People who say money can't buy happiness don't know what they're talking about

HeadPig · 26-04-2011 08:12PM #1

People who say money can't buy happiness don't know what they're talking about. I agree that material goods don't make a person happy, but that's what people seem to associate money with. A new car will make you happy for a few days or weeks until the novelty wears away and your happiness returns to its original level, or perhaps even lower if the car doesn't live up to expectations.

Money, to me, is the ability to pack it all in and get out when you need a break. It's freedom. There are millions of people around the world in dead-end jobs who would love to throw off the shirt and tie, get on a plane and go somewhere off the beaten track but they can't because they can't finance themselves without the job. If you have enough money you can do almost anything, but obviously not everyone is fortunate enough to be in that scenario. I just hate when people dismiss money as something that won't make anyone happy or assume it will ruin people's lives. These people are largely jealous.

Nodferatu · 26-04-2011 08:20PM

i respect your opinion OP, but don't agree, have you ever suffered depression? do you currently suffer from social anxiety? money isn't the be all and end all. (this is my opinion only and im probably the minority as per usual) doesn't matter how many millions i have it wont take away the emptiness in my heart, it wont make my anxiety's go away or lift the cloud of depression, i agree to a certain extent money CAN make you happy buying a new item of clothing, a holiday or a new car but it cannot fix a broken heart, or take away pain or suffering you feel inside. it just throws a blanket over it, like a plaster over cancer

HeadPig · 26-04-2011 08:23PM

Nodferatu wrote: »

i respect your opinion OP, but don't agree, have you ever suffered depression? do you currently suffer from social anxiety? money isn't the be all and end all. doesn't matter how many millions i have it wont take away the emptiness in my heart, it wont make my anxiety's go away or lift the cloud of depression, i agree to a certain extent money CAN make you happy buying a new item of clothing, a holiday or a new car but it cannot fix a broken heart, or take away pain or suffering you feel inside. it just throws a blanket over it, like a plaster over cancer

Money can't fix a broken heart, or give you a social life, I agree. On the flipside, it doesn't make these problems any worse and probably increases your chances of solving them. Depression - enough money to see a psychiatrist regularly. Forever alone - if you're rich enough, there are always gold diggers out there; not a very pleasing prospect, but more pleasing than being alone.

KINGVictor · 26-04-2011 08:23PM

HeadPig wrote: »

People who say money can't buy happiness don't know what they're talking about. I agree that material goods don't make a person happy, but that's what people seem to associate money with. A new car will make you happy for a few days or weeks until the novelty wears away and your happiness returns to its original level, or perhaps even lower if the car doesn't live up to expectations.

Money, to me, is the ability to pack it all in and get out when you need a break. It's freedom. There are millions of people around the world in dead-end jobs who would love to throw off the shirt and tie, get on a plane and go somewhere off the beaten track but they can't because they can't finance themselves without the job. If you have enough money you can do almost anything, but obviously not everyone is fortunate enough to be in that scenario. I just hate when people dismiss money as something that won't make anyone happy or assume it will ruin people's lives. These people are largely jealous.

Money is good to have, no doubt about it but you have consider lots of other variables to be happy, for instance consider the guy (Steve Jobs) below:

steve-jobs-photos.jpg

He is one of the richest men in the world worth billions of dollars, at the moment I think he would trade most of that money for good health.

Dwellingdweller · 26-04-2011 08:23PM

Tell that to Buddhist masters who are perfectly content without a penny to their pockets.

Sounds to me like you're angsty, even somewhat resentful of money in some bizarre way, OP. Reading your post has the effect of a soapbox preacher, screaming 'look! I have money! And you don't! You're jealous of me, aren't you! I am happy! So happy'... And freedom? Freedom is for free-it's all in your mind. Think of the Hamlet quote.
"I could count myself a master of infinite space, were it not that I have bad dreams."
I hope you're happy OP. I honestly do. Because a fat wad of currency in your pockets ain't gona do it. You have to do it for yourself.

Saila · 26-04-2011 08:24PM

so what you're saying is people have told you this and this is your retort
money wont make you happy OP

HeadPig · 26-04-2011 08:26PM

Dwellingdweller wrote: »

Tell that to Buddhist masters who are perfectly content without a penny to their pockets.

