Will money buy YOU happiness?

[JLGatsby]

Originally posted by: glutenberg
What's your exact definition or value from freedom?

Self describable! To do what you want, as long as you're not directly preventing the freedom of others. Universal freedom (everyone is free from direct coercion).

 

[chickadee]

very much so. i dont even need a ton of money $30k or so would solve my problems that I have now in regards to paying for tuition and getting a car that works. If i didnt have money to worry about so often, I'd be a lot more happy with accepting an unpaid internship. I'd be less grumpy and my disposition would improve. I'd then not fight with my mother, boyfriend, or friends as much and as such - it would increase my happiness at this juncture in my life.

 

[BoberFett]

Absolutely money would buy happiness. I'd be able to spend all day every day with my wife and daughter. What could be better?

 

[CrazyHelloDeli]

Nicomachean Ethics.

Riches, Power, Fame, Beauty, Pleasure, Honor = Inferior. Merely preparing agents of happiness, thought of as the end of happiness by the common man. They assist, they do not complete, happiness.
Virtue of Character/ Virtue of Thought= Superior. Self sustaining, Lacking nothing, Complete, "true" Happiness.

 

[glutenberg]

Originally posted by: JLGatsby

Originally posted by: glutenberg
What's your exact definition or value from freedom?

Self describable! To do what you want, as long as you're not directly preventing the freedom of others. Universal freedom (everyone is free from direct coercion).

So would people ever be able to own land?

 

[alkemyst]

Originally posted by: LS20

Originally posted by: glutenberg

It seems that you're hitting the topic of responsibility in the first part of your post. Is living a responsibility free life better than a responsible one on a personal level. Probably depends on the person. We're not saying that the most expensive things in life are the best, we're saying that having the financial security and backing allows you to even enjoy those things to begin with. You can still live humbly even with vast wealth.

financial security is happiness yes. its difficult to be smug and content with bills and debt. so yes little money is bad. above the basic necessities (food, shelter), more money is not better. people who live humbly with wealth... are indifferent to their wealth.. theyre not getting added enjoyment from having the wealth (nor would they be sadder if it was cut in half).

i was the happiest person in the world when i received a bicycle. then i was again the happiest person in the world when i inherited a used nissan. then i was the happiest person in the world when i bought a new s2000.

ill be happy when i have a ferrari maranello.... for a while, until i realize i cant yet have a ferrari that transforms into a submarine that could also fly and has frickin laser beams on its hood.

material enjoyment is relative. we enjoy what we have... for a while, until the novelty wears off and enjoyment turns to content

living paycheck to paycheck and/or in debt is not financial freedom. Most people have no idea what true financial freedom is.

They think because they can finance a house, or a nice car/boat/ski/bike...they are living the big life.

Say they get fired and their 'position' is not needed anywhere anymore...who pays for a $1200 car note when they have to give up over half their income to take a step down?

People think there are no rainy days or that rainy days are for others....there is a reason a spare tire or fix-a-flat is included with every car produced for the masses.

 

[LS20]

Originally posted by: alkemyst


living paycheck to paycheck and/or in debt is not financial freedom.

thats what i said. once one needs not to think about the next paycheck (not strained by financial BURDEN), then whatever money additional to that is frivolous

 

[glutenberg]

Originally posted by: LS20

Originally posted by: alkemyst


living paycheck to paycheck and/or in debt is not financial freedom.

thats what i said. once one needs not to think about the next paycheck (not strained by financial BURDEN), then whatever money additional to that is frivolous

Are you saying saving for a rainy day is a bad thing? Your monetary needs change as your needs change. Are you going to ever buy a house? What happens when you need a new car? What about if you have large medical expenses? What happens when you get into a car accident and your insurance premiums go up? Saving is a good thing and an idea that is lost in the US. It's not surprise the amount of credit debt the typical American has. Hell, just look at our country's debt. Not being strained by financial burden means you're purely breakin even by your definition. Correct me if I'm wrong here.

 

[alkemyst]

Originally posted by: LS20

Originally posted by: alkemyst


living paycheck to paycheck and/or in debt is not financial freedom.

thats what i said. once one needs not to think about the next paycheck (not strained by financial BURDEN), then whatever money additional to that is frivolous

that's not what you said...you have and keep putting lower tier rankings on 'comfort'...talking about meals you had at 15/16

It also is not just about living 1-2 paycheck out either....having a nestegg to support me the rest of my life no matter what happens would be a great feeling.

 

[Special K]

I think money buys happiness, but with diminishing returns.

Someone who has a family and is struggling to make ends meet would probably be much happier if they had enough money to pay off their debt, pay the bills, buy groceries, clothes for the kids, etc.

Now consider a family who has no debt, lives comfortably, and can afford to send their kids to college, go on regular vacations, etc. Would they benefit from having their income doubled? Probably, but the difference in happiness probably wouldn't be as great as in the first case I cited.

Now consider a billionaire who can buy damn near anything money can buy. If you were to double their income, would they really be much happier? I doubt it.

I guess to sum it up:

1. Money buys happiness, but with diminishing returns
2. Happiness is a state of mind - the requirements for happiness and the resulting feeling will vary from one person to the next. You can't measure someone's happiness, or tell them they are or are not happy based on their current state.

 

[bluemax]

No. I already have happiness in my loving family.

What it would give me, though, is a freedom from the crush of trying to figure out how to pay for all the debts and bills that never end. Then the freedom to persue any field of work I choose, as education and providing for my family will never be a dollar issue again.

As it is, I'll just have to do it the hard way. From the bottom, from hard work. No friends-in-high-places, no advanced education, no freebies. Blood, sweat and tears.


Edit: Just noticed the post right above mine. Funny coincidence!

 

[chambersc]

Money buys freedom, time with family and friends, and material things that I enjoy.

