Will money buy YOU happiness?

[swtethan]

money would make me happy, but you cannot love money... or can you :Q

 

[JLGatsby]

Originally posted by: Thraxen
So? The point remains the same. He could likely just add a new home, new car, nice HT set-up, etc... to his list. If stuff like that didn't make people happy then there wouldn't be a market for them. Simple as that.

And it's about MUCH MUCH MORE than that. It's about FREEDOM. It's about traveling and meeting people you wouldn't have otherwise met. It's about having self confidence. It's about looking good (clothes, hair, attitude).

Money is a lot more than cars and houses. It's the freedom to express yourself and not have to answer to anyone. To do what you want.

 

[fLum0x]

Originally posted by: SirChadwick
I think $200,000 a year would buy me enough happiness. No need to be a millionaire... I love my life, just want to travel more.

and more vacation time. I totally agree with you!

it would not buy happiness, but if would greatly contribute to happyness/fun if you find the right person and she/he makes you happy

 

[Vic]

Originally posted by: Thraxen

Originally posted by: Vic
Pardon me, but what you're talking about is peanuts pay-the-bills-and-rent kind of money. The OP specifically said "We're talking an absurd amount of money."

So? The point remains the same. He could likely just add a new home, new car, nice HT set-up, etc... to his list. If stuff like that didn't make people happy then there wouldn't be a market for them. Simple as that.

Not even remotely is it the same.

 

[K1052]

Originally posted by: JLGatsby

Originally posted by: K1052
What happens when you run into someone your wealth won't influence? Such people exist.

You're not thinking about it deep enough.

Think right now, of all the people you COULD but didn't meet if you were rich. All the places you could travel to. And the ways you could present yourself. Clothes, haircuts. Money influences everyone. A number may not influence some people. But free time (you could spend with them), maybe dressing nice, or having the time to improve your social skills would ultimately influence them.

Without money, you may not even have met all the people in the world that could make you happy. Or you may not have had enough time for them. If you work 12 hours a day, don't tell me that that wouldn't influence someone (you wouldn't have any time for them).

I'm not sure I've heard anything so shallow in quite a while. Anyone worth having, IMO, would see right through you like the two feet of water in a kiddy pool.

I don't work only for financial gain. The motivations of people are often a lot more complex than you imply.
There are certain things no amount of money could induce me to part with or could buy me.

 

[fstime]

Yes it does.

However, it sometimes turns into a VERY bad situation.

 

[AdamSnow]

Money itself doesn't make me happy... the things that I do with my money make me happy...

 

[MagnusTheBrewer]

Originally posted by: Vic

Originally posted by: OrganizedChaos
with money i could

get some health insurance and start getting yearly physicals again
go back to school
get the balljoints fixed in my jeep so I'm not worrying about losing a wheel
get my cats tumors fixed
get dental coverage and start going to the dentist again
get new glasses so i can read without getting headaches

yeah, money would definitely buy me happiness

Pardon me, but what you're talking about is peanuts pay-the-bills-and-rent kind of money. The OP specifically said "We're talking an absurd amount of money."

Some folks have a different definition of "an absurd amount of money." Sounds to me like OrganizedChaos has a good idea of what would make him happy.

On the other hand, it would seem that Vic cannot conceive of "an absurd amount of money" making him happy. To each his own. The OP asked if it would make YOU happy.

 

[Engineer]

Originally posted by: JLGatsby

Originally posted by: SSSnail
No poll, I want to see HOW money would make each of you happy. Everyone has their ways of thinking, live the dream!

Money buys freedom. Freedom is the ultimate happiness.

Freedom from a job. Freedom to choose from a wider selection of partners. Freedom to pursue your hobbies. Freedom to travel and discover new things/places/people.

Anyone who says money does not buy happiness is doing it because it's cliche and fashionable.

I actually agree with you on this one! :Q

<---- Volunteers for the AT experiment. Send me all your money (everyone) and I'll see if I'm as happy afterwards as I am now!

 

[BeauJangles]

Originally posted by: JLGatsby

Originally posted by: K1052
But it is patently false to say that money alone can solve all your problems and get you everything you desire. Some things, people, and ideas are simply above price.

Give me an example, I'll prove you wrong.

Easy.
1. Find meaningful companionship.
2. Find a purpose in life.
3. Find a meaningful way to occupy your time.
4. Raise a good family.

Money buys freedom, but freedom isn't always happiness. Freedom just presents a whole new set of problems which must be overcome. Some of the happiest people I know work 40 hrs a week, because they love working.

 

[JLGatsby]

Originally posted by: K1052
I'm not sure I've heard anything so shallow in quite a while. Anyone worth having, IMO, would see right through you like the two feet of water in a kiddy pool.

