To think people who say “money doesn’t buy happiness” have never had real money?

[EdgyRobin]

Poor people romanticising struggle is weird.

Maybe they never had real money but they've always had enough in my view. They obviously never skipped meals because they can't afford to eat, worried about losing their home or struggled to stay warm.

I think we quickly habituate to however much wealth we have. So 4 foreign holidays a year become the norm. Nice cars. Nice clothes. You don't get the thrill out of them that you do if you don't have money.

And there are problems that money can't solve like relationship problems and health problems, although they are probably easier to weather with money.

Money buys time and the relief of labor in many forms. Time and leisure is happiness.

people who say money doesn’t buy happiness are either incapable of being happy or have never had the opportunity to exchange money to ease life’s burdens.

The people I have always heard say this are those who have never suffered from the lack of it. They thinks its immaterial becuase they have never had to worry about it presence in their bank accounts, so they don't have immeditate worries like, how do they pay their bills this month? Will they have rent? Can they afford to pay rent and eat. No, they are free to worry about the existential stuff that money cannot affect, so they think they are on a par with people who are genuinly poor, that they have the same problems. They haven't got a clue.

Money doesn’t bring happiness, if you are miserable with your life, money won’t make you happy. But if you are happy, money can make you happier. It causes less stress and makes life more comfortable.

Statistically, good and bad things befall every single person equally. A traumatic childhood, complex family dynamics, MH issues, neurodivergence, serious health problems, infertility, addiction, abusive relationships etc are terrible things to go through and obviously have nothing to do with money. Nobody wants to switch places with someone diagnosed with cancer, regardless of how many millions they have.

However the odd thing about these "money can't buy happiness" people is that they have a cognitive dissonance that bad things can (and do) happen to poor people as well. Whatever terrible life tragedy they trot out as an example of how money can't by happiness, chances are identical that it will happen to someone who's also poor. All things being even, it's much better to have money than not.

What money buys is a massively elevated baseline of human experience. Every person is only here for a lifetime and the world has far more things to offer than anyone could possibly experience in the time they're on this planet. You have a few decades to build a career, meet a partner, have children and create a home. That's already a massive undertaking. However if you factor in how many years of life go into saving and scrimping so you can have one enjoyable experience, then it's much better to have an unlimited source of wealth.

Is it really "fun" to save up for 5 years to afford a single holiday? It's noble, no doubt, but in the end the only person living that life is yourself. If you had unlimited money you could take 5 luxury holidays every year if you wanted. You can see and experience new things every few months and give your children the same life. You could stop working completely and pursue things that relax you or interest you. The reason most wealthy women are skinny is that they literally have more time to focus on being thin. They aren't juggling a million things at once and comfort eating at night. It's much easier to become the person you've always wanted to be with enough money. Money essentially gives you the potential to become the best possible version of yourself in this single lifetime. It doesn't protect you from tragedies but neither does being poor.

I think it's a mix, you certainly can have to little money and struggling when the kids where little wasn't fun. We now have enough to not worry about bills and do a few nice things.

But most people who have won the lottery have ended up penniless not to many years later and not happy. So I do think there is such a thing as to much money.

I agree with the poster who said, money doesn't buy you happiness but it helps.

Go and read the sad, sad stories in Elderly Parents then tell me all they need is money. Being poor is just one way to be miserable.

It can improve your life in many ways but of course it can't buy you happiness.

Rich people experience bereavement , illness, tragic accidents, heartbreak, infertility, infidelity, loneliness, etc etc.

Many of the hardest things in life can happen to any person. Unless you think you can pay your way out of having human feelings.

Money clearly doesn’t buy happiness or they’d be no unhappy rich people, which is patently not the case. Money does relive some of life’s stresses and worries though, and can buy enjoyable experiences.

Some of life’s burdens can not be eased by giving someone money.

I think it refers to.. all the poor people I see with big smiles on their faces, knowing what’s important.. and then all the wealthy people who look miserable and have mental health problems etc. But money does buy security and removes that particular worry about paying bills etc.