I consider freedom, time with family and friends, and material things that I enjoy to mean happiness.

Therefore money buys happiness, to me.

 

[Imported]

Money would buy me happiness.. I could pay off my student loans, buy a couple cars and homes, start a business, be closer to my girl.. etc!

 

[alkemyst]

Originally posted by: Special K
I think money buys happiness, but with diminishing returns.

Someone who has a family and is struggling to make ends meet would probably be much happier if they had enough money to pay off their debt, pay the bills, buy groceries, clothes for the kids, etc.

Now consider a family who has no debt, lives comfortably, and can afford to send their kids to college, go on regular vacations, etc. Would they benefit from having their income doubled? Probably, but the difference in happiness probably wouldn't be as great as in the first case I cited.

Now consider a billionaire who can buy damn near anything money can buy. If you were to double their income, would they really be much happier? I doubt it.

I guess to sum it up:

1. Money buys happiness, but with diminishing returns
2. Happiness is a state of mind - the requirements for happiness and the resulting feeling will vary from one person to the next. You can't measure someone's happiness, or tell them they are or are not happy based on their current state.

I don't know any person, even uber rich that would not be more happier with more money.

They may not find happiness...but they will have one less variable to worry about.

 

[AlienCraft]

Maybe, maybe not, but I'm willing to try. Bring it on.

 

[AlienCraft]

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."

Depends then on your definition of absurd. He answered in his manner, an amount that may be "absurd" to him.

 

[Bonesdad]

Originally posted by: JLGatsby
FACT: Money buys happiness. Yes.

Put up a poll.

The only thing you MAY prove is how many shallow, misled people there are.

 

[ballmode]

Never had it, so i don't know

 

[Evadman]

Money would make me happy.

 

[PeeluckyDuckee]

No. At least for me. As you grow older you'll realise who/what is important in your life. Everybody is at different stages in their life. Perhaps if I was married, had a wife and loving children, more money would be more meaningful to me, knowing I can satisfy some of their needs/wants in life. But at this point, material goods, time off work, time to travel, more money than I know what to do with to spend on myself, no. I would make sure the people I care around me would get a share of my wealth and that they are content, donate to worthy causes, but that'd be it.

Money may get around some of the issues I face. But the problem is I don't want to put a blind eye and choose an alternate path because I can. Even if I did I know I wouldn't be happy making the choices that I did, nor look myself in the eye for doing what I did. There's only one of me and one of you. Money can't buy whom I want you to be, how you should feel, what you think, what you say. You got to have it in you. And if money did buy the person I want you to be, then really, you're not the person I thought I knew nor want to be around with. I am not going to tell you how you should feel, if you don't have it in you and dont' know what you want to do and make time to do it, then I really don't know what to say than be a bit disappointed by your action/inactions. Certain relationships can be bought, but those that can be are worthless and not something I would truly value.

 

[bluemax]

I think it can be said that money can buy SOME happiness - but it's the fleeting, non-permanent material stuff that never *really* satisfies if you don't have GENUINE LOVE. If you have a 24" screen today, you'll want a 30" screen tomorrow. As soon as something new comes out, the old "WANT" comes out all over again. Yes, lots of money means you can satisfy those moments as they come over, and over, and over again.

REAL LOVE and the contentment that goes with it means your true needs are satisfied. Surrounded by love, you can be happy living in a cardboard box (provided the other basic ESSENTIAL life needs are met - warmth, food, water...) WoW or a fancy computer to play it on isn't on there. Your best friend, Leeroy, sitting beside you (not on the internet) means more. My wife and kids mean more than money (which is why we chose my wife to stay home and raise our kids, rather than dump them in "the system".) It means sacrifices - little goodies we live without because the money isn't there... but we have a roof over our heads, clothes to wear (not rags, but not stupid mega-labels) food to eat (but not T-bone steak) and we're doing okay. We've got a good family, we talk, we play, we love each other very much. THAT's what matters.

When the money finally comes in as a result of hard work, we'll still remember what's important.

If I had to sacrifice my family to get money (mostly in my time away from them, or becoming a different kind of person that would put them at any sort of risk) there's no way it would happen. I'd take a bullet for my family - not a pile of loot.

 

[Amused]

I know plenty of miserable rich people. So no, unless your only vexing problem is poverty, money will not buy you happiness.

In fact, money can also be a curse. Imagine going through life not knowing whether people are being nice to you and trying to be your friend because you're rich, or they genuinely like you. Imagine having the constant fear that you, or your loved ones could be kidnapped for ransom. Very wealthy people are forced to somewhat isolate themselves. The suddenly wealthy invariably lose their friends and alienate their family, lest they become perpetual caretakers and benefactors. All of a sudden everytone has their hand out and hates you if you aren't constantly giving them money... as if they deserve your money simply because you have more of it.

Too much money is as much a curse as too little for many people. And money will not make you smart, it wont make you a good person, and it wont ease any other problem but poverty.

 

[animalia]

no, it will make life easier for me but it won't make me any happier. I'd be happy with 35,000 a year or less.

 

[animalia]

Originally posted by: Vic
Of course not. Especially not with an absurd amount of money either.

One of the biggest issues with people who come suddenly into a lot of money is when they discover that money -- in and of itself -- won't make them happy. And if they thought that money would make them happy, and then it doesn't, then the sh!t really hits the fan in their lives. This is where you see many people spiral out-of-control into drug addictions, personal turmoil, etc. Even suicide (like Cobain).

that bitch courtney love killed him. he was way to ****** up to even raise his hand much less a shotgun that was longer than his arm that he would have to use his foot to fire.

 

[SpunkyJones]

I'm already happy with my life, so money would change that. I'd have nicer toys, but wouldn't be happier that I am now.