To think that people who say “money doesn’t matter” just want to feel better about being broke?

I know some very wealthy people who are miserable, so money can't buy you happiness that is true ... but I'd rather cry in Ferrari than a Toyota 😆

I have a friend who’s loaded. Thousands in the bank, and that’s where it stays. She sits in the cold, eats reduced food and doesn’t do anything or go anywhere. What fun is that! She has no kids or family to leave her money too do what’s it all for?
Another friend is wealthy but is always in and out of hospital due to ill health!
You don’t need loads of money to be happy. I remember watching a documentary about power working mums. One mum was away on business all week and came home on the Friday evening with a present for her 10year old daughter. She gave the daughter the present and told her daughter to run away and play, the wee girl said but mummy I need to tell you stuff, the mum replied I’m tired from working I’ve spend £100 on you and you don’t even want it, now go and play. The wee girl was absolutely crushed.
All that wee girl wanted was some of her mums time and she couldn’t even get it.

Yes money matters and it’s preferable to have enough to not have enough.
But I do think people overestimate how much money will make them happy.

My parents are genuinely happy - interests they enjoy, love their family and friends, laugh a lot and don’t consider “ stuff” a source of joy at all.

It’s refreshing when you stay actually because you realise what a load of unnecessary crap actually takes up space in your brain.

A US study found that yes, money does make you happier, but only up to a certain point, around $100,000 income. Beyond that, the incremental gains were tiny up until about $170k, beyond which there was no significant difference.

It is the law of diminishing marginal utility. If you have very little money, then an increase of say £1000 is going to bring a greater gain in happiness than if you are already wealthy. Or you can use the Mars Bar example we were taught in A level Economics. One Mars bar when you’re starving hungry is fantastic. The second one is welcome but you won’t get the same satisfaction as you did from the first. Eventually, you reach a point where additional Mars Bars bring no happiness and you will tip over into negative utility, where you are sick if you have to eat another one.

You said it yourself in that they “seem” happier - but are they really happier? Or does the money just help them hide any problems they actually have?

Studies show money DOES make you happier - but only up to a point. I think it was at about £40000 a year (this might need adjusting for inflation) where after that point more money didn’t add more happiness. Obviously being unable to pay bills and buy food is very stressful. But once you get to a point of affording all the necessities, twice as much money doesn’t equal twice as much happiness, and too much can also be stressful apparently (because then you feel the pressure of keeping up a lifestyle and the “lifestyle creep” is endless so you can never keep up.)

Facts I say this because I’m poor however I agree with you money does matter and I do anything for more of it so yes you are correct anyone who says otherwise is a liar
not one single person on a low income or a low budget lifestyle would not like to live a day in the lives of a rich person nor would it not be so much easier you be able to afford bills without worrying about the next payment

You don’t have to worry about money when you have enough food to eat and a safe roof over your head and your children are clothed and happy. If any of that is not the case then money is a real worry.

Money isn’t everything but it buys you choice and security

I don’t think anyone is qualified to say what brings any one individual ‘genuine joy’. Some people find genuine joy in making, having and spending money.

Snap.

Patronising rich folk saying things like, "ah, money doesn't matter as long as you've got your health" whilst their finger hovers over the 'complete transaction' button for their latest far-flung sun holiday.

No broke person has ever said that money doesn't matter.

But it makes it so much easier to deal with

The only time I’ve heard someone say it is when they already have enough tor housing and lifestyle. So they can turn down a promotion that would pay more because they already live the lifestyle that they want.
I disagree that people with money are happier. Some of them are unhappy in their pursuit for even more money and money doesn’t shield you from problems like health, bereavement and romantic betryal. Money brings choices which means that shit that life throws at you can be made better eg divorcing your cheating spouse when there’s plenty to go round ia much easier

I would never say it because I know what poverty feels like.
it is totally disingenuous to say money is not important.

Objectively, studies have shown that over a certain point MORE money does not matter and does not increase happiness.

Also, if someone works hard or does a job they enjoy and is choosing not to earn more for a work life balance then why do you care? Different if it’s someone who is always complaining about being skint but otherwise why do you care?

The only people I know who have said have lots of money! Poor people don’t say it!

I have friends who have a lot more money than me. They work stupid hours though.

However, I'm financially comfortable myself so it's easy for me to rationalise less (but enough) money is better than the huge amounts they have.

I don't need a second property. But I do enjoy time off work to pursue my hobbies.

I grew up in poverty and I heard the "money doesn't buy happiness" rhetoric all the time. It's definitely the best attitude to have if you're in that situation. But I have money now (not rich by any means, but comfortable) and I am much happier. It's not the only reason why I'm happier, of course, but it contributes. It's not about materialism - it's the removal of worry and the expansion of opportunities. The people telling me that money didn't buy happiness when I was a kid hadn't ever experienced having money, so they didn't actually know.

I think it depends on whether the ‘broke’ person has a lot of debt or if it’s a choice they have made i.e. they have decided not to work more hours and therefore have less money because that makes them happy in life.

Of course money matters, for a whole host of reasons.

But I have known some extremely unhappy rich people, and not because “they were focused on wealth”.

Financial security doesn’t protect you from ill-health or domestic violence, or bereavement.

Most people who say "money doesn't matter" are the ones who never have to worry about paying the bills.

In my experience, people who say 'money doesn't matter' are usually those who have plenty of it.

It’s mainly the ones with lots of money that I hear saying it doesn’t matter.

Money isn't everything is a better phrase. Because we do need money to live. But without health, friends and/or family, we'd all be living very lonely lives. Even the richest of people need more than just money otherwise life has no meaning.