

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Quentin

15 years ago

Absolutely not just makes suffering more comfortable.

The poor worry about how to get more money and the rich worry about how to keep it.

Having been both poor and rich they both have their pluses and minuses. The great thing I like about being rich is being able to help others much more than look to being hgelped.

Here is another point.

If you live in Western world even if your poor you are in the top 10% of wealthiest people in the world. So in the end it is all about perception. The fact that you posted on this forum means you are in the top ten percent of wealthy people in the world.

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shadow_wolf013

15 years ago

Originally Posted by Chris Kent

Nope. The way I see it, money equates to freedom.

If you don't have any money, you don't have any freedom.

If you have lots of money, you have the most freedom.

That freedom can give you happiness if you use it wisely. It can also destroy you if you are wreckless.

I have no shame in wanting to be rich.

Well said.

I try to make as much money as possible now, to have more freedom later.. even if it means alot of extra work for the moment.

But then that begs the question, how much is enough? where do you stop? For myself, i would be comfertable at 5-7k per month (which im getting close to), i figure on that i can live comfertabley and do what i wish without needing to stress where that next bill payment is coming from.

Dont need a mansion, just a comfortable life ; )

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Owen Smith

15 years ago

This is the way I see it:

For me, personally, money brings me happiness, I can live out of debt, which lowers my stress levels (as it does with most)

No worrying about monthly bills.

No mortage to pay (feeling of security)

I know in the future when I have a small family, they will be financially protected, meaning I can do the thing that mean the most, which are enjoyin your life.

Money brings happiness if you are already happy, if you are miserable, money may make you even worse!

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Alex Barboza

15 years ago

I don't know why this thread is in the main section

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Riz

15 years ago

Money can make you happy but it can also make you unhappy.

If you have all the money in the world but you or a family member has a life threatening illness, will you be happy?

Money alone cannot make you happy. However, not having money can bring about lots of unhappiness if you are struggling to make ends meet.

Also, a recent story of a lottery winner was published in the paper. He had no money until he won the lottery. Since winning the lottery he got conned, divorced, lost his family and within 5 years drunk himself to death.

Riz

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flocon

15 years ago

No it does not. However, money can help to have a certain living style. This being, money without true spiritual guidance is not valuable.

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Jeff Henshaw 15 years ago

Does money equate to happiness

Personally and living in the UK, I'd be happier with money than without it!

Just my thoughts,

Jeff.
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AndrewCavanagh

15 years ago

This is a great question.

Also a very important question.

First you have to understand that money is a means of exchange so clearly in itself it can't possibly equate to happiness because without people being willing to exchange that money for goods and services it has no value whatsoever.

Second you've have to define how much money in what country in what situation you're talking about.

If you're talking about physical wealth then below certain levels the lack of wealth can create misery, disease and death.

So the foundations of clean water, healthy food and safe shelter need to be met before human happiness is really possible.

Beyond that the things that make us most happy actually involve social interaction with others.

Here's a list based on the results from various happiness studies:

# Talking with friends.

# Listening to and making music.

# Meditation or praying.

# Helping others.

# Being grateful. Showing gratitude.

# Showing and giving love.

# Forgiving.

# Bathing or showering.

# Sleep.

# Interacting with animals and/or pets.

# Physical activity.

# Sex.

Here's a neat graphic that puts this in picture form...
http://permaculture.50webs.net/HappinessPyramid.png

Notice that on that whole list there's nothing that requires significant physical possessions.

One study compared two different types of people one year after a life changing event:

# 1: People who had won a major lottery. In other words they were now financially very wealthy and would stay that way.

# 2: People who had become paraplegics.

The startling results of this study showed that one year after becoming a paraplegic or one year after becoming financially wealthy through winning the lottery the mean levels of happiness of both groups of people was more or less the same.

Clearly extremes of financial wealth do not substantially impact our levels of happiness.

Other studies have found that your level of happiness will increase up to the point where you're making somewhere between US$30,000 and US$70,000 a year (depending on which study you look at).

Beyond that there's little effect on happiness levels.

So the conclusions you might draw from this are:

# It's important to provide for basic needs like clean water, quality food and safe shelter.

# Having an income (or equivalent in goods and services) somewhere between $30,000 and $70,000 a year is probably helpful.

