RE: Can money buy happiness?

RE: Can money buy happiness? (Full Version)

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RealityLicks -> RE: Can money buy happiness? (5/13/2008 5:38:43 AM)
If you live in an industrialised country, have no money and are happy, then the media isn't working. If you live in a moneyless community, say, a beautiful Pacific island, you are almost undeniably happier than anyone on the planet. I personally only know one truly wealthy person - and so it may be a coincidence - but I'd say he is the least happy person I know or have ever known. typo

kittinSol -> RE: Can money buy happiness? (5/13/2008 5:45:30 AM)
You're right, I was referencing from the narrow point of view of my over-industrialised world...

pahunkboy -> RE: Can money buy happiness? (5/13/2008 5:48:28 AM)
I would not live in any other country then the US. [maybe Canada] As to San Fran. Nope. No metros for me. I want to go further from people not closer. If I had oodles of cash- Ild move further out. Ild likely stay in PA. It is a nice place. People who run to the sun belt- well- fine for them,but I dont mind the cold. In fact I felt better in January then I do now.

kittinSol -> RE: Can money buy happiness? (5/13/2008 5:49:47 AM)
As I haven't been everywhere on the planet, I can't tell... but I have been to many places where the quality of life for the average Joe is a million times better than in America.

batshalom -> RE: Can money buy happiness? (5/13/2008 5:50:00 AM)
quote: ORIGINAL: kittinSol Money means freedom of action and movement. But if you're happy ... would it matter? ~pondering~

kittinSol -> RE: Can money buy happiness? (5/13/2008 6:03:21 AM)
I just know that to me, happiness very much depends on my freedom of action... I NEED to hop on a plane and travel - but that without money, I can't do that... It's all so personal though, isn't it... I suppose that happiness derives from a wisdom and serenity that is completely independent from cash...

cjan -> RE: Can money buy happiness? (5/13/2008 6:26:50 AM)
quote: ORIGINAL: kittinSol I just know that to me, happiness very much depends on my freedom of action... I NEED to hop on a plane and travel - but that without money, I can't do that... It's all so personal though, isn't it... I suppose that happiness derives from a wisdom and serenity that is completely independent from cash... Consider that freedom of action is not necessarily related to what your bank balance is. How much money you have will limit the style in which you travel, but it doesn't nessecarily preclude the possibility. I know, I've done it more than once. Travelling broke forces one to be open to possibilities that we may otherwise miss or overlook. It's an adventure. And, once you do it, you may realize , with great relief, that "staying alive" in the world isn't as hard as ya might have thought. And , as for happiness deriving from a condition completely independent from cash, I agree. In fact, imo, happiness derives from letting go of demanding that certain conditions exist in order for us to be happy.

kittinSol -> RE: Can money buy happiness? (5/13/2008 6:54:38 AM)
But but but, I have traveled, cjan, quite extensively. It's just that my genes are nomadic and that right now, my bank balance is at 'nul point'.

mhawk -> RE: Can money buy happiness? (5/13/2008 7:14:46 AM)
money is what you do with it.yes money can buy us things that make us happy,but it doesn't have to be there physically(money) for people to be happy. i can be happy looking out on to a body of water. San Fran or Tenn. maybe the cost of living may be different and the pace is different. but tornados and earthquakes can happen anywhere you go. over half of the pacific northwest sits on fault lines and there have been recorded tornados as far west as Washington state in the last 5 years. in other words,anything can happen just about anywhere you go.

mastervalentine -> RE: Can money buy happiness? (5/13/2008 7:59:31 AM)
Consider that the average is based on everybody. It includes multi-billionaires, Bill Gates, Lee Scott, et cetera, et cetera. The average wage may infact be nearly 40,000. But that's an inflated average and does not represent what most americans see. After all, most Americans are not corporate executives, or professional athletes. And if I understand correctly that doesn't include all the taxes we pay that provide us next to nothing in return. Factor in rising fuel costs, which in turn inflate the cost of absolutely everything, a housing and mortgage crisis, credit agencies that demand punitive interest rates, and the added pressure of rapidly rising unemployment rates... and to me, a lot of unhappy Americans just... makes sense. Does money buy happiness? Philosophers can debate it as much as they want. I won't say yes or no, but boy it would be nice to not have to feel stressed about making ends meet.

UR2Badored -> RE: Can money buy happiness? (5/13/2008 9:26:28 AM)
Having money does not change a person but the lack of it does.

cjan -> RE: Can money buy happiness? (5/13/2008 9:31:37 AM)
quote: ORIGINAL: UR2Badored Having money does not change a person but the lack of it does. That just doesn't hold true in my life experience, UR2. I know wealthy people who are very unhappy and have been profoundly changed by money. I know wealthy people, self-made, who remain essentially who they were before becoming wealthy. I also know people who have lost fortunes and are happy and some that have lost and destroyed themselves. No one size fits all.

UR2Badored -> RE: Can money buy happiness? (5/13/2008 9:34:38 AM)
Perhaps, I was not clear.....I did not say anything about happiness.

batshalom -> RE: Can money buy happiness? (5/13/2008 10:26:08 AM)
quote: ORIGINAL: UR2Badored Having money does not change a person but the lack of it does. That doesn't follow the rules of logic. It might be true in your experience but it wouldn't hold up in every case (or even most). It seems more no more likely than chance.

MusicalBoredom -> RE: Can money buy happiness? (5/13/2008 10:37:45 AM)
I have had money (owned a home, money to pay all bills, travel, go out, buy things without having to save for them and still have to put in savings) and been happy and unhappy. I have lived pay check to pay check and been both happy and unhappy. I have even been dirt poor and been happy and unhappy. TVs and new cars never made me happy but were fun at times. Stress of scraping money for bills and food is tough but so is the stress of landing another 6 month contract in a business. If I can situate my life in a way to reduce my stress to the minimum and have time for family and friends then I'm generally happy. The trick is not stress over trying to get or do things to be happy -- that's just silly but I tend do it from time to time.

GreedyTop -> RE: Can money buy happiness? (5/13/2008 10:39:51 AM)
quote: ORIGINAL: UR2Badored Perhaps, I was not clear.....I did not say anything about happiness. True..but given the title of the thread, I think that Cj's (and my) assumption that you were commenting on the money vs happiness thing wasn't unreasonable.

FRSguy -> RE: Can money buy happiness? (5/13/2008 10:41:16 AM)
Are you kidding me... Yes.

PanthersMom -> RE: Can money buy happiness? (5/13/2008 10:45:23 AM)
usually no it can't, but it can make you happier than you were before if you can pay off all your bills and start fresh. PM

boytoy4female -> RE: Can money buy happiness? (5/13/2008 10:48:50 AM)
Happiness is a decision. But, yes money can buy happiness. It may enable you to pursue your dreams or help others. Though, in the end, if you dont decide to be happy, you wont be. So if any of you have extra money and it's making you unhappy, my happy self is available to assist you.

GreedyTop -> RE: Can money buy happiness? (5/13/2008 10:52:19 AM)
quote: ORIGINAL: boytoy4female Happiness is a decision. But, yes money can buy happiness. It may enable you to pursue your dreams or help others. Though, in the end, if you dont decide to be happy, you wont be. So if any of you have extra money and it's making you unhappy, my happy self is available to assist you. LOL thats what I was thinking!!

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