Can Money Really Buy You Happiness?
I’ll give you the famous answer; it depends. Since we don’t live in a binary world where it’s either happy or not happy, I think money can at least buy you some degree of happiness by ridding of financial burdens. Otherwise, your life is constantly saddled with bills, debts, rents, grocery and other necessities. At the minimum, money can relieve you of these headaches, and shifts you toward the happier end of the spectrum.
If you still believe money is irrelevant to how happy you are, try watching The Pursuit of Happyness. Pay close attention to Will Smith’s expression when his character, Chis Garner, was finally accepted to Dean Witter after confronting with a string of financial predicaments in the early part of his life. Chris Garner struggled to contain his excitement on a busy New York street. (I almost cried during that scene.)
I suppose the more interesting question is, can money buy you happiness once you cover all your necessities.
Whoever said money can’t buy happiness simply didn’t know where to go shopping. - Bo Derek
Once again, the answer is… it depends. What would you do if you have a million bucks? What happens when your million dollar journey is over? I’d love to hear some of your thoughts. Personally, I’d spoil myself with a Canon EOS Mark II, and travel around the world capturing breath-taking sceneries. Of course that’s just me. Perhaps it’s too nerdy for some, and others may have different ideas of what make them happy.
Sex is one of the most wholesome, beautiful and natural experiences that money can buy. - Steve Martin
Umm… no comment.
Anyway, for most folks, I think money can buy you happiness, as long as there is something to live for. I’m not talking about squandering money on impulse, but using it to purchase items that enable you to pursuit a genuine dream(s).
I always wonder what sane people would claim that money doesn’t buy you happiness.
Money doesn’t make you happy. I now have $50 million but I was just as happy when I had $48 million. - Arnold Schwarzenegger
Well, if you have $48 million, an extra $2 million is going to be insignificant. There’s an element of diminishing return where the first million will satisfy your inner most wants, and subsequent millions will round up the secondary. Consequently, not every dollar is appreciated equally. Can money buy me happiness? It depends on which million you are referring to.
“Money can’t buy happiness, but it can rent a heck of a good time” is one of the quotes I like about money and happiness. The other is from Forrest Gump right after he got rich through buying Apple stock “After that I didn’t have to worry about money anymore. Which is good, ’cause that’s one less thing…”
My view of not having to worry about money is that its just one less thing. You might still get sick, you might lose loved ones, you might not achieve your dreams, but it’d be a really nice feeling to know that whatever the future brings, there’ll be a roof over your head and food on the table.