<p>Not necessarily guarantee, but is there a strong correlation? How much does the amount of $ a person has actually matter today, in a world of mass entertainment, internet, and intolerance of snobbery? Even Buddhist monks are proven to be happier than the average person. So, is working harder for an above or significantly above-average salary worth it in your opinion?</p>
<p>Also, how will the importance of wealth differ in the future?</p>
<p>It buys ephemeral pleasure. Working for the sole purpose of earning more than you need isn’t worth anything in terms of happiness. The importance of wealth will not differ in the foreseeable future.</p>
<p>LOl, even buddhist monks? ohmygosh!</p>
<p>Define happiness? What is the standard upon which you measure it? And is this standard applicable to all humans? Or reliable?</p>
<p>Anywho, for some people it might.</p>
<p>Wealth by itself does not cause happiness</p>
<p>however, wealth relative to other people has been shown to be correlated to happiness
meaning, if you are wealthier than your neighbor, odds are that you are happier.</p>
<p>[Darwinian</a> answers to social questions | Why we are, as we are | The Economist](<a href=“Why we are, as we are”>Why we are, as we are)</p>
<p>Well money buys puppies and puppies = happiness, so yes.</p>
<p>QED.</p>
<p>i just want enough money to have a place to live, a monthly metrocard, and the ability to buy one chipotle burrito per week.</p>
<p>Money doesn’t buy happiness, but it makes unhappiness a lot more bearable.</p>
<p>Money expands your opportunities to find happiness. Unfortunately, the more you have, the more you want.</p>
<p>Also, some people are so caught up in the quest, that they don’t enjoy the journey.</p>
<p>People need to learn to find contentment in their situation, and not keep thinking “if only”. If only I had this, I would be happy. If only she changed this way, then I would be happy. “If only” is an exercise in futility because there is always one more “if only”.</p>
<p>If you know how to use it properly. Problem is, not many people know how to use it properly.</p>
<p>Have you ever noticed how dysfunctional wealthy families tend to be? Some one did a study of lottery winners and found that almost all of them (and their families) paid a hefty price for their new found wealth.</p>
<p>It can…but not long-lasting happiness. Money can’t buy permanent (somewhat) happiness. It also comes with a bunch of consequences/burdens</p>
<p>Money doesn’t buy happiness, but for some reason it’s easier to cry in a Porsche than a Hyundai.</p>
<p>Ok, the lottery example is not a good representation of rich people. First of all, lottery winners are often poor or middle class before winning the lottery and second of all, of course they will have problems handling all of that money they never expected to have…</p>
<p>Poorer people divorce at something like twice the rate of middle-class or above couples, and they usually live shorter and less comfortable lives. Being poor is stressful and uncomfortable. So while handing money to someone does not make them happy, having money can reduce some sources of unhappiness.</p>
<p>Happiness comes from within, always has and always win. However, happiness is often confused with the orgasmic pleasure of eating a fine steak, driving a BMW, and taking luxurious vacations, possibly to Japan, where you can hire 10k+$ prostitutes that undergo a surgical procedure to ensure that they are yet again a virgin for you. </p>
<p>But all of those creature comforts are just garnish; think of the money as herbs and spices. You aren’t going to live off of garnish; if you don’t have a balanced meal, a solid inner wealth of contentment, love of life, etc, then you are going to be unhappy. But then if you do have that balanced meal, if you have your emotional and mental **** together, when you add money to the mix, you can be extra happy. The optimal scenario is to have the steak garnished with a nice herb butter and salt or maybe a wine-reduction sauce. Then the second best is to just have the steak cooked without garnish. And the third best, is to just have the garnish - just the money. Can’t survive on that. And worst of all, is to have neither the steak nor the garnish, no happiness and no money.</p>
<p>Of course it does. One time, I had a lot of money. I was happy. Now, I have no money. I’m unhappy.</p>
<p>Nah, seriously, everyone knows the good A-plus answer…money cannot buy happiness. But it’s no joke that money makes things very easier, and an easy life makes me happy. :)</p>
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<p>OH MY GOD. YES!
Chipotle = Happiness. Screw my previous post. lol</p>
<p>money does not = happiness, necessarily.</p>
<p>but not having enough money = stress, and to me too much stress = unhappiness.</p>
<p>basically, money gives you options. options are good. you don’t have to necessarily take the most expensive option all the time, but its nice to have the choice. if you have no money, you are stuck with one option most of the time, and that is the “cheapest” option. sometimes its as simple and has less impact on your daily life such as having to take the subway rather than a taxi. let’s say you generally take the subway anyway – but then one day its pouring rain or you are running incredibly late, if you can afford to take a cab, that’s great – but what if you don’t have that “option”? I mean its nice to go to a fancy restaurant and eat a nice gourmet meal, perhaps not everyday, but at least its nice to have that option.</p>
<p>other times it may mean compromising on something more meaningful / important such as an education (e.g. a community college vs. a top private) – or perhaps something even more serious such as health care, what if you had a serious health condition and you didn’t have the option to afford the best medical advice / care? again, it’s about having options on your side.</p>
<p>i made a decision a long time ago that my kids were going to have options. and i’ve worked very hard to ensure that they do.</p>
<p>Depending on how you use it. If someone believes that simply possesing more money or expensive possesions will make them happy, then that person is fool. A house and car are catalysts through which someone can enhance their experiences with other people (IE, entertaining, going to social events, etc) but they are useless on their own, or as objects of pride.</p>
<p>I think that above the poverty level, more money does not equal more happiness that significantly. You may feel happier than the person on the rung below you but less so than than the one above. You will never satisfied because there is never a top. Someone is always better, richer cooler, etc. People at every level have their problems and issues. It’s how you view your life and what you have that will determine your happiness.</p>
<p>Moodrets had the best answer to this question. Before everyone decides the relationship between money and happiness people need to figure out what happiness is. It may even be different for each person. And to the OP, how are monks “proven” to be happier? Did you hook up your Happiness o’Meter to them and compare the data you collected?</p>
<p>Who cares if money makes people happy? People can’t even decide what happiness is.</p>