when a rich person says 'money doesnt buy you happiness"

[pingIspom]

aibu to feel like screaming ?

money does buy happiness otherwise they'd give it all away

I’ve been both sides of the spectrum when it comes to money. I find the ‘money can’t buy you happiness but it can buy you the kind of misery you prefer’ very true. Statistically middle earners are most happiest. When you have money, you have everything they have, it’s just ‘nicer’ but the price you pay for that is the fear of losing it all and not knowing how you’d cope if you did. There’s also the price of friendships. When you do come into money, friends tend to disappear. So does money buy happiness? No.

Money can be crucial in bringing comfort and security - which are both often core to happiness.

Let be honest anything that can happen to rich people can happen to poor people.

Being rich at least takes the stress of the financial aspect of dealing with trauma.

Everytime people say well you can be ill/lonely/ have sick children and being rich doesnt stop it, people seem to forget that being poor doesnr stop it either.

But at least if you are rich and you dont have to worry about money, during the shit time you have one less major stressor.

@jennymanara for one person yes, not for two

Of course having enough money buys you happiness. It can't cure an illness or bring back dead relatives but it can bring day to day happinesses.

Money gives you choices. You can use that money to improve your life or you can squander it on stuff.

Right now I am so grateful I have enough money to pay for play therapy for DS, because nothing would have been available for free without a desperately long wait. £500 for 12 sessions (plus unpaid leave to take him there). It can't take away the awful stuff he went through but it can help him cope with it better and that is priceless.

I was the most wealthy I’ve ever been when I was my most miserable. Anyone who thinks money buys happiness is deluded.

It’s one less thing to worry about, but it won’t necessarily make you happy.

I was the most wealthy I’ve ever been when I was my most miserable. Anyone who thinks money buys happiness is deluded.

And if you would have had to choose between the electricity and food and worrying about keeping a roof over your kids head, it would have been worse.

No one said it brings happiness on its own. But it's one huge stressor removed.

No one said it brings happiness on its own.
Actually that’s the whole premise of the original OP.
Yes of course a shit situation is made worse by a lack of money but that doesn’t mean you can’t be rich and unhappy.
This whole ‘what have you got to complain about it could be worse’ attitude flies in the face of everything we know about mental illness.
It also belittles the very real personal tragedies that could happen to everyone.
Would the pain of losing a child hurt less depending on your bank balance. Would you tell a rich person buck up you’ve lost your kid but at least you can pay your mortgage.

It is not a well thought out platitude.
Money, as has been said, can relieve stress by paying the bills and accomadate a certain lifestyle that includes eating well, health appointments and relaxation. It doesn't shield you from mental health issues, accidents and illness and other disasters that happen to people.
A few years ago our family was in awe of our brother in law whose business was going very well and had a nice affluent lifestyle and plenty of money in the bank. He was generous, funny and kind. At the age of 36 he committed suicide. We didn't know until the inquest he had been haunted by childhood abuse and he, in his words, 'felt infected with grime' His millions didn't help his mind, no matter how much therapy he had.
I have several friends who live pay cheque to pay cheque each week and really struggle. Their attitude to life is to have fun by having friends around and enjoy the company of their family. As one says, I may not have pennies in the piggy but have riches in my heart!'

I think that is really lovely

When you do come into money, friends tend to disappear. A lot of these millionaires created by the lottery seem to have their lives destroyed by it.

I remember a very wealthy friend telling me that money spoils some of the things that you really enjoy when poorer.
Things like meals out. When you can literally have every meal as a top restaurant meal then the experience is diminished.
Bit like the long school holidays. All that time seems amazing but the reality is often, there is too much time.

Fuck me, cry me a river Nothing.

Actually that’s the whole premise of the original OP.

It's not though. Its if money cant make you happy why not just give it all away.

People dont give it all away because if they are rich and miserable they dont want to be poor and miserable.

If money makes you unhappy, it's easily fixable. As op said, give it away.

The OP was completely illogical. If you’re unhappy while financially secure, why would you add another source of stress into the mix? Money doesn’t make you happy doesn’t equal being penniless does make you happy.

A lot of PPs have said what I want to, but much more eloquently than I could have.
I have been on both sides. Well, not rich, but doing okay, no money worries and doing what I want iyswim.
Money, caterorically, does not buy you happiness. It makes misery more comfortable.

I have a lifestyle that I love, and many crave, but I have personal issues that make me miserable for 50% of my life. Those issues are fixable, but not with money.

I have two very close friends. One is on the same financial level as me and the other has not got two pennies to rub together, but is happier than either of us. She laughs and loves more than we do. I would trade my (modest) money for a bit of that!

Things like meals out. When you can literally have every meal as a top restaurant meal then the experience is diminished.

not really.
First of all, you have a CHOICE which is what most people miss having.

Then you can have slightly lower expectations and enjoy yourself more. If a nice top restaurant is a regular occurence, you appreciate it.
if you have had to save for months, you might be bitterly disappointed if one thing doesn't come exactly as you expected.

LIfe is more pleasant if you can chose to have a crappy take-away, a meal at home or a fancy diner in a Michelin Star. Those who have no choice, let alone the ones who have to rely on food banks, are surely not as happy.

Even if you have lots of money, you are not going to eat at a Michelin star restaurant all the time. If I have been on holiday and had restaurant quality meals every night, I start to get bored and want something simpler and plainer.

Money magnifies things.

If you are generally happy and decent then money will enhance that.

If you are miserable and materialistic or if you are a self obsessed narcissist then money will increase those traits.

I’m generally happy, I’m generally fortunate but I’d like a bigger house and not to have any money related stress!

Presumably you could get Alfred to bang out some beans on toast when you get tired of fancy restaurants?

I know someone with hundreds of millions. He definitely cannot buy happiness.

He is actually extremely lonely.

Money can buy people, but not true companionship.

YABU.

People with money can suffer mental health issues, bereavement etc.

Yes, it takes away financial stress but, their is a plethora of things it cannot buy, including happiness. A set of really good, reliable, solid female friends is worth its weight in gold and simply cannot be bought.

I have been rich and unhappy.
I am less well off now but very comfortable and extremely happy.
I've been poorish and very unhappy.
Never been properly poor so can't comment.
That's the thing, most people won't have experienced every financial state.
None of it was to do with money all to do with people in my life.
Money did made a crap relationship slightly bearable for a while. Happiness no.

Money doesn't buy happiness, but a lack of certainly hinders it