It reminds me of all the lottery winners who were in happy marriages and then all divorced after winning. Something about having a simpler life and having a bit of struggle together is bonding.. Then the money makes them materialistic and full of themselves.

It doesn't buy happiness but it buys security, which in a way, is probably better than a nebulous concept like 'happiness'.

I do sort of get it.

How many rich and famous people go off the rails with drink/drugs/depression/severe mental health problems. Absolutely loads.

How many beautiful successful rich women still get cheated on or have multiple failed marriages. Or become estranged from their families or children. Again, loads.

How many rich people completely ruin themselves with ridiculous plastic surgery and damage not only their appearance but also their health.

I think that money can buy you happiness if you are happy and stable anyway and have good people around you.

I think that sometimes the lengths that people have to go to in order to become rich whether that’s fame, or a highly stressful career can ruin a persons life.

Happiness seems linked to having a sense of purpose…. So ‘making a living’ gives that. There is satisfaction in getting by reasonably comfortably and having a few well earned extras. Being suddenly super rich through a lottery win, for example, would be a difficult transition if eliminates that sense of purpose and replaces it with …. What? Obligation to do good, help others, be happy buying stuff?

I have been poor - very and now well off but the things that make me happy have not changed. Love, family support, a good friendship group, access to the outdoors.
Money brings freedom - and security but doesn’t buy happiness

The people who say this have presumably never been poor. Any difficult things you have to cope with in life - illness, bereavement, divorce, disability - are even worse if you also have money worries. Working for a living can turn from something you may not enjoy but is a normal part of your routine, to an impossible burden if, for example, you or a family member are seriously ill - if you do not have to work, you will never appreciate how hard it can be sometimes to keep the show on the road.

When I think about aot of my issues, money would help a lot of them if not all. Hate my job, burnout and stress, having to work full time in a low paid job, I have debt, can't buy myself nice things, can't afford to decorate my house my furniture is pretty much falling apart and that makes me miserable, struggle with paying for childcare etc, struggle eating healthy and keeping fit can't afford gym membership, struggle with keeping on top of house and garden again would be lovely to be able to pay for help, I am not saying money would solve all my issues but it would solve a lot and improve them greatly and in turn my mental wellbeing and happiness

It doesn't guarantee happiness, but it definitely makes it easier. Compare a half term going to Spain with the DC the first week, a SAHM in a large house with a playset in the garden and space to invite friends over and money for daytrips and nice food, with a family in a cramped flat and no money to go out and having to be careful on the food shop. you can't guarantee the first will be happy and the second won't, but it's much more likely the first will be having a nicer life than the second scenario.

However if you compare the first scenario to the second, and the first has an abusive dad coming home each night after cheating, the mums depressed because of the relationship so doesn't have energy for the DC, and the second scenario the mum and dad are happy, loving and caring then they may well be happier. So it doesn't guarantee happiness. Just makes it easier.

Money doesn't buy happiness but it will stop you being miserable.

Scientifically it is untrue, to an extent.

There have been multiple studies that show money does improve happiness up to a point (if I remember off the top of my head it was a US study and the figure was around $120k a year) after that point extra money did not improve happiness.

In short, having enough money that you do not need to worry about rent/mortgage, putting food on the table and other basics, having enough money that you can partake in some leisure activities / eat out / go on holiday does make you happy.

I think the phrase tends to mean that if you’re depressed, for example, it won’t cure you.

but generally I agree. Not having to work or being able to quit when you hate a job or boss is a huge happiness factor. That and a spacious house, plenty of heat, food and fun…. Adds to happiness

Financial security gives options / choices and peace of mind

But doesn't necessarily correlate with good health and happy relationships

In my experience it's the people who have money that claim it doesn't buy you happiness. I've never met someone who was poor that actually believed they'd be no happier if they knew they'd have a nice house for the rest of their lives and the other security wealth brings.

I've heard plenty of wealthy people say it though, as a means to crush aspiration and/or show how "normal" they are. Especially the lightweight Surrey socialist type who consider themselves to be working class despite being worth millions.

If you had loads of money but poor health and no friends or family I'm not sure that would lead to happiness.