I don't work only for financial gain. The motivations of people are often a lot more complex than you imply.
There are certain things no amount of money could induce me to part with or could buy me.

Fact: Money influences everyone.

When's the last time you saw a HOMELESS person get married? Money itself may not influence, but the things money can bring does. It influences EVERYONE. Just because a girl only dates guys who aren't on welfare, doesn't make her shallow. Money makes you stand out and gives you a better chance.

And you didn't address my point about all the people who COULD have met, but didn't, because a non-wealthy person would have to spent all day working.

I myself often wonder of all the people I could have known right now if I didn't have to spend all day working on my business. To have all the time in the world to dedicate to anyone I choose.

It's not about numbers and things, it's about EXPERIENCE, FREEDOM, AND PERSONAL TIME. Money buys that, and those things bring happiness. Your whole idealist notion that "the only girl worth having would date you even if you were a homeless bum on the street" is completely BS. And because she wouldn't if you were a bum, that doesn't make her shallow, just means she has common sense to avoid a problematic person with little freetime.

 

[glutenberg]

Originally posted by: BlinderBomber

Originally posted by: JLGatsby

Originally posted by: K1052
But it is patently false to say that money alone can solve all your problems and get you everything you desire. Some things, people, and ideas are simply above price.

Give me an example, I'll prove you wrong.

Easy.
1. Find meaningful companionship.
2. Find a purpose in life.
3. Find a meaningful way to occupy your time.
4. Raise a good family.

Money buys freedom, but freedom isn't always happiness. Freedom just presents a whole new set of problems which must be overcome. Some of the happiest people I know work 40 hrs a week, because they love working.

Being rich does not mean you can't work. Why does everyone skip over this fact?

 

[Thraxen]

Flip it around. Say you woke up tomorrow and didn't have a job and had $0 in your bank account(s). Would you be less happy?

 

[BeauJangles]

Originally posted by: glutenberg

Originally posted by: BlinderBomber

Originally posted by: JLGatsby

Originally posted by: K1052
But it is patently false to say that money alone can solve all your problems and get you everything you desire. Some things, people, and ideas are simply above price.

Give me an example, I'll prove you wrong.

Easy.
1. Find meaningful companionship.
2. Find a purpose in life.
3. Find a meaningful way to occupy your time.
4. Raise a good family.

Money buys freedom, but freedom isn't always happiness. Freedom just presents a whole new set of problems which must be overcome. Some of the happiest people I know work 40 hrs a week, because they love working.

Being rich does not mean you can't work. Why does everyone skip over this fact?

No argument. Still doesn't address my main point though - Freedom != happiness.

 

[DaShen]

Originally posted by: JLGatsby

Originally posted by: K1052
I'm not sure I've heard anything so shallow in quite a while. Anyone worth having, IMO, would see right through you like the two feet of water in a kiddy pool.

I don't work only for financial gain. The motivations of people are often a lot more complex than you imply.
There are certain things no amount of money could induce me to part with or could buy me.

Fact: Money influences everyone.

When's the last time you saw a HOMELESS person get married? Money itself may not influence, but the things money can bring does. It influences EVERYONE. Just because a girl only dates guys who aren't on welfare, doesn't make her shallow. Money makes you stand out and gives you a better chance.

And you didn't address my point about all the people who COULD have met, but didn't, because a non-wealthy person would have to spent all day working.

I myself often wonder of all the people I could have known right now if I didn't have to spend all day working on my business. To have all the time in the world to dedicate to anyone I choose.

It's not about numbers and things, it's about EXPERIENCE, FREEDOM, AND PERSONAL TIME. Money buys that, and those things bring happiness. Your whole idealist notion that "the only girl worth having would date you even if you were a homeless bum on the street" is completely BS. And because she wouldn't if you were a bum, that doesn't make her shallow, just means she has common sense to avoid a problematic person with little freetime.

I agree, but there is definitely a difference between having enough money for freedom and personal time, and having so much money it become a burden.

 

[Thraxen]

Originally posted by: BlinderBomber
No argument. Still doesn't address my main point though - Freedom != happiness.

But in many cases freedom would equal happiness. Simply because you can think of exceptions doesn't make the exception the rule.

 

[JLGatsby]

Originally posted by: BlinderBomber
Easy.
1. Find meaningful companionship.
2. Find a purpose in life.
3. Find a meaningful way to occupy your time.
4. Raise a good family.

Money buys all those things:

1. Good luck on finding one while sitting at a desk all day working. You could be out traveling and meeting new people.

2. Your purpose isn't to be a pencil pusher in a office. Money buys time to learn philosophy (reading and education) and UNDERSTAND "purpose of life." Then when you understand, you will have the freedom to go out and find your purpose, experiment, and search. Work 10 hours a day, 5 days a week, spending the weekends doing household chores, and tell me you've found you're purpose, or even have TIME to find a purpose.

