Does money buy happiness?

Question

Ok here's my view......I say money does buy happiness because it improves the quality of our life. With money we can afford to live in a nice neighborhood, have a comfortable home and eat good food. Doesn't having these things bring you happiness?

Answer 1

I agree with you one hundred percent to the degree that money buys happiness as far as material possessions and experiences go. True true true. Money does buy a quality of life that poverty does not. The only problem with your answer to the question is that it does not talk about internal happiness which money does not affect and thus cannot buy.

Answer 2

I can't say the two go hand in hand. Having money does give a person a certain amount of happiness by being able to provide well for yourself and family. Making and keeping money is a big responsibility that can rob you of things that are priceless. Health, Time, Self Esteem and sometimes even people that you love more dearly than life. The happiest I've ever been has not been when I've had the most money but the times in life I have loved and been loved. Money had nothing to do with it.

Answer 3

Do I like money? You bet! Do I enjoy nice things? You bet! I am a book horse, a junk fanatic, and I LOVE knick-knacks. I realize, however, that these things bring temporary happiness, because, in a moment, they can disappear. In April, our house caught fire, and we lost 85% of our stuff to the soot or smoke. Three of those all important items have yet to be replaced, but we (hubby and I) have found our way around that. Our true happiness lies in the fact that Christ is the source of joy, that this joy cannot be replaced or taken away. Those sunami victims, Katrina victims, etc. are happy to be alive!

Answer 4

I read somewhere that happiness does tend to vary based on your income relative to your peers. If you are a millionaire... but all your friends have 5 million, there's a greater likelihood that you'll be unhappy.

However, if you are meeting your basic needs making 45 K a year and all of your friends make around the same salary, then there's a greater likelihood that you'll be happy.

One other thing that I heard on the topic of happiness lately is that you can actually change the inner "circuitry of the brain" via meditation... Tibetan monks have been shown to be extremely happy because of their mental discipline despite their lack of material wealth...

http://www.washingtonpost.com/ac2/wp-dyn/A43006-2005Jan2?language=printer

Answer 5

Yes and No.
Someone poor, like Paul MacCartney who now has millions knows how to be happy and what matters in life.
Someone rich who never knew want just wants more.

You can buy anything if you have money but you can not buy time or health.

Answer 6

HELL NO! Nice neighborhoods, comfortable homes, good eats, awesome cars - all those things buy you more debt! More money = more debt. People tend to spend more money and buy more toys the more they make....

UNLESS we are talking millions and then HELL YES - money buys happiness!

Answer 7

Money is a poor substitute for true happiness. But as far as poor substitutes go, it's one of the best.

Answer 8

The more you have the more you worry.
I think it's helpful to have enough money to keep you comfortable but as far as happiness is concerned nothing but nothing can replace or buy it.

Answer 9

Having something to look forward to (no matter what it is) brings a lot of happiness.

Answer 10

It does bring happiness when it comes to material things but not when it comes to things that cannot be purchased such as genuine love, compassion, etc.