Money Can't Buy Happiness, But…

 Money Can't Buy Happiness, But…

The saying, "money can't buy happiness," was once taken for granted as a proverb or aphorism. But a lot of study has come out of the years that tries to explain this old statement a bit better.
Recent research has shown that there is little to no difference in the amount of happiness that persons in different socioeconomic brackets report. Actually, it seems that poorer people in poorer countries generally report higher levels of happiness than wealthier people in wealthier countries. By "ordinary people," I don't mean those experiencing extreme poverty or other catastrophic conditions; rather, I mean those who choose to live a simpler, less materialistic life than the majority of us in industrialized nations.

Lots of ideas exist, but one common belief is that the poorer a person is, the more pleasure they report having. This is supposedly due to the fact that they have fewer worries and hence require less things to make them happy. Spending more time on family activities and other relationships is common among the less well-off since they have fewer possessions and fewer possibilities for amusement. Those in lower socioeconomic status may be happier overall because they invest more time and energy into their families and participate in more family-oriented activities, according to some research. This may be due to the fact that marital and familial relationships are associated with higher levels of happiness. People aren't obligated to reside in impoverished nations. Those living in poverty in developed nations, such as the US, have also reported these results.
Because there are so many studies on the topic, you can find any number of them by searching for the term "money can't buy happiness" on any search engine. Therefore, I will not cite any specific references or statistics.
That doesn't mean you should actively seek for poverty if you're already wealthy; it just means you shouldn't expect to be pleased if you do. By the way, while most of us have an idea of what it means to be poor, have you ever considered the possibility that the majority of us don't have a firm grasp on what it means to be rich?
People sometimes mistakenly believe that those who own large houses and fancy cars are wealthy, but in reality, these things are usually better signs of debt than prosperity. Debt, not prosperity, is symbolized by a huge mortgage on a large home or a hefty monthly payment on a great car.
Similarly, there is a widespread belief that anybody with a salary beyond a particular level is considered "rich," particularly if that salary is higher than the so-called "magic" $100,000 per year. Absolutely not! If you ask anyone making $100,000 per year, they will tell you that the majority of people in that income bracket are far from wealthy.
Earnings can vary pretty high without a person being truly "rich" because most people who earn more tend to spend more.
What does it mean to be wealthy, therefore? My favorite is the one that Bill Cosby gave on his famous TV show, "The Cosby Show," which ran from 1984 to 1992, in response to questions from his children. "People who are not rich work for their money, whereas rich people's money works for them," he told them when they broached the subject of wealth. It so happens to be a definition that everyone agrees is correct, and it's also really excellent.
People who are wealthy work because they enjoy it, not because it's a necessity; this is one of the widely held beliefs about what it means to be wealthy.
Keep believing that money can't purchase happiness? Is it feasible that if you are financially able to work less, you may spend more time with your family, making you and your family happier? After all, the happiest people in the world are said to be those who spend the most time with their families.
Another item to consider is this: Owners of their own businesses account for the vast majority of the world's rich. More than 70% of the millionaires in the world are also business owners.
Even if you don't have a ton of money, you can still reap a lot of the rewards of a successful home-based business.
We already know that the thing that makes the majority of people happy is spending time with their loved ones. Owning a home business can offer you an additional source of income, which can decrease the necessity for you to work as many hours away from home. This means you can spend more time with your family or engage in other activities that bring you joy if your current job or occupation requires you to travel frequently or has long hours.
Being healthy ranks high on the list of factors that contribute to one's level of happiness. Indeed, the vast majority of individuals would choose good health above wealth if given the choice. Having plenty of cash isn't worth anything if you can't enjoy it because of your health.
Are you aware that, for the majority of individuals, a high salary directly correlates to excellent health? For example, low-income families often struggle to afford the type of food and nutrition that promote optimal natural health. Similarly, they often struggle to afford the kind of quality medical insurance that would allow them to maintain optimal medical health, including both preventative care like regular checkups and dental visits and emergency care like hospitalizations.
Freedom of choice is one of the many things that money may purchase. Those who are financially well-off can buy whatever they want, while those who are less fortunate have to settle for what they can afford. Wealthy people not only have the means to purchase the most comprehensive health insurance plans, but they also usually have greater freedom of choice in the providers and facilities they visit for medical treatment. For those struggling financially, access to health care might be severely limited, if not nonexistent, altogether.
Of course, the food we eat is also a major factor in our overall health. Have you ever considered the fact that, compared to high-quality food items, junk food is significantly more economical and accessible?
For example, compared to less nutritious food options like potato chips, snack meals, junk food, and so on, fresh fruits and vegetables are significantly more expensive. There is a price difference between cheaper cuts of meat and high-quality meats (which have less fat). The price of conventionally farmed food is lower than that of organic food. It is often known that individuals with higher levels of education and income tend to eat healthier, have better health insurance, and generally be in better physical and mental health. Plus, those who take care of their health tend to be happier overall. Keep believing that money can't purchase happiness?
People also put a high value on feeling protected as an indicator of contentment. Anxietiesm is the antithesis of security, and we shall discuss stress in a while. Is the vehicle you're now operating not up to par with your expectations for safety? Homes that are well-built and well-maintained often provide better security and occupant comfort. People are less likely to be pleased if they are unable to live in the kind of house and community that they desire.
What about stress, one of the leading causes of unhappiness? We've covered some of the things that researchers have consistently shown to increase happiness.
Not only does stress make people unhappy, but it’s also been determined to be unhealthy. Stress can lead to health problems.
On the one hand the more money people have the more they have to worry about. And, of course, some people are never satisfied. The more money they make, the more things they have to buy, and the more responsibilities and headaches they seemingly create for themselves. But that certainly doesn’t describe what everyone does with money.
Not including people who are never satisfied and can never have enough, more money can equate directly to less financial stress. Less stress equates to a happier person.
Someone who doesn’t have enough money to pay his or her bills, or who is constantly living paycheck to paycheck is likely to be more stressed than someone who has extra money in the bank.
And, of course, money can buy luxury, relaxation, and pampering, all of which equate to less stress (more happiness), and even better physical well being.
Celebrities and the well to do are often admired for looking good for their age, younger than their age, etc. Plastic surgery not withstanding, it’s largely due to all of the perks mentioned above. Celebrities typically lead pampered lives and often have the best of everything. Better food, less stress, more relaxation and pampering, fewer wrinkles :)
More often the people likely to be found saying that, “money can’t buy happiness,” the most are people who either don’t have it, or never have. After all, how would they know? Wealthy people also sometimes say that, “money can’t buy happiness,” but they are also just as likely to follow that statement by telling you that they would also, “rather be with it than without it.”
How about you, do you still think that money can’t buy happiness?
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