3. WORKing for money isn't a meaningful way to occupy your time. However, hobbies can be and working for fun (which usually doesn't pay well). If you were rich, you could do ANYTHING you wanted for a living, without regard to how much it paid.

4. Good luck on trying to raise a good family when you're never there, because you're too busy working. And when your kid gets accepted to Harvard, you can't afford to pay for it. And you can't afford to give them their first down payment on a house. Or buy them their first car. Or afford a house in a safe neighborhood, or tutors for school, or their own roomy bedroom (some poor kids have to share rooms with siblings).

Money wins, you lose.

 

[yosuke188]

While I agree that money will bring me happiness, I can see how some people disagree with it. Money gives you freedom to do pretty much anything you want, you are not obligated to do something, and that might make you bored. And when you have too much time on your hand, you think about the problems in your life which you might have never thought before.

I don't think I will have those problems. I could travel around the world with my family/friends which would use up a great amount of time. Then back to hobbies, sports, music, and whatever else I can think of. I would not worry about anything, and basically be happy.

 

[ManSnake]

Only poor people would say "Money won't buy you happiness" just to make themselves feel better.

 

[JLGatsby]

Originally posted by: DaShen
I agree, but there is definitely a difference between having enough money for freedom and personal time, and having so much money it become a burden.

People keep saying that, but explain it to me. How would have say, billions be a burden? You could always give away what you don't need to charity. And even Warren Buffett, the second richest man in the world lives a quiet life with no body guards or paparazzi following him around, so don't give me the "security" issue. Explain to me how.

 

[glutenberg]

Originally posted by: Vic
I'm not going to argue this point with high school kids who've never seen the real world, or don't know what having money is like.
In the meantime, I'll take the real life experiences of real people who have been through it. Ask Cobain what money was like. Ask Staley what he thought about having more money than he could spend. Ask countless others of the unhappy rich.
If you're not happy with your life now, how are you going to be happy when all your dreams have come true and you have nothing left to dream for anymore?

On the flip side. Ask Bill Gates if he's happy. Ask Warren Buffet if he's happy. Ask Ted Turner if he's happy. Ask Oprah if she's happy. Ask JK Rowling if she's happy. Ask Steve Jobs if he's happy. Ask Lloyd Blankfein if he's happy. You can't nitpick people, in particular, artists, and claim that they're an example of the rest of the rich people in this world. For every rich artist that has committed suicide or overdosed on drugs, I'm sure you can find many more poor people (who didn't receive publicity and are just another hash on the statistic chart) who have also been miserable from being poor.

 

[her209]

Originally posted by: glutenberg

Originally posted by: Vic
I'm not going to argue this point with high school kids who've never seen the real world, or don't know what having money is like.
In the meantime, I'll take the real life experiences of real people who have been through it. Ask Cobain what money was like. Ask Staley what he thought about having more money than he could spend. Ask countless others of the unhappy rich.
If you're not happy with your life now, how are you going to be happy when all your dreams have come true and you have nothing left to dream for anymore?

On the flip side. Ask Bill Gates if he's happy. Ask Warren Buffet if he's happy. Ask Ted Turner if he's happy. Ask Oprah if she's happy. Ask JK Rowling if she's happy. Ask Steve Jobs if he's happy. Ask Lloyd Blankfein if he's happy. You can't nitpick people, in particular, artists, and claim that they're an example of the rest of the rich people in this world. For every rich artist that has committed suicide or overdosed on drugs, I'm sure you can find many more poor people (who didn't receive publicity and are just another hash on the statistic chart) who have also been miserable from being poor.

How long have those people you just mentioned worked to accumulate their wealth?

 

[glutenberg]

Originally posted by: BlinderBomber

Originally posted by: glutenberg

Originally posted by: BlinderBomber

Originally posted by: JLGatsby

Originally posted by: K1052
But it is patently false to say that money alone can solve all your problems and get you everything you desire. Some things, people, and ideas are simply above price.

Give me an example, I'll prove you wrong.

Easy.
1. Find meaningful companionship.
2. Find a purpose in life.
3. Find a meaningful way to occupy your time.
4. Raise a good family.

Money buys freedom, but freedom isn't always happiness. Freedom just presents a whole new set of problems which must be overcome. Some of the happiest people I know work 40 hrs a week, because they love working.

Being rich does not mean you can't work. Why does everyone skip over this fact?

No argument. Still doesn't address my main point though - Freedom != happiness.

