Can Money Buy Happiness? You Need To Know This
I always get told that money doesn’t make you happy, and you know what?
I agree… kind of. What do I mean?
Well, if you are really poor and struggling, then more money can buy happiness (to an extent).
But…
If you keep making money, then there comes a point in your life where money doesn’t have the same impact as it once had.
I know… I know… a personal finance blogger talking down about money?!
Not really.
Listen, I want everyone to have enough money to be free from the Rat Race, but don’t get caught up in the “love for money.”
Here is something I live by:
Money isn’t the goal, freedom to make choices is.
Listen, there are people out there who want to sing, paint, play an instrument, etc…
But these usually don’t pay the bills, so they end up being accountants and hate it!
Money can give you the power to make choices that will make you happy without worrying about where your next paycheck will come from.
This is why I stress learning about investments and passive income so you can make your money work for you while you focus on what you love doing.
Some of us may be chasing money to reach happiness; some may hate money and think money is the root of all evil that does not bring happiness.
The fact is, money is just a tool used to bring happiness.
Note that when talking about happiness, we are looking for fulfillment, not temporary happiness.
Let’s dig deeper into the question: can money buy happiness?
Buying Material Items
I know many people who want money to buy things when their closet is already filled with “stuff” that they get tired of.
It just doesn’t make sense!
You need to realize that material things bring only temporary happiness to people, and you need to keep buying things to keep that level of happiness; it’s like a drug!
Don’t think I’m telling you to be square and have one pair of sneakers forever. No, not all at.
I’m just saying that you should think about whether what you’re buying will make you happy or is just an impulse purchase.
Live your life and get things that will make you happy, but remember to shop with a rational mindset, not an emotional one.
If you are struggling with saving money, check out my post on the best money-saving tip.
This will be sure to change your mind about spending money.
Can Experiences Buy Happiness?
Some are you thinking, “Well, duh! I know material things will not make me happy, so I spend my money on experiences, not things.
Spending money on experiences is better, but this still doesn’t lead to the fulfilled life I was talking about.
Let me get this straight: everyone should travel and experience different parts of the world, cultures, and lifestyles.
It is so important to expand your mind and not be locked into one perception of life.
Experiences allow you to find things you love to do (your desires) and show you what you don’t like to do.
I believe experiences are crucial to a fulfilled life, but you must take it one step further to become truly fulfilled.
Finding Your Purpose For Life Satisfaction
To live a truly fulfilled life is to have a sense of purpose. I know this is vague, so let’s dig deeper into what this means.
I believe a sense of purpose means to do something that means so much to you that you can do it for the rest of your life and feel fulfilled.
This is the key here is to feel fulfilled.
According to Merriam-Webster, the definition of fulfilling is Providing happiness or satisfaction.
So, how do you find your purpose?
I wish I could tell you exactly your purpose so you can find true greater happiness as soon as possible.
But…
Unfortunately, this isn’t possible; we all have different desires that lead to different purposes.
This is where the previous point comes in; by experiencing different things, you will know where your purpose lies.
However, please note that finding your purpose will not come to you tomorrow or next month; it might not even come to you in a few years.
Finding your purpose usually takes a long time; while some might find it quickly, this is not the case for most people.
“People take different roads seeking fulfillment and happiness. Just because they’re not on your road doesn’t mean they’ve gotten lost.” ―Dalai Lama
Your purpose gets you up at 5 AM willingly when you hate waking up so early; your purpose keeps you up all night because you can’t get enough of it; your purpose is on your mind 24/7.
Your purpose is something to live for. We are alive, but most of us are not truly living.
Okay… I think you get it by now. Your purpose keeps you motivated every single day.
“Cool, but what does this have to do with personal finance?”
Great question! Well, remember what I said at the beginning of the post?
Money is not the goal, freedom to make choices is.
This is essentially what personal finance has to do with finding your purpose. Let me explain.
The goal in your personal finance journey is financial freedom, but this isn’t your life’s goal. Financial freedom is just one goal in your life (I admit, it is a huge goal but not the end goal).
Financial freedom frees up your time to focus on what you genuinely care about (your purpose).
And…
If your purpose requires money, you have the money to support yourself without relying on a paycheck from a job.
My philosophy is to reach financial independence to free up my time so I can focus on my purpose.
Your goal should be to find your purpose and chase it because that is where true happiness lies.
Conclusion
The point of this post is to show you that I don’t love money, and you shouldn’t either. You should love your freedom to make choices.
Use your money to buy back your time so you can focus on what really makes you happy, and this is your purpose!
There are different levels of happiness; yes, those shoes might make you happy now, but how long will this last until the next one is needed to fill that void?
Happiness from spending money on material things and experiences is like a drug; they give you a temporary high where you need more to keep that level of happiness.
But…
Happiness from your purpose is a lifestyle change. Your purpose is who you are; you do it without thinking twice.
Your purpose leads to fulfillment, which produces ultimate happiness.
“True happiness… is not attained through self-gratification, but through fidelity to a worthy purpose.” ―Helen Keller
Remember to check out my post on the best money-saving tips and index funds for passive income.
Do you agree with this post? Does more money mean more happiness? What do you think leads to greater happiness?
Love it…
“The middle is messy but that’s where the magic happens” Brene Brown
Thanks for reading Peter!