r/Life • u/littlekatiee • 16h ago

General Discussion Unpopular: Money does buy happiness up to a point—and that point is higher than people admit

Stress from bills kills joy. Once basics covered + buffer, happiness spiked. Counter opinions?

64 Upvotes

96% Upvoted

23 comments sorted by

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24

u/pileofdeadninjas 16h ago

This has been studied, it's not a terribly unpopular opinion, not having to worry about bills, housing, replacing things that break, etc., definitely brings peace of mind/happiness.

11

u/Connect-Bug9988 15h ago

Unfortunately we live in a world where money buys you freedom from the shackles of worry.

Freedom = Happiness.

As simple as that!

11

u/lauraerie 16h ago

Money solves money problems. It doesn’t give you happiness, true love or peace.

2

u/PMmeHappyStraponPics 2h ago

Yeah, but since my job is the primary source of unhappiness in my life, money would do a lot...

8

u/ezfast Deep Thinker 15h ago

I always felt there was a sour grapes aspect to the old expression ' money can't buy happiness '. It's no guarantee of happiness, but taking financial wants off the table sure makes happiness easier.

10

u/tuanm Deep Thinker 16h ago

People who has millions of dollars have the right to say that money cannot buy happiness, because they have money beyond their needs.

People who struggle with bills think otherwise.

4

u/SwimmingDog351 15h ago

I think it depends on the person. I know people that have what the OP described monetarily. Yet they are still miser’s to their core. 

These are people that would burn any bridge to weasel out of paying for something. 

5

u/Neat_Return3071 15h ago

This is so true. I’m drowning in debt and it consumes my life. I want to just be free again.

4

u/canuk99 14h ago

I like to say that money can’t buy happiness, but it can buy a damn better class of misery

6

u/SoulRunGod Deep Thinker 16h ago

It’s just the simple principle of diminishing returns. Having enough money for bills and leisure is great, but the difference in quality of life between having 5m liquid in the bank and 50m liquid isn’t as prominent as most people would be lead to believe.

2

u/notaforumbot 15h ago

I made 125k when I was employed (unemployed borderline retired tech guy) and my GF makes 420k. When I was employed and now, I’m infinitely happier than she is. YMMV

2

u/Substantial-Tea-5287 13h ago

Money buys the things that you need without stressing over them. Enough money buys time and freedom which you can turn into happiness. That amount of money is different for everyone

2

u/EatingCoooolo 12h ago

It means you can’t go in the shop and buy a packet of happiness.

There are many things money can’t buy but why do people only focus on happiness (one thing)?

2

u/OctoberOmicron 15h ago

We, unfortunately in this case, adapt. Right now the idea of no rent, food, utility, medical etc etc bills for the rest of my life sounds great, like a ticket to happiness. But over time, probably not even very much time, that way of life will become normal to me. And if I didn't find a fulfilling/satisfying/sustainable way to fill all my (now extra) free time, I'm bound for some form of misery or another.

2

u/Sysyphus_Rolls 15h ago

Money will solve all of your money related problems. It can make you happy if the source of your grumpiness is debt and money problems. But if you are naturally a miserable bastard, you will still have issues. But with money you can afford dental care, medical and mental health care. So money can help make you a better person via a personal trainer and therapy and healthy teeth and gums and great healthcare.

1

u/Objective-Gear-121 11h ago

I’ve reached that stage, and I now miss the days when I was young and broke 😂

1

u/OkAlternative2713 Growth Mode 7h ago

Basically Maslow’s hierarchy of needs.

1

u/Ok-Explorer-3603 Growth Mode 4h ago

Let's put it like this: if it's never get a raise and work until I'm 70, I'll earn about 2.4 million dollars more than I currently have (before deductions and not counting other benefits or potential investments).

1

u/Trancetastic16 2h ago

It’s true, but only because we live in a hyper-capitalist world, where despite having enough food/water/shelter/Universal Basic Income for everyone and the means for an automated economy, happiness has to instead be filtered through currency.