# If you want to be happy focus more on your social interaction with others.

Kindest regards,
Andrew Cavanagh

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Jonathan 2.0

Banned 15 years ago

If money doesn't buy happiness, then I'll happily take all your money and you can be happy. (Hehe.) Seriously, though, it doesn't buy the kind of happiness you get from friends, family, and meaningful work/contribution.

...

Originally Posted by AndrewCavanagh

Talking with friends.
Listening to and making music.
Meditation or praying.
Helping others.
Being grateful. Showing gratitude.
Showing and giving love.
Forgiving.
Bathing or showering.
Sleep.
Interacting with animals and/or pets.
Physical activity.
Sex

Awesome list, Andrew. Thanks for posting.

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Dwayne K

15 years ago

Nope, but you can buy lots of cool stuff

(If you like stuff)

And it's better to have it over not having it.

D

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jasonmorgan

15 years ago

I don't know why this thread is in the main section

'cus people have a problem with posting stuff in the correct forum. To cut them some slack, the forum structure here is kinda wonky and bloated.

This being, money without true spiritual guidance is not valuable.

Say again ghostrider?

For all who say money doesn't bring happiness... go live in a cardboard box for the next two weeks with only $20 in your pocket, I think you'll have a change of attitude.

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celente

15 years ago

tell me why when people win the lotto and win over a million dollars... 2 years later these people go back to the same financial status as they did before they won their big money prize.

Were they happy? did money solve there problems? What did the money really do to their self worth and state of happiness that you talk about??

Well only they can say whether it made them happy or not? Maybe spending it too?

I think money can make life easier, and you can buy the things you have always wanted...... but what I think is important to note is that, most the people who buy fancy houses, and cars, and gadgets are show happiness on the outside,, you will find that most of the people are miserable....I know a few of them.

When I travelled over sea at the start of this year, I met some of the poorest people in the world, yet, they are happy, they smile, they understand what goes on around them and are thankful for what god has given them. Seeing this opened my eyes up to the meaning of life. I think we go searching for the true meaning of life, but there is none. I think it is being happy with who we are, what we have and knowing that being gracious for the things we have and not focusing on the things we dont have will just attract more of the things we need in our life.

Sounds a bit airy fairy right? well I urge you to go overseas and look at how these people live and how poor they are, and then understand why they are so happy. It is easy to see why! and a true inspiration to anyone, in any stage of life.

Doing this made me and my partner sort of look at life in a whole different way. We woke up and realised how blessed we are for the things we DID have. And not keep cursing and focusing on the things we DID NOT have.

Hoe this helps.

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Mental-Freedom

15 years ago

For all the people saying that money=freedom, I would suggest that you only say so because that is a prevailing belief. Money is a tool and literally nothing more. The second you assign it any further power it has taken control of you and not the other way around. Money is fluid. Money comes and goes like the tides. Actual freedom and actual happiness are derived from within. I once knew a homeless man that felt more free, happy and alive than any millionaire. There is always more than 1 road to take to achieve happiness and freedom. Unfortunately, living in the western world, saying that you are poor and happy is like saying there is no such thing as gravity.

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jasonmorgan

15 years ago

Sounds a bit airy fairy right? well I urge you to go overseas and look at how these people live and how poor they are, and then understand why they are so happy. It is easy to see why! and a true inspiration to anyone, in any stage of life.

Generally, these people haven't experienced anything different so in their world they aren't poor or as poor as most westerners would view them.

Only give somebody vanilla ice cream their entire life and they are going to think it's the best flavor ever (which it is) because they have never had chocolate or strawberry. Give them chocolate ice cream once and vanilla will never be the same. Show them you can get 31 flavors and it will make vanilla and chocolate even less appealing.

Same goes for money and quality of life. If you live your entire life in poo... it's not so bad. Now throw Paris Hilton into that life, I don't think she will be happy living in poo.

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jeffathome

15 years ago

Money is not the cure all end all but it sure does help!

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dawnbreaker

15 years ago

Money does not equal happiness, period. Money allows you to purchase a lot of toys which can be fun, but fun is not happiness. You can have all the toys in the world, the fancy expensive iPod, a nice car, a big house, you name it, and you still might not be happy.

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Jason Perez O'Connor

15 years ago

money itself doesnt give you happiness, it's what you can achieve with money that can bring some form of happiness.

