Honestly, can money buy happiness?
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I'v seen happy homeless people, I have seen happy squatter communities. Obviously they wouldn't be happy with their lifestyle, but whatever was making them happy it wasn't money.The infamous SCAMola said:
Edit: oh wait, the homeless guy was drunk. That doesn't count. heh heh
Money cannot buy happiness. Happiness is brought by satisfaction in life.
Allow me to use the example of Maslow's Heirarchy of Needs. In order to reach Self Actualization, you need to satisfy the basic physiological needs, as well as safety, love, and esteem needs. Yes, you need to have things like food and shelter and health to be happy, but you need other things too in order to be happy, and it doesn't always encompass wealth.
Children make some people happy. Although children cost money, it's seeing their child grow and learn and develop in life that makes them happy.
Success in their career makes some people happy. Money can be a result of success in their careers and life's work. However, people who are happy from the success and achievement in their career don't like it just for money, but because it satisfies instinctive psychological needs. Anyone can get a high paying job, but even if the money is good, they don't always enjoy the job. It takes more than just getting a big paycheck, you also have to like the job just enough that you don't want to kill yourself or co-workers. But getting that position you strived for in the past, and finally being chosen to get it after working in the lower echelons and making a reputation and name for yourself can be a huge vicotry for you, and the money is only one thing that brings happiness.
Finally buying that house, car, motorcycle, hot rod, or other expensive item can make you happy, but it's not the money itself that makes you happy. It's finally getting that desired thing after working long and hard for it, and earning it after making so many little scrifices to get it. The work you had done for it makes it more valuable for you. That satifaction is not materialistic, because of the the time an effort it took to get it.
Money cannot buy friends. Money can get you a girlfriend/wife, but if she wouldn't be with you if you didn't possess that affluence, then she's a gold-diggin' jezebel and will only make you unhappy. Money cannot buy real love. Money cannot buy you a family or a good relationship with your family. Those relationships are built on trust and compassion, and money cannot buy that.
Allow me to use the example of Maslow's Heirarchy of Needs. In order to reach Self Actualization, you need to satisfy the basic physiological needs, as well as safety, love, and esteem needs. Yes, you need to have things like food and shelter and health to be happy, but you need other things too in order to be happy, and it doesn't always encompass wealth.
Children make some people happy. Although children cost money, it's seeing their child grow and learn and develop in life that makes them happy.
Success in their career makes some people happy. Money can be a result of success in their careers and life's work. However, people who are happy from the success and achievement in their career don't like it just for money, but because it satisfies instinctive psychological needs. Anyone can get a high paying job, but even if the money is good, they don't always enjoy the job. It takes more than just getting a big paycheck, you also have to like the job just enough that you don't want to kill yourself or co-workers. But getting that position you strived for in the past, and finally being chosen to get it after working in the lower echelons and making a reputation and name for yourself can be a huge vicotry for you, and the money is only one thing that brings happiness.
Finally buying that house, car, motorcycle, hot rod, or other expensive item can make you happy, but it's not the money itself that makes you happy. It's finally getting that desired thing after working long and hard for it, and earning it after making so many little scrifices to get it. The work you had done for it makes it more valuable for you. That satifaction is not materialistic, because of the the time an effort it took to get it.
Money cannot buy friends. Money can get you a girlfriend/wife, but if she wouldn't be with you if you didn't possess that affluence, then she's a gold-diggin' jezebel and will only make you unhappy. Money cannot buy real love. Money cannot buy you a family or a good relationship with your family. Those relationships are built on trust and compassion, and money cannot buy that.
I'd like a crack at it, that's for sure!
If it doesn't buy happiness, oh well. I guess I'll find something to do with these MANY MILLIONS OF DOLLARS
If it doesn't buy happiness, oh well. I guess I'll find something to do with these MANY MILLIONS OF DOLLARS
I'd say a person with no (real) friends, no true love, no hopes, dreams or inspiration, and a whole lot of other things that can't really be found for sale anywhere... would probably be unhappy. Perhaps some people are really shallow enough to not care about any of those things, but I'm not convinced they're really happy...
However, money can buy you a place to keep your happiness, such as a house or apartment for your family with enough rooms for every child to have their own little sanctuary when they need to rest and such... so in a way, money is conductive to happiness, though more of one does not necessarily equal more of the other. Another important factor is time, how we choose to spend it, and with who.
However, money can buy you a place to keep your happiness, such as a house or apartment for your family with enough rooms for every child to have their own little sanctuary when they need to rest and such... so in a way, money is conductive to happiness, though more of one does not necessarily equal more of the other. Another important factor is time, how we choose to spend it, and with who.
It can buy temporary happiness I suppose. But there will come a time when the vast seas of possessions, narcotics and whores become tiresome and something a bit deeper is longed for.
Dammit, you beat me to it! Daniel Tosh!Revernd Awesome said:
But yes, I definitely believe money can buy you happiness. Having enough money to be secure and comfortable allows you to pursue whatever makes you happy. Money=freedom=happiness.
However, it is true there are those things that many cannot buy - friends, love, honor, integrity. But I stand by what I said before - having a lot of money would give you plenty of time and opportunity to attain all of those things.
I completely agree about having a minimum standard of living. I and everyone else posting here must be comfortable compared to 90% of the world population. But then the question is if I earn say £1,000,000 a year am I 10x more happy then the guy who only earns £100,000 a year and in turn is he 10x more happy then a lowly worker on £10,000 a year?Incredible Bullshitting Man said:
There must be a point where the amount of happiness increasing by the amount of money you have plateaus.
I'm going on a snowboarding trip soon, it will be fun and its obviously costs money so I'm buying fun here, but what will make me happy on this trip is the fact that I'll be sharing it with true friends. You can't buy true friends.
As a full time uni student who struggles to pay rent and would be happy/happier if I didn't have to worry about my financial status every time I wanted to buy a meat pie, I'd say yes.
That being said, only 3.5 more years of poverty to go before I am (should be) rolling in the stuff
That being said, only 3.5 more years of poverty to go before I am (should be) rolling in the stuff