QotD: Moneyhappy
Posted December 16th, 2003 @ 08:33am by Erik J. Barzeski
Question: Can money make you happy?
My Answer: Though this study says otherwise, I disagree. I think that though money may not make you happy, it can relieve a lot of stress. Paying bills is a pain. Give me $5000/month for doing nothing and I won't have the stress of paying bills. I'd live in exactly the same place and fish a lot more often. Too much money, though, and I might think about buying a fancy place, a new car, and so on, and what would that do? Reintroduce bills. Bills I had to worry about covering next month. Stress. Stress is not the anti-happy, but it's one of 'em.
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Posted 16 Dec 2003 at 12:39pm #
Yup. Money makes me VERY happy. unfortunately, that happiness doesn't last as long as other types. It all depends on the ticket price. For instance, my G5 better make me happy for years to come. 🙂
Posted 16 Dec 2003 at 3:31pm #
Give me a lot of money and I fear that my local Apple Store may be out of stock in most of their procucts. 😉
Posted 16 Dec 2003 at 4:45pm #
I think that the study you cited there is lacking. They are trying to show that money buys happiness, but they use windfalls only.
What about "smaller" gains through raises, investment or entrepreneurial successes, or job changes that result in higher pay?
I think that incremental increases in income (rather than lump sum increases in personal income in one year) will cause also cause people to be happier. Though not entirely because of the money. There is also an issue of satisfaction with oneself when you are formally affirmed through a raise or promotion and/or investment successes.
Also, they only measured the increase in happiness by measuring decreases in "stress." (using a rather simplified 12 question survey and nothing more.) I think one could very well be stressed AND happy.
Anyway, I don't think that money itself can make me happy, but I do think that some of the things that go along with a high regular income would make me happier than I am right now.
I think that money's affect on people's happiness depends on the person. If you make a lot of money, but still manage to spend more than you are making then you'll still be faced with stress and bills, and the stress and bills will likely be larger in conjunction with the larger income.
I'll stop now, because I'm eating up your blog here. I'll continue in my head for a bit.