Simple question, does money buy happiness?

For a limited time possibly but for the long haul nope.

Nope - but it buys a better class of misery...

Not sure if it buys happiness but lack of it sure can cause misery. I know when times are good and cash is plentiful we are a lot less likely to have arguments, and there is a lot less tension when you aren't worried about the knock on the door from people whos bills have not been paid.

well i'm unhappy now, give me a wad of cash, i'll tell you if i'm happy in a week :P

Wilf

I would agree wholeheartedly with owldad.

The absence of money restricts you so much - and we're not talking about vast chunks of dosh here, either.

If you've ever had to cope without overdraft or credit cards, and have irregular pay dates, you'll know the meaning of word 'worry'/ Do you walk to work or miss lunch?

I'm now keen to get enough income to never have to have that sort of worry again. I don't want a vast amount, because I can be happy without it - just enough to keep family and cats happy.

Although one day I would like to have 'F**k You' money - the amount of money you need before you're able to tell anyone in your normal life to 'f**k off'.

Joe :-)

Money is a neccessary evil, I'm afraid. In an ideal world we shouldn't need it (what is it anyway?) but the society that we have created dictates that we can't live without it.

As for happiness: it would be awful to be destitute. It's nice to be able to afford those little luxuries like Broadband and the occasional 'Men Only'.

I wouldn't want to be a millionaire, though. That would flip me, I think.

Mind you, I could be one for a trial period and see how I go.

Any offers?

Who knows? I sure wouldn't mind finding out though!

I'm sure having enough money to pay for everything you need without getting into debt, and some spare to invest for retirement would make most people reasonably happy.

This is where the Lottery falls down. If the top prize were limited to one million and the remaining money paid as several prizes of 100/150 grand it would make for a lot more happy people.

no money does not buy happeness! Altho it can buy you alot of things if you have the right amount.

Money doesn't, in itself, buy happiness, but a lack of it will often bring unhappiness.

Originally posted by miss_piggy
Altho it can buy you alot of things if you have the right amount.

And the nominations for this weeks "Stating the Obvious" posts are as follows....... ;)

Originally posted by Greybeard
I'm sure having enough money to pay for everything you need without getting into debt, and some spare to invest for retirement would make most people reasonably happy.

This is where the Lottery falls down. If the top prize were limited to one million and the remaining money paid as several prizes of 100/150 grand it would make for a lot more happy people.
EXACTLY what I have been saying for AGES!! Lots more smaller prizes
:thumbsup:
YET, every time there ia a big rollover, ticket sales go up massively. People want to be mega rich, rather than just 'normal' lottery rich? dont understand :confused: :sad:

Money won't buy happiness but self-improvement will.

Originally posted by t020
Money doesn't, in itself, buy happiness, but a lack of it will often bring unhappiness.
Yes, agree, agree:nod:

Think of what you could make other people do for fun if you had a bit of cash to spare...

'i'll pay you x amount if you take off all your clothes and shout sing backstreet boys... show me the meaning of being lonley in sheffields city centre... :D

Oh the joy of money!!!

I think we would all be happier if we finally woke up to what money really is - bits of paper you cant eat. If we started to barter for goods and services, instead of trading in paper all the time, we would ALL be happier. Imagine if you could weed gardens or babysit for neighbours etc, and instead of getting paid in cash, get paid in goods - such as homemade cakes, jams and wine etc, as well as the returning of favours. Not only would this reduce the need for money, it would also bring communities together.

I know this will not appeal to the materialistic members of the forum ;), but I think it's a good idea all the same. Who's with me?! Hurrah!! :D

Originally posted by Lickable
i'll pay you x amount if you take off all your clothes and shout sing backstreet boys... show me the meaning of being lonley in sheffields city centre...

I'll do it for £500 ...

:P

Originally posted by Jamie
I'll do it for £500 ...

:P

This time last week I was so broke I would have done that.