Sounds to me like you're angsty, even somewhat resentful of money in some bizarre way, OP. Reading your post has the effect of a soapbox preacher, screaming 'look! I have money! And you don't! You're jealous of me, aren't you! I am happy! So happy'... And freedom? Freedom is for free-it's all in your mind. Think of the Hamlet quote.
"I could count myself a master of infinite space, were it not that I have bad dreams."
I hope you're happy OP. I honestly do. Because a fat wad of currency in your pockets ain't gona do it. You have to do it for yourself.

I don't have any money.

My name is URL · 26-04-2011 08:27PM

meh, happiness comes from within, and is utterly subjective. Of course having money can make life easier and open up a whole world of opportunities but it doesn't necessarily make you a happier person at all.

HeadPig · 26-04-2011 08:31PM

My name is URL wrote: »

meh, happiness comes from within, and is utterly subjective. Of course having money can make life easier and open up a whole world of opportunities but it doesn't necessarily make you a happier person at all.

I agree that happiness comes largely from within.

Oranage2 · 26-04-2011 08:34PM

Like how much money are you talking about?

It's like #maslows theory - no matter what, there's always another step in the ladder - yoiu think having a big house and car will make you happy - you'll then think having castle and aeroplane will make you hasppier and it never ends.

Also I've traveled a lot a the poor people seem very happy, all they worry about is feeding their family and they're estatic when they go to school.

Us westerners dont worry about food or education but we do worry about car loans and job security.

Dwellingdweller · 26-04-2011 08:36PM

HeadPig wrote: »

I don't have any money.

Then it's even more relevant.

look up Vipassana buddhism, and "The Power Of Silence" on youtube, all the talks given by said monk are brilliant!

26-04-2011 08:38PM

I agree that money does not buy you happiness but in fairness, i'd rather be rich and unhappy than poor and unhappy

Saila · 26-04-2011 08:41PM

Dwellingdweller wrote: »

Then it's even more relevant. look up Vipassana buddhism, and "The Power Of Silence" on youtube, all the talks given by said monk are brilliant!

this one

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=adQhghis5X

makes a powerfull point alright

dx22 · 26-04-2011 08:41PM

Money won't make a person happy...
However, no money can cause a person to be unhappy

26-04-2011 08:41PM

Money might not bring you happiness, but Id rather cry in a Ferrari than a Fiat punto.

Ive had money, wish I had it back.

(hindsight and all...):rolleyes:;)

Priori · 26-04-2011 08:44PM

I like this quote:

"A wise man should have money in his head, but not in his heart."

~ Jonathan Swift

26-04-2011 08:45PM

Saila wrote: »

this one

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=adQhghis5X

makes a powerfull point alright

Sure monks dont have a shillin, how would they know the difference?? LOL

nottherealdeal · 26-04-2011 08:52PM

OP, I agree with you. While not directly buying you happiness it make life that bit easier therefore indirectly making you happier

I remember reading an interview with that TV presenter Dermot O'LEary before and he said to never underestimate the power of money and it's ability to buy you freedom, nice things and security. It was so refreshing for a rich person in the limelight to say that!

It really grinds my gears when you see these rich celebreties saying money isn't everything and saying that money doesn't drive them... but it's very easy to say that when you had millions in the bank and have no financial worries!

Eric Cartman · 26-04-2011 08:55PM

money can definitley buy you happiness

id be happier if i had a bentley
id be happier with a few pills and a 50 bag
id be happier with another box of smokes

my logic is infallible

coffeelover · 26-04-2011 08:58PM

I don't agree with you OP. Money can't buy a social life, friends etc.. I'd rather be happy than have money.

Eric Cartman · 26-04-2011 09:02PM

coffeelover wrote: »

I don't agree with you OP. Money can't buy a social life, friends etc.. I'd rather be happy than have money.

do you honestly think people hang around with the likes of russel brand or paris hilton for their intellectual abilities or riveting conversation - money definitley can buy you a social life, as long as your buying pints or cocaine

NomdePlume · 26-04-2011 09:02PM

Have heard that it's not really being 'rich' that makes a person happy, but their wealth in relation to that of their neighbours.

