Many of us who didn't grow up with a lot of money were always told that money won't buy happiness. I think in most cases it's said by our parents to try to shut us up when we were whining about not being able to afford the latest and greatest toys being shown on TV commercials.
Yes, it is true that having money to buy material luxuries won't necessarily make you happier. However, there are many things that you can buy with money that will contribute to your happiness.
Here are a few examples of how to use money to buy / increase your happiness.
The Basics
It's very difficult to admit how happy you are in life if you don't have the basic needs covered. If you're unable to buy food, to afford a safe place to live, to pay for clothing, health care, electricity and heating for yourself and your family, I doubt very much that you'll consider yourself to be happy. Money allows you to pay for those basic needs.
It's very difficult to admit how happy you are in life if you don't have the basic needs covered. If you're unable to buy food, to afford a safe place to live, to pay for clothing, health care, electricity and heating for yourself and your family, I doubt very much that you'll consider yourself to be happy. Money allows you to pay for those basic needs.
Not convinced? In the next few weeks, when the bleakest part of winter comes and it's minus 20 degrees outside, there's over 30 cm of snow on the ground and the polar winds are making your face turn red, go find a homeless person sitting on the sidewalk in the cold. Ask him or her if having some money so they can have a place to stay would make them happier.
Or simply take a look at any person who doesn't make enough money to pay for rent, groceries, electricity and other necessities. They're up to their ears in debt to make ends meet. We all know someone like this. See how stressed out that person. Now think: how much happier they would be if they had just a little more money to get out of debt and pay all their bills on time.
Time
This is actually one of my favourite examples because of the "double-whammy" effect. Recent economics and psychology studies show that people who donate money to charity and seeing the positive results of their donation end up feeling happier and feeling better about themselves. So, not only are you helping people in need (thus allowing them to purchase "the basics" and increase their happiness), you're also making yourself happier in the process.
It doesn't even have to be charity. Many of us have parents who have always wanted to take a dream vacation that they were never able to afford because they were trying to pay bills while raising us. I'm sure that a lot of us, if we could afford it, would be more than happy to pay for that dream vacation of theirs. In this case, not only would we make ourselves happier, people we love would be happier as well.
If that's not buying happiness with money, I don't know what is.
Final thoughts
If you've noticed, none of my examples of money buying happiness include buying mansions, fast cars, jewelry, the latest and greatest giant flat screen TV, the newest iPhone, etc. Those are the things people first think of when they say "money doesn't buy happiness". They're right. Trying to buy and accumulate material possessions as a way to fill whatever emotional void you have is never going to work. You'll just end up being a hoarder with so much clutter in your home that you can barely move around in it.
Money CAN HELP make you happier by allowing you to gain experiences that others with less money won't get. Having money gives you the option to say no to lucrative, but time-consuming and unnecessarily stressful endeavours. Thus allowing you to spend your time on more enjoyable activities with people that you actually want to be with.
Or simply take a look at any person who doesn't make enough money to pay for rent, groceries, electricity and other necessities. They're up to their ears in debt to make ends meet. We all know someone like this. See how stressed out that person. Now think: how much happier they would be if they had just a little more money to get out of debt and pay all their bills on time.
Time
In a previous post, I wrote about not being able to earn more of time spent the same way you can do with money. However, if you have enough money, you can buy yourself more time to do the things that make you happy.
For example, with enough money, instead of spending hours doing laundry, cooking, cleaning my home and washing dishes, I could hire someone to do those chores. The time I saved can then be spent on fun activities with my wife, my friends and my family, thus making me happier.
Another example of this is bribing your way to the front of the line. Yes, it's a bit of a dick move and no, it's not fair to those who came in advance and waited. But hey, there's a certain feeling of satisfaction knowing that you've saved yourself some time and got what you needed faster by subtly slipping someone a folded up bill.
The ability to say "No" with little to no repercussions
This is also known as having "fuck you" money. The more money you have, the more you're able to refuse requests, orders and drudgery that, while lucrative, can be a detriment to your happiness. Having "fuck you" money makes it easier for you to avoid lousy jobs with terrible hours, long commutes, and stressful environments.
For example, with enough money, instead of spending hours doing laundry, cooking, cleaning my home and washing dishes, I could hire someone to do those chores. The time I saved can then be spent on fun activities with my wife, my friends and my family, thus making me happier.
Another example of this is bribing your way to the front of the line. Yes, it's a bit of a dick move and no, it's not fair to those who came in advance and waited. But hey, there's a certain feeling of satisfaction knowing that you've saved yourself some time and got what you needed faster by subtly slipping someone a folded up bill.
The ability to say "No" with little to no repercussions
This is also known as having "fuck you" money. The more money you have, the more you're able to refuse requests, orders and drudgery that, while lucrative, can be a detriment to your happiness. Having "fuck you" money makes it easier for you to avoid lousy jobs with terrible hours, long commutes, and stressful environments.
It means you won't have to deal with bullying bosses or rude clients. Having "fuck you" money means that you can afford to say no while using the corresponding expletives without the risk of putting yourself and your family in financial trouble. All this while pursuing work that actually increases your overall happiness.
Acts of altruism This is actually one of my favourite examples because of the "double-whammy" effect. Recent economics and psychology studies show that people who donate money to charity and seeing the positive results of their donation end up feeling happier and feeling better about themselves. So, not only are you helping people in need (thus allowing them to purchase "the basics" and increase their happiness), you're also making yourself happier in the process.
It doesn't even have to be charity. Many of us have parents who have always wanted to take a dream vacation that they were never able to afford because they were trying to pay bills while raising us. I'm sure that a lot of us, if we could afford it, would be more than happy to pay for that dream vacation of theirs. In this case, not only would we make ourselves happier, people we love would be happier as well.
If that's not buying happiness with money, I don't know what is.
Final thoughts
If you've noticed, none of my examples of money buying happiness include buying mansions, fast cars, jewelry, the latest and greatest giant flat screen TV, the newest iPhone, etc. Those are the things people first think of when they say "money doesn't buy happiness". They're right. Trying to buy and accumulate material possessions as a way to fill whatever emotional void you have is never going to work. You'll just end up being a hoarder with so much clutter in your home that you can barely move around in it.
Money CAN HELP make you happier by allowing you to gain experiences that others with less money won't get. Having money gives you the option to say no to lucrative, but time-consuming and unnecessarily stressful endeavours. Thus allowing you to spend your time on more enjoyable activities with people that you actually want to be with.
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