I agree with what has said before. Being completly poverty stricken for the last couple of weeks has shown me that money does matter. Im not saying I need large amounts to have a good time but an amount would do!

I cant directly buy happiness but it can definetly aid you in heading in the right direction, and also reduce a lot of stress.

Originally posted by LittleWitch
I think we would all be happier if we finally woke up to what money really is - bits of paper you cant eat. If we started to barter for goods and services, instead of trading in paper all the time, we would ALL be happier. Imagine if you could weed gardens or babysit for neighbours etc, and instead of getting paid in cash, get paid in goods - such as homemade cakes, jams and wine etc, as well as the returning of favours. Not only would this reduce the need for money, it would also bring communities together.

I know this will not appeal to the materialistic members of the forum ;), but I think it's a good idea all the same. Who's with me?! Hurrah!! :D

That's absolutely ridiculous. You'd be undoing thousands of years of civilisation, and for what? You can still do your baby sitting/homemade cake exchange now, without having to abolish currency. The only difference is being paid cash gives you much greater flexibility. What if your neighbour didn't make anything you wanted?

That's absolutely ridiculous. You'd be undoing thousands of years of civilisation, and for what?

t020, did I say abolish currency? No, I was just airing my views on how to help us all become a little less dependent on money to make our lives run more smoothly.
And for your information, my suggestion has been proved successful in communities all over the world, not least in America and the UK. Called "Time Dollars" in the US, and "Time Banks" in the UK, they encourage civic engagement, community involvement, and self help. So tell the many thousands of people involved in these scemes that it's absolutely ridiculous what they're doing, and see what they say.

Some websites to look at to learn more (and to prove I'm not making this up):

http://www.timebanks.co.uk
http://www.fairshares.co.uk
http://www.neweconomics.org
http://www.timedollar.org

And anyway, if the current state of our social relationships is anything to go by, thousands of years of civilisation haven't done us that much good. :rolleyes:

Originally posted by LittleWitch
I think we would all be happier if we finally woke up to what money really is - bits of paper you cant eat. If we started to barter for goods and services, instead of trading in paper all the time, we would ALL be happier. Imagine if you could weed gardens or babysit for neighbours etc, and instead of getting paid in cash, get paid in goods - such as homemade cakes, jams and wine etc, as well as the returning of favours. Not only would this reduce the need for money, it would also bring communities together.

I know this will not appeal to the materialistic members of the forum ;), but I think it's a good idea all the same. Who's with me?! Hurrah!! :D

if someone pays me 200 goats for a cdrom I make for them, can I get a chit instead of 200 actual goats, cos I don't want them.

Then I could spend my 200 goats at the car dealership, who has room for livestock.

Then maybe the goatherd can give me 200 goats on credit, on a chit, which I can then exchange for a 50 gallons of vermillion paint chit, give the goatherd 40 gallons and keep 10 gallons in my back pocket for emergencies?

what are LETS but local cash schemes? If a LETS was successful enough it would replace the national currency.....(would have to be VERY successful to do that tho)

If you want to get rid of money you will also be doing away with property and barter.

I am all for this, but recognise the futility of proposing such a solution.


barter is the base of capitalism.

If you want to get rid of money you will also be doing away with property and barter.

As I already said, though, I do not want to get rid of money, just lighten our dependence on it a little.

Originally posted by LittleWitch
As I already said, though, I do not want to get rid of money, just lighten our dependence on it a little.

laudable, should've read farther down.

but I still believe that the notion of 'property' needs exterminating, if we are to deal with capital and capitalism. Which makes it rather hard to convince people.

Ruskin had a point with wealth and illth

money may not buy you happiness, but it is at the root of plenty of devastation.

money may not buy you happiness, but that is not the fault of money so much as the nature of happiness.

money buys you freedom from survival anxieties.

Suggest an alternative Phanerothyme. Communism?

What is communism, perhaps you'd care to elucidate?

