Money can buy happiness

[BoviTraci]

It's something people don't like admitting but it's true Just read the Being poor is thread has left me in no doubt that yes money can buy happiness. Not talking vast amounts but enough to take care of daily needs .
Being poor sucks 😔

Nailed it there . My guess is he would give everything to have your brother back xx

Having been very poor in the past I'd say that you can't buy happiness, but money can make you feel safe and take away worries. Lack of money and security are high up on the lists of things that couples row about.
It's the relationship between me and my partner (he's the wealthy one) that means we are happy, which sounds so corny, but it's a fact. However it's also the freedom to do what we want to when we want to, and I appreciate how lucky we are in that every day. Also we can do some things to help others - without going into detail on that.

For me I can hardly believe that I am never going to have to worry about having a roof over my head and money in my pocket again. I was bankrupted and homeless after a marriage breakup in the past so I've seen both sides of this. I'm not sure that there are really more miserable rich people, there are a lot of miserable buggers around in all walks of life as far as I can see.

Doesn't buy love, companionship, self esteem etc... other things which can lead to happiness.

It can imo. Many good relationships break down because of stress having money to help with carving out time, working less helps that. Time to do hobbies & maintain friendships. Can pay for therapy, personal trainers, wellness etc to increase self esteem.

and money certainly impacts health. It's why poorer area have lower life expectancies. Money can mean less stress, better nutrition & fitness & private healthcare

I have a few chronic health problems and one of which has affected my life quite significantly over the past 7 years. I had a head injury and post concussion syndrome then ended up being injured by an antipsychotic drug and got a neurological involuntary movement disorder.

My brother passed away in 2017 young from bowel cancer and that was pretty awful watching him slowly die from that too.

I'd give everything I had to go back to being healthy and 'normal', and having my brother alive. No amount of money will ever make me feel better or bring my brother back. 😭

My maternal grandmother used to say 'of course money doesn't buy you happiness but it makes being miserable a hell of a lot easier' . She was a very pragmatic lady!

Of course money can’t buy happiness but it can help you to be miserable in comfort. Mind you, being poor is no fun. But relationships, love, fidelity are all things that bring lasting happiness.

Money buys basics so people unhappy for that reason would be happier with money.

Thereafter money buys choices. And that can help with happiness....who wouldn't be happier not having to work, or being able to fly off to the Maldives without a worry.

However apart from private health care money doesn't buy actual health. I know someone extraordinarily wealthy and have heard of a second person locally. Both lost children when they were young. Both of whom have said money couldn't change either and they'd give it up to have them back and healthy.

I have been poor (I posted on the poor thread) and am now rich, my change in wealth hasn’t made as much difference to happiness as I thought it would when I was poor.
I am now living with chronic pain and would say health is more closely linked to happiness than money.

I think the phrase is massively misinterpreted.

Being poor does not make you miserable. It just means you will face different stresses than if you were not poor. Poor is also relative of course, but I've been very poor and not miserable.

It all depends what you value in life and what actually makes you happy. Being with my child makes me happiest.

We all also get so much joy from small treats, which when not wealthy cost under a tenner and can bring so much joy it's euphoric. To get anything close to that kind of euphoria as a wealthy person you'd have to spend thousands, and then what? You can't do that every day.

Happiness is an intrinsic thing, not something you can buy. When I'm truly happy you can throw just about anything at me and I'll get through it happily.

But poor is also very relative. Even when you're skint but have a roof over your head and an internet connection and a fiver for some crisps and wine, you can still find joy in life.

It's just not about money, it's about mindset.

If you're talking about living in an impoverished country it's completely different. Firstly say you're poor, well you're going to be something quite a bit worse than miserable. Say you're wealthy, great now you're surrounded by horrific poverty sipping champaign and if that brings you intrinsic happiness you’re a bit of a sick individual.

It's one less thing to worry about.

If I had more money,.I could quit a job I hate and do something better with my life.

I could devote more time to my kids.

Although we aren't on the bread line now it would definitely help if we had more.

Yes but if you were in poverty with chronic pain do you think your life would be the same as it is now? Having chronic pain and continual money worries wouldn't make you less happy, wouldn't make your situation seem worse?

But similarly it brings problems "we" don't have (assuming everyone's on less than 25K/year)

I never have to worry about being scammed out of thousands for instance. I never have to balance any accounts or check no one's ripped me off because my money's gone in the first week of payment.

I never have to worry someone is using me for money or that people are hanging around with me to gain anything but my company.

I wouldn't bother with home insurance because I don't own my home.

I find joy in the smallest things. Once I found a bus pass stuck in a shelter on a walk home from work, I was so very happy, I still remember the feeling.

Because I am not wealthy I work on being actually happy, and I am.

Take my worries away then I’ll be happy I’ve never had much money and can enjoy life but this is just soul destroying. So yes money can make you more comfortable but take the worries away as well.

Any worries we have mainly boil down to money

• bills going up
• food going up
• not being able to have as many luxuries as we'd like
• waiting ages for nhs appointments not affording probate healthcare
• could do with upgrading the car
• I wouldn't have to work as much and could spend more time with the kids and joining groups/ meeting people
• retirement ages constantly rising not enough savings to retire early

So yes money would buy us choices and happiness and I certainly wouldn't be unhappy I'd love a bit more money

I think it causes different worries. Can’t afford to pay the bills v will I lose it all tomorrow.

Hmmm. I don't think money buys happiness per se, but it makes sadness a lot easier to bear.

I think money buys you options. Options can bring you happiness if you use them.

Well did anyone read Shirley Conran in the Mail today? (I know we’re not allowed to admit to the fail but ..). She said that at 90, the one lesson she wants all women to learn is that ‘Money is Power’. Where she used to say ‘Life’s too short to stuff a mushroom’, she now says ‘Life’s too short to be short of money’. Some interesting resources are mentioned.

I don't think it's that money makes you happy but that it's pretty near impossible to be happy if you don't know how you'll pay the rent.

You won't be happy just because you don't have money worries, but you're unlikely to be happy if you do iyswim.

My Grandad, who grew up very poor, used to say "money can't buy happiness , but it makes being miserable a damn sight more comfortable".

As my old dad used to say, 'money doesn't buy you happiness but it can sure help you live miserably in comfort'.

Rhett Butler said generally it can and when it can’t it can buy some remarkably good substitutes.

People who say money can't buy happiness generally have lots of money. The choices and comfort money can give you are a type of happiness that many will never know.

Money can contribute significantly to contentment and help you avoid abject misery. I'm not sure it buys happiness but it certainly helps.

My personal view from my own experience is that it doesn't buy happiness but what it does buy is freedom from any anxiety about money. That's massive. I never actually think about money at all other than big things like the fact we are thinking of moving house. But day to day it doesn't feature in my thoughts and I know that's very lucky.