To think money can make you happier?

[sweetmotherog]

Fair enough if you're clinically depressed or grieving, then it probably won't.

But I've been on both sides of the coin and I can sincerely say I feel happier with money.

Not because I'm particularly materialistic at all, it's just nice having no worries and being able to purchase whatever you'd really like or need (within reason).

Obviously I'm not talking about the type of money (for me) that buys sports cars and mansions. But going out for dinner with DC and family, being able to go and do any activity, buying whatever I need or think would be nice....

It's just so much more effortless. Being skint is fucking miserable, as is having only enough to 'get by'. Having to watch what you spent is tiresome and boring.

AIBU to say money can make you happy?

Marianne Ni:
"Money can't buy happiness" means "the mindless accumulation of excess wealth ultimately leads to diminishing returns on happiness."
It does not mean "poor people should learn to be content without basic necessities or financial security."

"money can't buy happiness" is one of the most insidious and most effective lies capitalism has managed to tell us.

I don’t understand. Surely it’s socialist lie?

Definitely richer is nicer than poorer. Money alone doesn’t bring happiness but it certainly smooths the path and affects many other areas of life. It’s why being affluent is a significant privilege.
The advantages money bring are less about a draw full of diamonds and rubies and more about better mental and physical health, better outcomes for your children, greater opportunities for travel, socialising, work choices, reduced risk of crime and reduced risk of infant and child death. Money doesn’t bring happiness but does impact hugely on factors that create stress and misery.

I get very cross when I hear people return from expensive holidays in certain parts of Africa where they’ve been entertained by ‘authentic African dancers’ or visited ‘authentic African craft villages’ and start spouting the “They are so poor, they have literally nothing but are so happy. We should learn from them”.
It’s a capitalist myth. It allows us to perpetuate and ignore poverty that steals lives. It’s suggestive of black lives being worth less.
It’s the same in the U.K - the rubbish about people being ,”happier ‘back in the day’ when there was no money, but community spirit made up for that”. It allows the very wealthy Tories and Farage fawns to abdicate responsibility and to steal the developing equality improvements that were beginning to show effect.

Maybe money can't make you happy, but lack of money can certainly make you sad.

I also read the study about £75k being the cutoff point

Of course it can. 'Money can't buy happiness' is the sort of sentiment that was dreamt up to keep lowly workers in their place in Victorian times, along with 'you'll get your reward in Heaven'.

Most practical problems can be solved by throwing enough money at them. Stressed at work - money means you can give up your job. Struggling with responsibilities at home - money means you can hire whatever help you need. Separated from loved ones? Money means you can travel in comfort to see them when you like, or buy a house nearby, without having to worry about having to go to work. Unhappy with your appearance? Money will buy you cosmetic surgery. Unfit - you can hire a personal trainer. Neighbour issues - buy a detached house in the middle of nowhere.

As a pp has said, money can't 'cure' bereavement or illness, but it can make those things easier to cope with by removing other worries. Money can get you private medical treatment almost immediately rather than being stuck on an NHS waiting list.

Money can't buy you love? It can give you a wider choice of lovers, though. Look at how the very rich generally hook up with other very rich people - enough money can open up a new social world.

So, although there are a relatively small number of unhappinesses that can't be solved, the vast majority can.

The sort of people who tell you money doesn't matter are usually those who have plenty of it.

Depending on what the issues are, money can solve a lot of problems.
What it actually gives you are choices and security, which will almost certainly lead to increased happiness.

Most of my problems would not exist with more money, and the ones that did would be greatly diminished. It wouldn't take away my health problems, for instance, but it would make them easier to manage and make accessing the care I need much easier.

It can't buy you happiness. Can't buy you love etc. One of the richest people I know is also the most miserable because they have been brought up by parents who thought they could just buy everything instead of actually showing them any affection.

But that aside, it can certainly make things in life easier though. It helps not having to worry about how you're going to feed your kids while also wondering why your father doesn't love you.

Of course having money can make you happier. It can take away anxiety about finances. It gives you the means to do more so improves the quality of your life. It can give your kids the means to 'fit in ' better so they feel 'normal'. Having money helps stop the misery of having to scrimp and save just to get by.
It may help get rid of health issues or at least improve them. There are so many examples of ways having money can make you happier.
Can you tell I'm a single parent...

It depends on what's important to you. I'm someone who needs security to feel happy and content. But I have friends who are perfectly happy living hand to mouth, who don't worry about the future, don't care about home ownership or planning for the long term as long as they're enjoying what they're doing right now. Not choices I would make but it works for them.

I also have some very wealthy friends who are absolutely miserable. One friend is in a very unhappy marriage but won't leave because it would mean losing a lifestyle that she and, more importantly, her children are accostomed to and she worries that they would resent her. Another friend is miserable because she loathes her high powered corporate job and desperately regrets not fulfilling her lifelong dream of becoming a primary school teacher. But it's the high powered corporate job that has made them rich and if she were to leave the whole family would 'suffer'. In both cases big, beautiful family homes would have to be sold, children pulled out of private schools, separated from their friends and their expensive extra-curricular activities stopped, holidays to Florida or the Carribbean swapped for short breaks in the UK, the services of Nannies, cleaners and gardeners dispensed with meaning less free time, birthdays and Christmases massively scaled down compared to what the kids are used to..and while non of that actually amounts to anything approaching "suffering" in the great scheme of things, it is undoubtedly a lot to give up. So although money can bring you happiness in some cases I think people can feel trapped by it.

screamingvalenta

"The sort of people who tell you money doesn't matter are usually those who have plenty of it". Absolutely!!!

Money means:
You can choose to live in a nice environment
You can live in a large house with enough room to entertain friends and family
You can send your DC to private school
You can take family trips to theatres, galleries, fine dining
You can holiday abroad
You can decide to work part-time or not at all meaning you are more involved in your childrens lives
You can decorate your home how you want it
You can dress well
You can go to the hairdresser/beauty shops regularly
You can buy healthy food
You can hire cleaners, nannies, gardeners, window cleaners to make your life easier
You can pay for private healthcare
You can save for your child's future whether for university living costs or deposit on a house

Even if money doesn’t make you happy at least you can be miserable in comfort.

Money doesn’t buy happiness, but I’d rather cry in a Porsche than a Peugeot.

*disclaimer - I drive a fairly elderly Fiesta these days.

Agree. We used to have zero money when first DC was a baby and it was fucking miserable. Always counting the last penny and not being able to do anything, relying on my mum to help kit out DD in clothes and toys and always eating lentils.
Fast forward 7 years and we are doing very well- we have spending money, growing savings and holidays but most of all we do not lie awake at night worrying. Money certainly buys peace of mind if nothing else.