Can Money Buy Happiness?

Question

Studies and surveys have consistently shown that people with higher incomes are statistically happier than those with lower incomes.

Were the people with higher incomes happy before they made the money or were they happier when the began to earn more money?

Answer 1

it depends on your definition of happiness.

also, depends how materialistic you are.

Answer 2

yes, whatever job they got their money from, that is probaly why they are happy. so yes, maybe money can buy happiness, but in order to get money you would need a job that you should liek so it al ldepends o nthe job and the money. alright

Answer 3

I think it would help make a person happier because it would allow a person to worry less about  bills and other living expenses

Answer 4

I heard that money makes people happier, but only when they earn up to $100,000. After that, their level of happiness relatively stays the same.

Answer 5

Money can't buy happiness, but it sure helps!

Answer 6

The accomplishments that earn them the money probably have more to do with the happiness. They were more likely to be happy to start with and made better life decisions. Also the confidence levels were probably greater to take the bigger risks.

Answer 7

Well, I'll start off by stating what I learned in my probability and statistics class: Statistics are a lie.

Anyways, the only thing I can think of would be that more money means less stress. Don't have to worry about paying bills on time, don't have to worry about running short on anything you might "need", and if worse comes to worse and there is an economic state of emergency, there is less worry about running into financial troubles.

Sadly, people don't realize that a it would take $50 today to equal $1 in 1913, which is when the Federal Reserve started and the dollar was introduced and backed by gold. Thanks to Nixon, that is no longer true and that is why the value of the dollar has gone down so much. The dollar is literally worth about 2¢. Gas prices haven't gone up; the value of the dollar has gone down.

(And a little hint to anyone out there; the Depression happened because the government took a vast amount of money out of circulation. The US went from having enough money to have $1,400 per person to a little over $14. It wasn't because of the Stock Market crash. That would have been fixed within 3-4 months. And don't forget - it can happen again.)

The people who have money and are happy are also ignorant to the fact that they really have nothing. And, if they don't have an allodial title to their car (Manufacturer Certificate/Statement of Origin) or land, they don't own those either. The only state you can get an allodial title for land is Texas. People in the US have a false sense of security and ownership, which leads to greed and people feeling like they need more money.

Bottom line: ignorance is bliss.

Answer 8

I think people became happier when they earned more money because it feels good to look at a high paycheck, and the financial security and the ability to do things that people with lower incomes don't do (join a gym, take a class, pay off your house faster, etc.)

Answer 9

Both.  I believe they were happy people to begin with and then just much happier when they began to earn more money.

That's my belief just based on articles I have read and several documentaries on past lottery winners.  It seems to me that the majority that did well with their winnings were happy to begin with but were even happier with the freedom to do things and the lack of financial stress money brought.  Those that win only to be broke, divorced, etc. not too long after, were never happy anyway IMO.  They found the old saying "money can't buy happiness" to be sadly, very true.

Had you added no details, just asked if I thought money could buy happiness, I would have said YES.  Why?  Because I have those that love me and I love in return.  For us all to not have to worry about money, well that would be true happiness as we have everything else.  I would rather be blessed with love than money any day though.

Answer 10

Mo' money- mo' problems :-)

Answer 11

Money has no intrinsic value except purchasing power.If possession of something through purchase  can , make a person happy,then it's so.To relate happiness with money isn't sensible as coordinates of happiness keep shifting.There is nothing to show that at what stage money acquisition makes a person happy.

Answer 12

Money will buy you what you need to survive.

Money generally will make things easier for you.

Money will help you educate your kids and make your wife's need satisfied

Will Money Buy happiness?

Happiness is individual and contentment is a trait that varies with individuals.  Some people can never be happy specially knowing that there are people with more money than him or some other silly reasons.

And as the saying goes:

"Money can not buy you love, but it can rent a lot".

"Money is not everything, it is THE ONLY THING!!"

Answer 13

I think working more than your getting paid for not only prevents you to do things on your free time that make you happy, but it makes the quality of life miserable; constant worry on keeping up with bills pretty much sucks horse nuts.