To think money is the beginning and end of everything?

[MyWaryLimePoster]

People love to say “money isn’t everything,” but isn’t that just something people with money say? It dictates where you live, what opportunities you have, your health, your stress levels - everything. Even relationships and friendships are influenced by it.

AIBU to think that no matter how much we try to romanticise life, money is the root of it all?

Well, it’s not. But having it helps make life easier.

Saying that you can have all the money in the world and still be as miserable as sin. It only gets you to a certain point in terms of material things.

I agree OP. There are some people out there who have no idea how to manage money though and I can see how I that situation it could make them miserable. For me it would literally solve all my problems😂

YABU. If that were true, everyone would be happier than absolutely everyone who had less money than them and vice versa. Some people have not much money but are happy. Some rich people are miserable as sin.

The people who say it have money so there mind thinks about different things

There have been studies about it before,

If you are poor your mind only thinks about money which stops you from thinking about the larger picture so to speak

People with money think about other things and for them money is just a given

Though how much money I'm taking about is up for debate

And for some people it's never quite enough... someone else will always have more

Happiness increases with money to a level - a level that secures food and housing. That may need be more if the people around you have more

So you need the basics
And you need to feel you are as good as the next person.

After that it doesn't help your happiness

This is well known

Life is so much better with money, the choice, opportunities .. you can outsource so much stress. Eat better, better education , the list is endless
I wouldn't swap it for anything. People who say different either have never had any or don't want others to know how good it is

I've never had any money, but I know id rather be unhappy in the Caribbean than in my shitty town!

I disagree. My ex lives in a 290 year old house with half an acre of walled garden. But I took ds and left when I refused to put up with ex any more. I'd rather sleep in a hedge than stay with that man. My scruffy, one bed flat was an infinitely happier home

Money is NOT everything.

Anyone that says you can be poor and happy is kidding themselves and obviously has never been in an insecure and vulnerable money position before.
It is extremely anxiety inducing and depressing to have no money in the bank for years on end.
People absolutely need plenty of money in order to thrive, rather than just 'survive'.

Money isn't everything. I would give away everything I own to not have watched my husband die slowly from cancer, all the money in the world wouldn't have cured him.

Money makes life easy. For example, we are trying to buy a car right now. We have a budget of £2.5k. I don't want to be breaking down all over the place, or having to pay out masses for repairs (not to mention the inconvenience of getting it to and from the garage for said repairs) and I need to think about a car with small tyres because we can't afford to replace big ones, and we have to think about insurance costs and fuel costs.

If you have money, you don't need to think about any of that. You just choose a car you like, buy it new or nearly new, no worries about reliability etc, and off you go.

If you have money you have choices, where and how to live etc.It is said that money can’t buy health, but to a degree it can. You can have yearly scans to check if anything is wrong and treat it before it becomes untreatable. If you need treatments/drugs not available on the NHS you can buy them. If you need surgery you can have it without delay. If you’re ill you can have the best care in a private room, in peace. You can recuperate in luxury. If you have cancer you can afford treatment not available to most and have the best care. You have security knowing you won’t be kicked out of your house. You can replace your furniture, appliances, car etc without worrying. You can educate your children , encourage them to them with their hobbies so they can realise their dreams. If you need a teeth makeover or nose job etc - no problem .

Yep…I never had a money worry when married, then I separated and although I earn good money it’s now something I think about on a weekly basis. But I wouldn’t go back…

The link between wealth and happiness has been well studied (to the extent that it isn't really a even question).

Broadly, levels of happiness increase in direct proportion to income up to a certain tipping point. After that, there are negligible gains in happiness as income increases further, or even a decrease in happiness, depending on which study you look at.

Basically - being poor is shit for obvious reasons, but people who are hugely wealthy are not typically happier (and may be less happy) than those with moderate wealth.

You might find this interesting @MyWaryLimePoster.

https://www.theguardian.com/lifeandstyle/2022/oct/28/how-much-money-makes-you-happy-we-ask-an-expert

I think there's also the fact that we very quickly become accustomed to a certain level of living, so people's sense of 'normal' expands to fill the money available. Also, rich people tend to live and socialise with other rich people, and will compare themselves to people who have even more than them and feel inadequate as a result.

That said, the point at which money does not increase happiness is pretty high, isn't it? About £70K per annum or something like that? So higher than the vast majority of people will ever earn.

It's absolutely everything until you hit a certain level of comfort. And at that point you can swan about saying the most important thing is love and happiness. It's the original luxury belief.

The only person who insists money doesn't count is married to a very high earner. We are just above minimum wage here and she must know she's talking shite, surely?

Is that 70k per person or household ?

At household it would be 2 median salaries ?

Tell that to the immigrants who start a new life and out perform many. Working with this population humbles me everyday.

Life is more complicated than money.

Tell us your background OP? What specifically about your life makes you merit money above all?

Yes absolutely. When you are on the bones of your arse, poverty directly contributes to (un) happiness due to housing insecurity and the fact it restricts options and choices in so many ways. There is a reason it is called the poverty trap.

As we progress up the wealth curve, it becomes more relative and more to do with our perceptions relative to our peers. So this is where mindset does become increasingly relevant.

And yes, the sweet spot for happiness is a relatively high income, but of course it is dependant on local COL and average wealth. I read a study obln happiness vs wealth in the Bay Area of San Francisco and I think the tipping point after which happiness gains dropped off was something like $250K. With an income of $70K you'd basically be living in a bin.

It makes like a lot lot easier . Taking away financial stresses is huge and it gives you freedom and choice .

I think you are correct tbh.

About £70K per annum or something like that?

Surely it's higher than that now in regard to housing costs, COL, etc?

And yes, the sweet spot for happiness is a relatively high income, but of course it is dependant on local COL and average wealth. I read a study obln happiness vs wealth in the Bay Area of San Francisco and I think the tipping point after which happiness gains dropped off was something like $250K. With an income of $70K you'd basically be living in a bin.

that makes more sense