Why wouldn't freedom help you find happiness? The problems arise when you sacrifice your own personal integrity for the sake of becoming rich, that's when you run into problems.

It seems that freedom (due to being financially secure whether it be from being absurdly rich or just rich) allows you to have the time and means to:
1.) Find a companion
2.) Find a purpose in life.
3.) Find more meaningful ways to occupy your time.
4.) Raise a good family. (Being rich does not mean that your kids automatically become bad).

 

[BeauJangles]

Originally posted by: JLGatsby

Originally posted by: BlinderBomber
Easy.
1. Find meaningful companionship.
2. Find a purpose in life.
3. Find a meaningful way to occupy your time.
4. Raise a good family.

Money buys all those things:

1. Good luck on finding one while sitting at a desk all day working. You could be out traveling and meeting new people.

2. Your purpose isn't to be a pencil pusher in a office. Money buys time to learn philosophy (reading and education) and UNDERSTAND "purpose of life." Then when you understand, you will have the freedom to go out and find your purpose, experiment, and search. Work 10 hours a day, 5 days a week, spending the weekends doing household chores, and tell me you've found you're purpose, or even have TIME to find a purpose.

3. WORKing for money isn't a meaningful way to occupy your time. However, hobbies can be and working for fun (which usually doesn't pay well). If you were rich, you could do ANYTHING you wanted for a living, without regard to how much it paid.

4. Good luck on trying to raise a good family when you're never there, because you're too busy working. And when your kid gets accepted to Harvard, you can't afford to pay for it. And you can't afford to give them their first down payment on a house. Or buy them their first car. Or afford a house in a safe neighborhood, or tutors for school, or their own roomy bedroom (some poor kids have to share rooms with siblings).

Money wins, you lose.

Nope, but good try. In your vain (which is pretty childish), I will declare whether I win or lose based on the points you made.

In response:
1. Finding a mate is hard, whether you are rich or poor. Money doesn't make it easier, you could argue it makes it harder. I win, money doesn't help you be happier in this aspect.
2. Again, this is only partially true. Like I said, money exposes you to a whole new set of problems within your life. They aren't any easier to deal with then the problems one has with a normal income. They are just different. I win, money doesn't help you here either.
3. Categorically untrue. Working at a job you enjoy, producing something is, in fact, one of the most meaningful ways to spend your time. If you suggest that most people don't enjoy their jobs, I agree. At any level of life you have to work to be happy, including working to find a job you truly enjoy. I win, money doesn't help you find meaning
4. Good luck raising a family while you a constantly traveling and "finding yourself." Not to mention trying to instill a good work ethic in your children, not spoiling them, etc. push, both situations present problems and it depends on how you as an individual handle them

What I think you fail to understand (apologies for sounding harsh) is that freedom and wealth as the pinnacle of life are socially constructed within our society. We are taught to believe that freedom is essential, that individuality matters. The reality is, however, we could have been taught the opposite and could leave happy, productive, lives in a different society.

Just because we live in a world where tremendous value is placed on those characteristics doesn't make them better or more correct than another society's ideas.

 

[K1052]

Originally posted by: JLGatsby

Originally posted by: K1052
I'm not sure I've heard anything so shallow in quite a while. Anyone worth having, IMO, would see right through you like the two feet of water in a kiddy pool.

I don't work only for financial gain. The motivations of people are often a lot more complex than you imply.
There are certain things no amount of money could induce me to part with or could buy me.

Fact: Money influences everyone.

When's the last time you saw a HOMELESS person get married? Money itself may not influence, but the things money can bring does. It influences EVERYONE. Just because a girl only dates guys who aren't on welfare, doesn't make her shallow. Money makes you stand out and gives you a better chance.

And you didn't address my point about all the people who COULD have met, but didn't, because a non-wealthy person would have to spent all day working.

I myself often wonder of all the people I could have known right now if I didn't have to spend all day working on my business. To have all the time in the world to dedicate to anyone I choose.

It's not about numbers and things, it's about EXPERIENCE, FREEDOM, AND PERSONAL TIME. Money buys that, and those things bring happiness. Your whole idealist notion that "the only girl worth having would date you even if you were a homeless bum on the street" is completely BS. And because she wouldn't if you were a bum, that doesn't make her shallow, just means she has common sense to avoid a problematic person with little freetime.

I could meet Elvis if I had all that free time but what difference would it make? I have little interest in never doing anything constructive and leading a life only consisting of self indulgence, I'd be bored out of my mind. If I had 100 billion right now I'd be working in the same industry doing largely the same things my family has done for almost 100 years.

I've been fortunate to meet some amazing people in my still relatively short life who I might not have if I took your path. These are people I wouldn't give up for any experience or financial gain.