There isn't a definitive answer because there are all sorts of happiness, such as the happiness of buying a new car, or the happiness felt when taking note of the atmosphere whilst spending time with your loved ones.

Sure, money can buy a vacation which can take you to a unique atmosphere, but that atmosphere can be felt anywhere in the world and doesn't always require cash.

Then you have the happiness of relief, such as payed off debts and so forth... things that may have limited activities or time you could have spent with your family are all sorted with money.

But then if you have no debts in the first place? work a normal job and can confirm with a regular sized house with one vacation a year you can also be very happy without too much cash.

For example,

I could have a million dollars, but at the end of the day, I'm only ever going to want a small house for me, my daughter and my girlfriend, my online business, a modest car, 1 vacation a year and the ability to do things together (something you don't need a lot of money for anyway)

For the above, I only need 3 k dollars a month, so in answering the question regarding me. Yes money equates to some of our families happiness due to being able to do things when we want and not worry about bills.

Should we become unemployed, or lose all of our money, that in turn would set us into panic mode, put a stress on the family as a whole and in doing so cause slight sadness.

But we've had days like those, and although we've been sadder because of it, we've always found a way to make ourselves happy now and again.

I could make more examples, but it all boils down to what you are trying to achieve in life.

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TheDebtEliminator

15 years ago

Greetings Sam,

My opinion is that having money available that allows you to provide for your family and keep your house warm in the winter time ... is good.

Having a happy family with a good life at home ... can lead you be able to concentrate on earning a decent income.

So ... they are related, but not the same.

If you give me a choice, I would much prefer to have a happy family, no matter where they might live as this is where my contentment and personal happiness comes from.

All the best ... Ron

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TheGrooby

15 years ago

Money buys happiness

YouTube - Daniel Tosh - Money And Happiness.wmv

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grisbyenterprise 15 years ago

I don't think it can make you actually happy by itself. If you are a healthy individual, have a strong loving relationship, and you have money to go along with all that, I think you would be living on top of the world. My opinion is that if you base everything on money you have a false sense of happiness. What amount of money will keep you happy? What would happen if you loose any portion of that money? Will you be any less happier?
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Frank Ziegler

15 years ago

money can help to creates happiness. It doesn't equate happiness.

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Defunct

15 years ago

Money doesn't make me happy but I can tell you for sure not having money makes me unhappy. And not being able to do the things you want to do also makes me unhappy.

So I think in general you do need a certain amount of money to do the things you want in life, but happiness is a choice and a state of mind.

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Michael Ten

15 years ago

positive psychology research has found that up to about 70,000 dollars/yr money will contribute to happiness.

i've also heard the figure of 50,000

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sam22i

15 years ago

Nice little debate going on =D

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JohnMcCabe

15 years ago

Look at all the celebrities that get rich relatively young, and some of the trust fund babies born rich. They're so happy with their money, they drink and drug themselves to death...

Imagine going through life not knowing if anyone was being nice to you because they like you or because they want/need some of your money/lifestyle?

Money = Freedom?

Tell that to the billionaire family who has to travel with security details and live behind guarded gates because they have to worry about kidnapping.

Once you reach the point where you've acquired all the toys, know you won't miss any meals, and that your loved ones are secure, will more money make you even happier?

Even the people like Trump, who seem to revel in making money, don't do it for the money. They do it because the game they chose keeps score in dollars. They do it for the rush that comes with doing something at a high level.

Money can cause a lot of problems at both ends of the spectrum - too much and too little.

As I see it, the real secret is finding the sweet spot so you don't even have to think much about "money", and just live your life the way you want to...

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TheGrooby

15 years ago

Originally Posted by JohnMcCabe

Look at all the celebrities that get rich relatively young, and some of the trust fund babies born rich. They're so happy with their money, they drink and drug themselves to death...

Just because someone is excessive in anything (including drinking and drugs) doesn't mean they're not happy. They're happy doing drugs and drinking. I'm happy sitting on my computer 10 or 11 hours a day working, others are happy getting kicked in the sac during sex... Just cause it's not your cup of tea doesn't mean it doesn't make other people happy.