If you earn about the same or more than your neighbours, you're more likely to be happy. If you earn much less than them, even if it's enough to be financially comfortable, you're likely to be less happy.

RichieC · 26-04-2011 09:04PM

Depends on your personal values. some people need money to stave off being miserable.

ger vallely · 26-04-2011 09:04PM

I'm in a very happy marriage, 2 beautiful daughters and I have my health(other than this darn cold)but I do think I might be genuinely happily content if I didn't have mortgage, car insurance, car tax, school books,uniform, utility bill worries on my mind every single day. I do think money can certainly add to a life of ease and less stress. I see my husband get up at 5.30 a.m every morning to do a 12 hour shift and still we have these real money worries. (I work too by the way,I don't just watch and turn over!)So yes, money can by you happiness, maybe it doesn't in every case but used wisely I'm pretty sure it can.

RichieC · 26-04-2011 09:05PM

Eric Cartman wrote: »

do you honestly think people hang around with the likes of russel brand or paris hilton for their intellectual abilities or riveting conversation -

Russel brand is smarter than you.

Eric Cartman · 26-04-2011 09:17PM

RichieC wrote: »

Russel brand is smarter than you.

while i dont know him personally, you dont know me personally either, i would still wager that you are incorrect though

cson · 26-04-2011 09:22PM

Watched a programme on Sky 1 [I know, not exactly the most intellectual of resources] on something like this where they tracked the happiness of Lotto winners in the UK as part of a study; end result = the more you have the more you want. After the initial burst of happiness after winning it and buying everything you want, you end up wanting bigger and better stuff.

J_E · 26-04-2011 09:24PM

There was this woman I got to know in a rehab centre and she was rather well off as she was left with a large inheritance. She had spent her days buying property and cars, schmoozing with Bono in fancy sushi bars, and generally had a life most would consider to be plush. However, because she had everything on tap, there was really no challenge or excitement in her life, and she started taking drugs, moving onto hard drugs and paying the price.

Similarly, I know the son of a jewellery shop, and he doesn't know what to do with himself. He goes through phases of stuff, sports, music, parkour. When he decided he was into music he got a 2500 euro guitar and a recording kit and all that, then realised it was boring and moved on.

I've just learned that in a way, if you have so much money that everything is easy to achieve, you haven't got a lot to aspire to and life tend to get boring fast. I definitely don't think money necessarily leads to happiness.

26-04-2011 09:27PM

Money goes a looooooong way towards making your life easier and thus making you happier. I often hear stuff like 'money can't buy you health', no it can't, but it's a hell of a lot easier when you can afford not to work, to see the best specialists, buy the most expensive medication, than when you're struggling through long days at work, not able to take time off to go to the doctor and not able to afford prescription costs.

I also agree about the freedom. Someone with money can basically do anything they want. I can see how too much money could be a bad thing but the benefits outweigh the negatives, IMO.

Capt'n Midnight · 26-04-2011 09:54PM

HeadPig wrote: »

Money, to me, is the ability to pack it all in and get out when you need a break. It's freedom.

Wasn't it Bob Geldof who reckoned that what you need is "Fúck you money".

That's where someone tries to make you a proposition you can't refuse because they think you need the money and you have just enough to say to them "Fúck you"

The other thing that is important is to have enough.

Our current financial woes are because a small number of people didn't have enough (and never could because they were keeping score instead actually enjoying it)

Captain Darling · 26-04-2011 09:56PM

Nodferatu wrote: »

i respect your opinion OP, but don't agree, have you ever suffered depression? do you currently suffer from social anxiety? money isn't the be all and end all. (this is my opinion only and im probably the minority as per usual) doesn't matter how many millions i have it wont take away the emptiness in my heart, it wont make my anxiety's go away or lift the cloud of depression, i agree to a certain extent money CAN make you happy buying a new item of clothing, a holiday or a new car but it cannot fix a broken heart, or take away pain or suffering you feel inside. it just throws a blanket over it, like a plaster over cancer

Well said.

People who say money can't buy happiness don't know what they're talking about

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