Alternatives?

How bout we have a global revolution in conciousness, give up property and solipsism in favour of stewardship of the planet and altruism?

Or is that just too eden-like for your misery seeking mind?

Money money
it send some folk mad.

It's certainly sent Phanerothyme mad.

Originally posted by John
Simple question, does money buy happiness? Nope. 'But money buys you stuff, and stuff makes you happy!' to quote Sly from California Dreams.

Money doesn't 'buy' you happiness but it does give you security... which in turn gives you more happiness because your not worrying about it.

Originally posted by t020
It's certainly sent Phanerothyme mad.

can't quite explain communism to me then - fairy nuff.

Originally posted by Phanerothyme
can't quite explain communism to me then - fairy nuff.

I could but what's the point? You know what it is so how would explaining it to you have any relevance to the debate?

Originally posted by t020
I could but what's the point? You know what it is so how would explaining it to you have any relevance to the debate?
well we both know what it is, I just strongly suspect that our understandings of it differ quite sharply.

I'm inclined to assume (and I will stand corrected) that you would point to the former soviet union as an example (if somewhat imperfect) of communism. I would disagree.

It would be similar to that yes. Communism would mean state control and ownership and a lack of freedom and choice for citizens. What would your interpretation be?

Yes, i think money does lead to happiness. Thats why people are willing to kill for it.

Money = Happiness (Or at least some form of contentment)

It's very clear to me; No matter what you may say to undermine the link between money and happiness, if money didn't provide a sense of well being, then nobody, I mean - NOBODY would go to work.

I think money buys you "choices" in life and the ability to pay your way but it can also buy you some cheap friends and that can make you cynical.

Enough money for all I say. :D

Personally speaking, I dislike materialism, along with superficial people. I think it's a quite naive view to have that loads of money would mean loads of happiness.

Happiness is having a sense of perspective; the ability to take a step back and appreciate what you have. Happiness is not a wardrobe full of designer clothes, Harry Choo shoes and Cartier watches. In fact, I struggle to empathise with people like that.

I've got quite a strong social conscience, and if I was rich I'd feel guilty. Wealth usually comes at the expense of someone else, and I'd feel guilty for living an affluent life when so many people live below the poverty line. For that reason, I'd probably give it away.

Until you make peace with who you are,
you'll never be content with what you have.
Doris Mortman

Originally posted by Space
Money doesn't 'buy' you happiness but it does give you security... which in turn gives you more happiness because your not worrying about it.

That's the truth of it in a nutshell.

StarSparkle

Neither money nor security guarantee happiness. "Increases in wealth can lead to unrealistic expectations of contentment, which, when subsequently unfulfilled, cause disappointment." http://www.taipeitimes.com/News/bizfocus/archives/2006/01/01/2003286957

You really do have to look within for happiness.

The mind is its own place,
and in itself, can make heaven of Hell,
and a hell of Heaven. John Milton

But I do agree with Woody Allen - "Money is better than poverty, if only for financial reasons."

Originally posted by spinac
Neither money nor security guarantee happiness. "Increases in wealth can lead to unrealistic expectations of contentment, which, when subsequently unfulfilled, cause disappointment." http://www.taipeitimes.com/News/bizfocus/archives/2006/01/01/2003286957

You really do have to look within for happiness.


Of course, Spinac - it is totally futile if you are a millionaire, but hate yourself, for example.

I'd have thought it goes without saying that 'money can't buy you happiness' - of course it can't - but it can alleviate basic fears and worries such as where you're next meal's coming from, that do have a bearing on your degree of UNhappiness. Money can remove some negatives from your life that will make it more bearable than otherwise, and at least provide you with a degree of comfort in your misery.

Being at ease with yourself I'd say is the most important component of happiness, and no amount of money can buy that. Peace of mind is truly priceless.