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JohnMcCabe

15 years ago

Originally Posted by TheGrooby

Just because someone is excessive in anything (including drinking and drugs) doesn't mean they're not happy. They're happy doing drugs and drinking. I'm happy sitting on my computer 10 or 11 hours a day working, others are happy getting kicked in the sac during sex... Just cause it's not your cup of tea doesn't mean it doesn't make other people happy.

If'n you says so... :rolleyes:

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TheGrooby 15 years ago

Originally Posted by JohnMcCabe

If'n you says so... :rolleyes:

If I say so? Perhaps you can open that brain up just a tad and understand that not everyone enjoys the same stuff and not everyone is made happy by the same things. Your views on the world aren't shared by everyone, and being put-off by my response to your original post is a classic example of why the world exists as it does today. Close minded humans create static and fear. This accomplishes nothing.

If I've misinterpreted your :rolleyes: response, then please forgive me. If I hit the nail on the head in thinking you were put-off and being rude then don't forgive me.
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keep.livin

15 years ago

Originally Posted by JohnMcCabe

Look at all the celebrities that get rich relatively young, and some of the trust fund babies born rich. They're so happy with their money, they drink and drug themselves to death...

Imagine going through life not knowing if anyone was being nice to you because they like you or because they want/need some of your money/lifestyle?

Money = Freedom?

Tell that to the billionaire family who has to travel with security details and live behind guarded gates because they have to worry about kidnapping.

Once you reach the point where you've acquired all

the toys, know you won't miss any meals, and that your loved ones are secure, will more money make you even happier?

Even the people like Trump, who seem to revel in making money, don't do it for the money. They do it because the game they chose keeps score in dollars. They do it for the rush that comes with doing something at a high level.

Money can cause a lot of problems at both ends of the spectrum - too much and too little.

As I see it, the real secret is finding the sweet spot so you don't even have to think much about "money", and just live your life the way you want to...

I dont think the trumps do it just for the game. I think they donor for the sake of helping people. Personally I don't want to base decisions of what car to use, or the temperature of my home, or the quality of medical care, etc on cost. ei. I want the safest car I can get for my family. Ideally, we wouldn't drive anywhere, but travel is a fact of today's world that is inescapable... And the most dangerous activity we do on a daily basis. If we would get hit by a drunk driver, I don't want to be driving a twenty year old POS w faulty seatbelts and a spiderweb windshield. and if not for the kindness of family, we would still be drivin that POS.

Unless you live on a self sustaining farm, Money is as NECESSARY as water. It is also as abundant, we're just not taught the proper ways of acquisition.

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Dwayne K

15 years ago

Watch from 2 mins 16 secs and hear what he
says about money buying happiness.

**Don't watch if you cry about the use of
strong language**

YouTube - Boiler Room - Group Interview

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Chris G

15 years ago

If someone gave me a million dollars or I won a million dollars, would I be happy? Damn right I would be! After spending that million dollars relatively quickly, I wouldn't be happy no more.

Money is just an object. It cannot determine happiness throughout your life.

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Tzar

15 years ago

wow..money=happiness..hmmm..well that all depends on what your personal definition of happiness is. If you believe that money = happiness then you will be happy with money, if it doesn't then you will not be happy

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sam22i

15 years ago

Originally Posted by Tzar

wow..money=happiness..hmmm..well that all depends on what your personal definition of happiness is. If you believe that money = happiness then you will be happy with money, if it doesn't then you will not be happy

Totally agree mate, for some people it does, others it does not!

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Dennis Szelestey 15 years ago

In my opinion Money does not equal happiness, as the two are mutually different concepts. Let me explain - Happiness is a choice and it is internal. You can choose to be happy regardless of the external circumstances.

That's the simple part.

As a society, we have a tendency to live the "When this happens I'll be happy" or "When I get this I'll be happy" or "When I make a million dollars I'll be happy", you get the idea. When we do this we are giving away our power to control our own happiness based on an external circumstance that we may not be able to control. We think that we will be happy when "X" happens, but when it does, will we? Probably not because we are not happy with ourselves. What if "X" never happens? Then we won't be happy either. As a whole we set ourselves up to be unhappy in either situation based on the expectations of things or events that are external to us.

If you were to base your happiness on money (or some other external situation), then it would make sense that if the money went away, then you could no longer be happy.

