Money can buy Happiness

**jonathanfigaro** · 07-20-2009 11:24 AM

Do you believe money can buy happiness?

See MP Dunleavey's 7 smart ways to buy happiness - MSN Money Where is it that we get the most joy from our money?

1. Relationships,
2. Time,
3. Health,
4. Learning,
5. Debt Relief,
6. Giveaways, and
7. Security.

I don't know if I agree with the organization and prioritization. Hell, it seems like beyond the fulfillment of Maslow's hierarchy of needs, the "best" way to get joy out of one's money is probably pretty subjective. Thoughts?

**inle** · 07-21-2009 12:00 AM

Nothing can buy happiness..
Happiness is a Inner State of Mind & Self Contentment from within..
People always FOCUS on the things they do not have but always FORGOTTEN about the treasures they are holding..

If any of you guys have any issue with your money & willing to part with it because you are unhappy, do let me know..
I am MOST WILLING to lighten your load..

**businessman413** · 07-21-2009 12:11 AM

Yeah, money can only buy physical things, and those don't give you the true happiness you are looking for. In fact I believe that no one can be completly happy untill they have a certain hole filled in their heart, and it's not just the hole that gets filled when you meet the love of your life.

**jonathanfigaro** · 07-21-2009 02:13 PM

Originally Posted by businessman413

Yeah, money can only buy physical things, and those don't give you the true happiness you are looking for. In fact I believe that no one can be completly happy untill they have a certain hole filled in their heart, and it's not just the hole that gets filled when you meet the love of your life.

I agree with you. Happiness is within the your heart and in the mind. I can be broke in Guatemala and be happy. It about how you organize your mind.

**Online Super Sale** · 07-21-2009 03:18 PM

The other side would say that you can buy things that make you happy, an example could be being able to race your own go kart, it could be your passion but you may not be able to afford it. But I'm with you guys on this one.

**peteyflow** · 07-21-2009 04:18 PM

yes money can buy you happiness.

**jonathanfigaro** · 07-21-2009 04:58 PM

Originally Posted by peteyflow

yes money can buy you happiness.

I think money can buy to into materialistic happiness....but not a inner sense of happiness that bring you more joy than a billion dollars. Its impossible because you cannot be eternally happy from materialistic object.

**BusinessAdviser** · 07-21-2009 11:30 PM

Depends what money means to you.

**nonrate** · 07-22-2009 12:48 AM

I do not believe money can buy happiness. But, money can buy freedom, and freedom brings happiness. The founding fathers of the US knew that, which is why "Life, Liberty and the persuit of happiness" are the monumental qualities that the document was designed to protect. Sadly, here in the US the people have lost their way. We are now used to buying our freedom. So money is a conduit to finding happiness, but only if it's used properly; it definitely doesn't bring it.

**drtre** · 07-22-2009 02:13 AM

"Dont like money,rather like the things money can buy,so in a way u get happiness from the things u buy or do with money,yes money can bring u happiness..."

**jmeijers** · 07-22-2009 03:10 AM

You can have money without being happy. You can be happy without having money. Which would you prefer?

Happiness and money are in no way related. It is our environment which is trying to make us believe that it is. That is kapitalism in its core; consuming == happiness. That is what we are taught.

But there are so many people who are happy without money. Yet so many who are unhappy with tons of it... Makes you think doesn't it?

This also doesn't mean you shouldn't pursue becoming the richest person on earth; you should just know that it won't make you happy. You have to already be happy.

**jonathanfigaro** · 07-22-2009 04:48 PM

Originally Posted by jmeijers

You can have money without being happy. You can be happy without having money. Which would you prefer?

Happiness and money are in no way related. It is our environment which is trying to make us believe that it is. That is kapitalism in its core; consuming == happiness. That is what we are taught.

But there are so many people who are happy without money. Yet so many who are unhappy with tons of it... Makes you think doesn't it?

This also doesn't mean you shouldn't pursue becoming the richest person on earth; you should just know that it won't make you happy. You have to already be happy.

Great response, but do you personally think money can buy you happiness?

**pboychuk** · 07-23-2009 03:15 AM

I think money can accompany happiness, maybe make attainment of happiness easier, but in the end, there is no part of true happiness that money can create, that could not be created without money..
As there are so many negative side effects money can create, I would tend to believe that the percentages of happiness are not increased by money, and in many cases the complete opposite occurs.

Personally, I hate to dwell on this issue, because I tend to take a pessimistic stance no matter what side of the fence I am on..

**jmeijers** · 07-23-2009 07:00 AM

Originally Posted by jonathanfigaro

Great response, but do you personally think money can buy you happiness?

I think that if you're happy about something, you can use money to magnify that effect. For example, I like snowboarding and I'm happy when I do it. Would it make me more happy to go snowboarding the lonely slopes of the Canadian Rockies? You bet! But that is only because I would also be happy boarding anywhere else.

But the example above has 1 big assumption: that you already are happy. If you are not happy, you cannot magnify. And that first bit of happiness comes from within.

Also note that there are other ways of magnifying your happiness. For example, my girlfriend is a dentist and she likes helping people. It would be a great experience for her (read: happiness magnifier) to go to a country where dental care is scarce and provide service for free, that directly helps people. So pulling teeth, filling cavities, that sort of thing.

So to answer your question in short: no, money cannot buy happiness.