StarSparkle

I think it's important to remember that even if you don't have money you can be happy. Yes money can bring more happiness, but it's usually only a quick fix. If you don't like yourself, you soon get used to new wealth and you have to face up to who you are and what would really make you happy.

Originally posted by spinac
I think it's important to remember that even if you don't have money you can be happy. Yes money can bring more happiness, but it's usually only a quick fix. If you don't like yourself, you soon get used to new wealth and you have to face up to who you are and what would really make you happy.

I think we're in agreement, aren't we?

Happiness is essentially all about your state of mind and its contentment or otherwise, regardless of external factors.

StarSparkle

Money can't buy happiness... but it can buy the freedom to do what ever you desire.

And to add to that,
"hapiness is a paroxysm, not a state".
- I forget who wrote this.

Like Blake's butterfly, chasing happiness is counter productive however you do it.

Originally posted by littleboo
Money can't buy happiness... but it can buy the freedom to do what ever you desire.

You got there just before me...

Money doesn't buy happiness, but it can allow you more opportunities to do the things that make you happy.

-PK-

Originally posted by Daley

Happiness is having a sense of perspective; the ability to take a step back and appreciate what you have. Happiness is not a wardrobe full of designer clothes, Harry Choo shoes

I agree Daley, and it's Jimmy Choos!! :rolleyes:

I dont think money can buy you happiness but I'd love to have that feeling when you can buy anything you wish. it would definitley sort out my tantrums when I don't know what to wear lol.

It'd be so much easier if we all had more money, but I think you should work hard for your money, so you can have satifaction in thinking what you have personally done. Not money you have inherited, or won etc.

It really P's me off when my friends parents still give them money, buy all their clothes and food etc. when they are 17/18 years old and old enough to make their own money.

If money did buy happiness, we should be a lot happier in this country already. If you earn £12,000 a year you are in the top 10% richest people in the world. If you earn £25,000 a year you are in the top 2% richest people in the world. http://www.globalrichlist.com/

I have been poor and happy ---- ie wondering if I walked home from work I could afford The Star.

And well off and unhappy ----ie having enough money to pay my bills.
So I suppose it all depends on circumstances at the time.

hazel

having the money to buy anything you wanted and gifts and things for friends/loved ones would be such a great feeling.

money doesnt buy happiness, but it can buy you a lot more time to spend with the people you care about.

Originally posted by spinac
If money did buy happiness, we should be a lot happier in this country already. If you earn £12,000 a year you are in the top 10% richest people in the world. If you earn £25,000 a year you are in the top 2% richest people in the world. http://www.globalrichlist.com/

With respect, isn't wealth a purely subjective comparison. The ones earning peanuts by the standard of the Western Nations sre generally able to sustain their living because the cost of it is so low.. Granted there are people in the world who are scratching out an existence, and sometimes failing in this task.

Those are the ones we can and should help.

It boils down really to the availability of money in the economy in which they have to live.

There are people, many of them, in our economy, priced out of what we could consider the norm

Originally posted by spinac
If money did buy happiness, we should be a lot happier in this country already. If you earn £12,000 a year you are in the top 10% richest people in the world. If you earn £25,000 a year you are in the top 2% richest people in the world. http://www.globalrichlist.com/

Yeah, and I agree that its wrong that so many starve while we live in 'relative' comfort, but if I earn only £12k in this country then I am still poor, no matter if some people in other countries are poorer still! I shouldn't be expected to 'count my blessings' just because some people are poorer still! £12k doesn't go very far in the UK, whereas it would make me exceedingly wealthy in a third world country.

I've been dirt poor, earning way less than £12k a year, and I can vouch that while I was struggling to make ends meet I didn't stop to count my blessings once. :(

Good point MTheo about having time to spend with people you care about. Whether financially rich or poor you ain't gonna be happy if you've got to spend all your time working to keep the money coming in, and I also agree with Mathom that £12k may put you near the top of the heap globally in income terms but because this is an expensive country to live in your disposable income is gonna be near zilch - but I guess I'd still rather be here with opportunities than in a poor country regardless of my income. So you maybe could count that blessing?