In looking at this differently and removing money as the end goal and changing it to a by-product of fulfillment or a way to keep score (ala Donald Trump), the chances of long tern sustained happiness are more possible.

Disclaimer - I am not saying that money is not important. In our society it is a requirement. If you just change how you look at it, then you may find that your results will change.

Do I have all the money that I want right now? No. Am I happy? Yes! Would I want it 'given' to me by the lottery? No. Why? Because I want to learn the process of rebuilding and growing, and winning the lottery would deprive me of that.

My 2 cents.
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- jewin 15 years ago
  
  Agreed, Dennis.
  
  I would say, I'd take the lotto winnings though - it might not buy happiness, but it's definitely a raw ingredient of happiness. Eckhart Tolle does a great job of helping us to understand and develop inner happiness through the concept of the Now. Now (i.e. this moment) is all you have, ever. It is always now. It is not tomorrow; tomorrow is not happening now. When tomorrow happens, it will be Now then. Confusing? Not really, its just a beautifully simple concept. Be still, be focused on the moment and be happy. Train your mind not to dwell on the past and not to travel into the future; focus on the Moment and the past and the future will care for themselves.
  
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pethanks 15 years ago

My answer is a big NO! Money can't satisfy us or can't buy happiness.
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JohnMcCabe

15 years ago

Originally Posted by TheGrooby

If I say so? Perhaps you can open that brain up just a tad and understand that not everyone enjoys the same stuff and not everyone is made happy by the same things. Your views on the world aren't shared by everyone, and being put-off by my response to your original post is a classic example of why the world exists as it does today. Close minded humans create static and fear. This accomplishes nothing.

If I've misinterpreted your :rolleyes: response, then please forgive me. If I hit the nail on the head in thinking you were put-off and being rude then don't forgive me.

The reality lies somewhere in the middle.

I was being snarky, and for that I apologize. I was reacting to the idea that drinking and drugging to the point of oblivion made people happy. The rest of the post, we're on the same page.

I've just heard so many stories about these kids that make it rich in TV or music, then when the light shines elsewhere, they crawl into a bottle or dangle from a needle in an attempt to recapture the feeling of the spotlight. That doesn't strike me as "happy"...

On the other hand, if someone's idea of a good time is heading out for the weekend for some amateur pharmacology, or getting a bit 'over-served' at a bar - and it really does make them happy, with no regrets later - more power to them.

Seems like a long time ago now, but I did have some rowdy days...

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robbertpenny 15 years ago

Hhhhmmmm.... this is such a very simple question which can be answered either by yes or no. However, when you think about the rationale of this question, this could means a lot.

Basically, money can't equate to happiness because there are things which money can't buy. As human beings, we all know what are those things. However, in this recession period where financial matter is at sake, money does matter. We all need it to support daily commodities, but it doesn't means man can't be happy without money.
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Radcliff 15 years ago

If we are miser with money,we will never be able be happy with it.But if we do love our work and learn to be happy with what we have achieved, it will help us to be happy without depending on the money we get.Also by experience I know when we work like that money normally comes.The quote David mentioned is what I need to say here.
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Drizlek 15 years ago

Money can make you happy... it all depends on what you do with it. For some it's purchasing themselves expensive things, for others it's helping those less fortunate then themselves.

Personally, having enough money so that I would not have to worry about money would be enough. Yeah, I know it's vague, but it's about the best I can come up with without long drawn out explanations.
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- marksdemons Banned 15 years ago
  
  Benefits on the rich to worry about money. And do not worry about money, eliminate the people tend to lead to happiness. For example, many divorces occur due to pressure caused by lack of funds.
  
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tamarindcandy 15 years ago

Sometimes. Money may not buy you everything, but it sure can buy a great fat lot including certain kinds of happiness. If you've got money, you are much likelier to be healthy for one, and can afford healthcare, medication, etc.
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markleemons Banned 15 years ago

I do not think it can make you really happy itself. If you are a healthy person, have a strong love relationship, you have the money to go with all along, I think, you will in the world's top life. My view is that if you base everything on the money you have a false sense of happiness.
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Andrew Davis

15 years ago

This is a touchy questions to answer I would say...

Most people who don't have allot of money, or think they will never become very rich, are usually the quickest ones to say that money does not bring happiness, or even go as far as to say that "The more money you have, the More unhappy you become".