I know someone close to me who has a house that they can afford, well paid job, two nice cars, they can afford holidays, etc etc and is unhappy - happiness comes from within you cant buy happiness.

I agree with some of the comments above - money only opens more doors and gives you security.

I rent my home privately, its expensive - i have to have two jobs to pay for it and i worry about bill etc but it doesnt make me unhappy.

The things that should make you happy are your feelings about things, being with people you care about.

i think it is a well known fact that money cannot buy happiness.
so knowing this fact really takes the power out of the 'conept' of money and you can see it for what it is. but once you really come to terms with this lowered sense of appreciation for money you will probably find as i do that you take enormious enjoyment in wasting money!! which is quite ironic

Money can't buy happiness, but it certainly gives some people a feeling of superiority and actual worth.

Originally posted by nick2
Money can't buy happiness, but it certainly gives some people a feeling of superiority and actual worth.

Shallow, stupid people.

(I'm agreeing with you, Nick ;) )

StarSparkle :)

Having plenty of cash may not make the things in life that make you sad go away.. But it sure could provide an indefinite distraction.

money only gives a sense of security,
it can allso bring sadness, envy, hate, ect.
Byt then again, I'd rather be well & unhappy than skint & unhappy!

money improves your standard of living. If you are with somebody you love and have no money then you are limited to what you can do, been there. If money was not an issue you could have more fun together by jetting off somewhere exotic.
whats more fun going on a night out and to an expensive meal with the one you love or staying in and having a cheap meal?

It might be more fun but its short term happiness. If its someone you love it doesnt matter what you do - u'll be happy.

Originally posted by Preacher Man
whats more fun going on a night out and to an expensive meal with the one you love or staying in and having a cheap meal?

Who needs food if you're in love ?

Originally posted by Preacher Man
money improves your standard of living. If you are with somebody you love and have no money then you are limited to what you can do, been there. If money was not an issue you could have more fun together by jetting off somewhere exotic.
whats more fun going on a night out and to an expensive meal with the one you love or staying in and having a cheap meal?

I'd say that if you're with the right person, it don't matter, Preacher Man

StarSparkle :)

Originally posted by StarSparkle
I'd say that if you're with the right person, it don't matter, Preacher Man

StarSparkle :)

I agree :D
I'm just glad to be with them... thats all that matters! :P

Simple question, does money buy happiness?

No... Money simply gives us the opportunity to do thing's that would bring us happiness, but presently can't afford.

He who loves sorrow, will always find something to mourn over.
Danish Proverb

Contentment makes poor men rich; Discontent makes rich men poor.
Benjamin Franklin

What's money?
A man is a success if
he gets up in the morning
and goes to bed at night
and in between does what he wants to do.
Bob Dylan

Wealth is the ability to fully experience life.
Henry David Thoreau

The poor man is not he who is without a cent,
but he who is without a dream."
Harry Kemp

"I'm fed up of being hard up but happy, I wouldn't mind being rich and kind of moody for a change"

Flo, Andy Capp's wife.

Nice one longcol - i googled for this and could only find this said by Princess Diana ... !

They say it is better to be poor and happy than rich and miserable,
but how about a compromise like moderately rich and just moody?

... but I think Flo's way is more snappy. (Did Princess Diana plagiarise an Andy Capp cartoon?)

http://en.thinkexist.com/quotes/with/keyword/moody/

I would be more than happy to conduct an experiment for you all... If you all send me pots of money, I'll let you know if it makes me happier:heyhey:

:nono: Sorry, but it wouldn't work - you sound happy already - there's a scheming wit about you! Nice try!

A study at Rotterdam’s Erasmus University has shown that, overall, the population of Britain isn’t getting happier as it gets richer. Indeed, the numbers suffering from a mental illness is rocketing.

[one factor] is isolation. Increasing numbers of us are living by ourselves. We’ve become more individualistic, with weaker family and neighbourhood ties. People are connecting to each other less – and that greater isolation is mentally unhealthy.

[another] factor is inactivity. People are living increasingly sedentary lifestyles. Whilst there is much concern about the low numbers of people involved in ‘sport’, the bigger issue is that people aren’t getting the everyday exercise that they used to.

Quoted from
http://www.livingstreets.org.uk/page.php?pageid=504

One more thing to share with you .... from http://mitpress.mit.edu/catalog/item/default.asp?ttype=6&tid=14403

Considerable evidence suggests that if we use an increase in our incomes, as many of us do, simply to buy bigger houses and more expensive cars, then we do not end up any happier than before. But if we use an increase in our incomes to buy more of certain inconspicuous goods-such as freedom from a long commute or a stressful job-then the evidence paints a very different picture. The less we spend on conspicuous consumption goods, the better we can afford to alleviate congestion; and the more time we can devote to family and friends, to exercise, sleep, travel, and other restorative activities. On the best available evidence, reallocating our time and money in these and similar ways would result in healthier, longer- and happier-lives.

It's easy to imagine money and material goods will buy happiness - but that buzz is short lived - like a Christmas present - the initial excitement quickly wears off and we can easily go back to imagining a newer bigger more exciting gift will make us happy, but money and things have a limit on how happy they make us. Inner happiness comes from connecting with ourselves our friends and family. So long as we don't have to work excessively to meet basis needs like rent/mortgage, food, running a car to get to work etc, most of us could be a lot happier now with what we have now.

Happiness is not achieved with money. Happiness is from within and only you can achieve it.

If you had loads of money to pay all your bills, give you a nice house, nice lifestyle you would think you were happy, but if then you entered the house and had no one to talk to and nothing to do would you be happy.

Friends I have, dont have a lot but are blistfully happy, because they are comfortable with themselves and their lives.

Money doesn't buy you love.....infact it can bring you a LOT of misery.

You just end up with a shi* load of stuff and and empty feeling.............If people know you are loaded, they hit on you for all the wrong reasons.....

Why do so many pop divas marry their backing dancer only to find out a few months down the line its all turned sour?.....


Coming into money can loose you friends (well people who you thought were friends).....There are a lot of people out there who cant handle your "success".......

I have seen a whole family literally torn appart by wrangles over who gets what......especially when someone dies.....so make sure you make a will !!!!!!!!!!

I think there's no straight answer to this question. Money doesn't guarantee you happiness but it may bring you some or a lot… Money doesn't guarantee you sadness and misery but it may bring you some or a lot! A sensible-logical thinking person can have happiness with or without money, and a miserable person will find its way to sadness with or without money…

That's very philisopical :)

In a perfect world we should all find inner peace and happiness without all the materialistic trappings of modern life......

In an idea world............cough...cough...:)

Originally posted by John
Simple question, does money buy happiness?

Nope, but it sure would help

I suppose we'd all like the chance to study this philosophy!

Now hand over the dough!!!!!!!

And I'll be on my way....:D

I can't answer that question, as Ive never had any.

I can safely say that money DOES buy you happniness. Well it does for mne anyway. The more money I have, the happier I become. Anyone who disagrees, then I urge you to give me your money and I will prove it is true. :thumbsup:

hmn... no

but it could put end to poverty... now would that be constituted as buying happiness for countless millions...

just a thought...

Originally posted by spyro2000
I can safely say that money DOES buy you happniness. Well it does for mne anyway. The more money I have, the happier I become. Anyone who disagrees, then I urge you to give me your money and I will prove it is true. :thumbsup:


LOL yer in your dreams!!!

mwahahahahaha!!

:heyhey:

No, but at least you can be miserable in comfort.:D

Does money buy happiness? Of course it does.

no but it can HELP you be happy sometimes.