They will see you aspiring to become a Millionaire, then look at themselves and think "they can never make it".
So, they try to convince you that you won't have a better life, if or when you become rich.
(I'm sure most of you have experienced this some time before).

To be honest, I would say that more Money "Allows" for more Happiness.
It does NOT simply equate to happiness, that is impossible.

Now, allot of people like to use examples like:
"This guy won the lotto and ended up broke next year"
or
"Because this person has allot of money, they have no freedom"
etc...

Well, those are simply "examples", not facts of life.

Remember people win the Lottery everyday around the world, it just gets highlighted and blown up in the media when someone does crap with a huge sum of free money.

I know for a fact, that if I got 1 Million Dollars now, I would not put it to waste.
I'm sure most of the members on this Forum would spend it wisely also.

Also, I don't think being rich makes you more vulnerable. (To a small extent yes)
That has more to do with Fame, and how much you want to be known and in the world and media.

I know allot of rich people who go about having allot of fun, on an adventure, cruise ship, traveling the world, etc...

And also people like Mike Tyson and Micheal Jackson, when they lost mostly all of their money, they were still famous, and very vulnerable to attacks at the same time.
(So NOT having money didn't make them any "more secure").

Most of the Billionaires in the world are practically unknown to the large population, because they know how manage keeping their fortune out of the eyes of the public.

For me, I honestly am experiencing a happier life now that I'm getting success.
I still have far to go to achieve my goals (Billionaire

).

However, balancing my life, excelling in each major category: Health, Spiritual, Relationship, Family, Wealth, Social life.
I think this is the key to true happiness on Earth.

And yes I do think money can help you excel in most of these areas of life. (Except Spiritual :p)

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Dave Matthews

15 years ago

No, it's what you do with it that brings happiness, unless your name happens to be Scrooge! :-D

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Seleyna

15 years ago

without money, you cannot give more
the great philanthropists are rich people

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faceblogger

15 years ago

In a state where money is not necessary = Happiness

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PeterDunin

15 years ago

Money provides security and I think being secure and able to live comfortably makes people happy!

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Gemmacat

15 years ago

I'm convinced that the answer is no. Research has shown that simply having something cannot make people happy. It's what you experience in life that makes you happy as well as your attitude. In the end, it has to come from inside.

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jtribe

15 years ago

no but takes off a bit of stress

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Rodrigo Werner

15 years ago

to me it doees...as it really is how you choose to spend the money! cause imagine giving some money to a kid who is homeless of even better getting him from the streets and giving him a home...IF I HAD ALOT OF MONEY i would def do that...help people out...as one of my main goals is when i get my first 1k 50% will go to help someone...

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halmo 15 years ago

Money doesn't make you happy. Money makes you FREE to do the things that make you happy.

Thus, money is essential, but not the end goal.
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SPMassie

15 years ago

money doesn't equal happiness but it sure does help. It's easier to be happy when your not worried about where your next meal is coming from

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baker.jones01

15 years ago

"Money is an article which may be used as a universal passport everywhere except heaven, and as a universal provider for everything except happiness."

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enalyozone

15 years ago

I think money is the base but if you want to get happiness, you only have money is not enough.

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Dominium

15 years ago

In my opinion - money is a key/base for happiness. I mean, can you be happy living in debt, working 9-5, having no time for your family etc. etc.? Obviously not. But money itself will not give you a happy life.

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Millions Forever LLC

15 years ago

here is a way to think about that question:

Would $10,000 dollars solve a lot of your problems right now?

Yes: Then money does = happiness

No: Then money does not = happiness

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don21stc

15 years ago

Regarding money, I'm definitely happier when I've got plenty of cash than when I haven't but I'm one of those people who are happy nearly all the time anyway. I would say that my normal 'happiness level' is, say, 8/10 but depending on what I plan to do with any excess money, the cash factor could temporarily push if up to nominally 9+/10. But so can many other non-financial things such as being with my grandchildren in particular.
I think that money can have a temporary effect on increasing your personal happiness from even a low level to a higher level but if you're fundamentally pessimistic, miserable or whatever, it's not going to make you optimistic or ecstatically happy for the rest of your life.
But , I would definitely rather have lots of money rather than just being able to get by. And even if you're inherently miserable, you can at least be miserable in comfort.

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Yasir Farooq

15 years ago

I think no!

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traderbenji 15 years ago

I personally think that it depends on the person. Some people can be happy without it. I love it, and not for it per se, but for the things it can do for me and i can do with it. The experiences it can give.
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CrhisD 15 years ago

Actually yes but you need millions and millions, and then you have to deal with a society that doesn't value money as highly as you. I can't imagine a scenario in which I'd be happy. There's always other people and then there's the weather and then stuff that's not possible however much you throw money at it.
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sap?

15 years ago

Without money...lot of friction and lack of freedom..if u can find happiness even in that..then ur something supreme and ofcourse Money bring Happiness

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Ernie Lo

15 years ago

Without money you will probably never be very happy as you will struggle and stress about bills and work a job all your life.

But having money will not guarantee happiness unless you have fun and good friends.

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TonyTrevor

15 years ago

Of course, money is not happiness - but they help to feel better.

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JustinDupre

15 years ago

Financial freedom is huge. Money makes things easier.. but when it comes to relationship or people is time

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digichik

15 years ago

It doesn't equate to happiness, but it sure can alleviate some of the pressures of life.

The happiness part has to come from within you. There are happy poor people just as there are happy rich people.

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darrensmit123

15 years ago

No money not equate happiness because money give all instrument like Tv,Bike ,etc but not give happiness.you buy Bad for sleeping but sleep is not buy from the money.You buy food but not buy the hungry.

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darkwizgemz

15 years ago

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windwhirl 15 years ago

No. As the saying goes, money can buy you a bed but not a sleep. The myth about money is that having more will make you more secure - well it's not true. Wealth can be lost instantly through a variety of uncontrollable events. Real happiness can be found in that which can never be taken away from you -- RELATIONSHIPS, especially relationship with God. So there, does money equate to happiness? Definitely not.
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thedrake

15 years ago

Happines is independant from money. Being rich doesn't make you authomatically happy. Happines can exist even when there is no moey!

Some people just tend to mix the to things! money is mone, happiness is happiness. And happines is the way one should walk along the paht of life not a destitantion to head on.

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Marcus C

15 years ago

I need more money to make me more happy. Can anyone help?

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Sandra Martinez

15 years ago

money does not imply happiness, but lack of money do imply unhappiness.

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DomiS

15 years ago

You will probably find the answer in another thread on WF:
http://www.warriorforum.com/mind-war...pression.html\

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BlondieWrites

15 years ago

We all need money to live on, that's a given. But as far as money (retangle shaped paper and round metal things) making me happy, not a chance. Money can buy this and that, but money can't buy love and it can't buy happiness.

So what makes me happy? God first, my wonderful hubby, two special kids, the love of family and friends, and chocolate. Okay, so money buys the chocolate.....

Cindy

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DavidTT

15 years ago

honestly, I've seen some very wealthy people but VERY miserable also.

"The richest man is not the one who has the most, but the one who needs the less."

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rickcast66

15 years ago

Money doesn't bring you happiness, just less worry. Financial worry is one of the biggest stressers and can be depressing, thefore making you unhappy.

You can have all the money in the world and still not be happy. I'd rather be unhappy and have money than not.

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andreasnrb

15 years ago

There are happiness research so no need to speculate. They know how long the effects of a raise lasts, a wedding, going into a wheelchair, coming out of prison etc.
Some good TED presentations.
Dan Gilbert on our mistaken expectations | Video on TED.com
Nancy Etcoff on the surprising science of happiness | Video on TED.com
http://www.ted.com/talks/lang/eng/da...vs_memory.html

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Fred1

15 years ago

Imo, no it does not.

Happiness can be achieved no matter how large or small your bank account. I've learned that happiness is a choice. We either chose to be happy or not, and it isn't dependent on anything other than a choice, and mindset.

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NicoleMarie

15 years ago

Honestly here is a simple answer. Not sheer happiness but, when all your bills are paid and you still have money in your pocket that makes less stress there for happiness.

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Morgen Ster 15 years ago

It is rather individual: some people crave for love and romance,others - for wealth and power; some people listen to hip- hop, others - to Chopin; some people drink single malts, others - soda.
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WillDL

15 years ago

Only when the bills are due.

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Does money equate to happiness?

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