thesis statement for money can't buy happiness

Can Money Really Buy Happiness?

Money and happiness are related—but not in the way you think..

Updated November 10, 2023 | Reviewed by Chloe Williams

• More money is linked to increased happiness, some research shows.
• People who won the lottery have greater life satisfaction, even years later.
• Wealth is not associated with happiness globally; non-material things are more likely to predict wellbeing.
• Money, in and of itself, cannot buy happiness, but it can provide a means to the things we value in life.

Money is a big part of our lives, our identities, and perhaps our well-being. Sometimes, it can feel like your happiness hinges on how much cash is in your bank account. Have you ever thought to yourself, “If only I could increase my salary by 12 percent, I’d feel better”? How about, “I wish I had an inheritance. How easier life would be!” I don’t blame you — I’ve had the same thoughts many times.

But what does psychological research say about the age-old question: Can money really buy happiness? Let’s take a brutally honest exploration of how money and happiness are (and aren’t) related. (Spoiler alert: I’ve got bad news, good news, and lots of caveats.)

Higher earners are generally happier

Over 10 years ago, a study based on Gallup Poll data on 1,000 people made a big headline in the news. It found that people with higher incomes report being happier... but only up to an annual income of $75,000 (equivalent to about $90,000 today). After this point, a high emotional well-being wasn’t directly correlated to more money. This seemed to show that once a persons’ basic (and some “advanced”) needs are comfortably met, more money isn’t necessary for well-being.

But a new 2021 study of over one million participants found that there’s no such thing as an inflection point where more money doesn’t equal more happiness, at least not up to an annual salary of $500,000. In this study, participants’ well-being was measured in more detail. Instead of being asked to remember how well they felt in the past week, month, or year, they were asked how they felt right now in the moment. And based on this real-time assessment, very high earners were feeling great.

Similarly, a Swedish study on lottery winners found that even after years, people who won the lottery had greater life satisfaction, mental health, and were more prepared to face misfortune like divorce , illness, and being alone than regular folks who didn’t win the lottery. It’s almost as if having a pile of money made those things less difficult to cope with for the winners.

Evaluative vs. experienced well-being

At this point, it's important to suss out what researchers actually mean by "happiness." There are two major types of well-being psychologists measure: evaluative and experienced. Evaluative well-being refers to your answer to, “How do you think your life is going?” It’s what you think about your life. Experienced well-being, however, is your answer to, “What emotions are you feeling from day to day, and in what proportions?” It is your actual experience of positive and negative emotions.

In both of these studies — the one that found the happiness curve to flatten after $75,000 and the one that didn't — the researchers were focusing on experienced well-being. That means there's a disagreement in the research about whether day-to-day experiences of positive emotions really increase with higher and higher incomes, without limit. Which study is more accurate? Well, the 2021 study surveyed many more people, so it has the advantage of being more representative. However, there is a big caveat...

Material wealth is not associated with happiness everywhere in the world

If you’re not a very high earner, you may be feeling a bit irritated right now. How unfair that the rest of us can’t even comfort ourselves with the idea that millionaires must be sad in their giant mansions!

But not so fast.

Yes, in the large million-person study, experienced well-being (aka, happiness) did continually increase with higher income. But this study only included people in the United States. It wouldn't be a stretch to say that our culture is quite materialistic, more so than other countries, and income level plays a huge role in our lifestyle.

Another study of Mayan people in a poor, rural region of Yucatan, Mexico, did not find the level of wealth to be related to happiness, which the participants had high levels of overall. Separately, a Gallup World Poll study of people from many countries and cultures also found that, although higher income was associated with higher life evaluation, it was non-material things that predicted experienced well-being (e.g., learning, autonomy, respect, social support).

Earned wealth generates more happiness than inherited wealth

More good news: For those of us with really big dreams of “making it” and striking it rich through talent and hard work, know that the actual process of reaching your dream will not only bring you cash but also happiness. A study of ultra-rich millionaires (net worth of at least $8,000,000) found that those who earned their wealth through work and effort got more of a happiness boost from their money than those who inherited it. So keep dreaming big and reaching for your entrepreneurial goals … as long as you’re not sacrificing your actual well-being in the pursuit.

There are different types of happiness, and wealth is better for some than others

We’ve been talking about “happiness” as if it’s one big thing. But happiness actually has many different components and flavors. Think about all the positive emotions you’ve felt — can we break them down into more specifics? How about:

• Contentment
• Gratefulness

...and that's just a short list.

It turns out that wealth may be associated with some of these categories of “happiness,” specifically self-focused positive emotions such as pride and contentment, whereas less wealthy people have more other-focused positive emotions like love and compassion.

In fact, in the Swedish lottery winners study, people’s feelings about their social well-being (with friends, family, neighbors, and society) were no different between lottery winners and regular people.

Money is a means to the things we value, not happiness itself

One major difference between lottery winners and non-winners, it turns out, is that lottery winners have more spare time. This is the thing that really makes me envious , and I would hypothesize that this is the main reason why lottery winners are more satisfied with their life.

Consider this simply: If we had the financial security to spend time on things we enjoy and value, instead of feeling pressured to generate income all the time, why wouldn’t we be happier?

This is good news. It’s a reminder that money, in and of itself, cannot literally buy happiness. It can buy time and peace of mind. It can buy security and aesthetic experiences, and the ability to be generous to your family and friends. It makes room for other things that are important in life.

In fact, the researchers in that lottery winner study used statistical approaches to benchmark how much happiness winning $100,000 brings in the short-term (less than one year) and long-term (more than five years) compared to other major life events. For better or worse, getting married and having a baby each give a bigger short-term happiness boost than winning money, but in the long run, all three of these events have the same impact.

What does this mean? We make of our wealth and our life what we will. This is especially true for the vast majority of the world made up of people struggling to meet basic needs and to rise out of insecurity. We’ve learned that being rich can boost your life satisfaction and make it easier to have positive emotions, so it’s certainly worth your effort to set goals, work hard, and move towards financial health.

But getting rich is not the only way to be happy. You can still earn health, compassion, community, love, pride, connectedness, and so much more, even if you don’t have a lot of zeros in your bank account. After all, the original definition of “wealth” referred to a person’s holistic wellness in life, which means we all have the potential to be wealthy... in body, mind, and soul.

Kahneman, D., & Deaton, A.. High income improves evaluation of life but not emotional well-being. . Proceedings of the national academy of sciences. 2010.

Killingsworth, M. A. . Experienced well-being rises with income, even above $75,000 per year .. Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences. 2021.

Lindqvist, E., Östling, R., & Cesarini, D. . Long-run effects of lottery wealth on psychological well-being. . The Review of Economic Studies. 2020.

Guardiola, J., González‐Gómez, F., García‐Rubio, M. A., & Lendechy‐Grajales, Á.. Does higher income equal higher levels of happiness in every society? The case of the Mayan people. . International Journal of Social Welfare. 2013.

Diener, E., Ng, W., Harter, J., & Arora, R. . Wealth and happiness across the world: material prosperity predicts life evaluation, whereas psychosocial prosperity predicts positive feeling. . Journal of personality and social psychology. 2010.

Donnelly, G. E., Zheng, T., Haisley, E., & Norton, M. I.. The amount and source of millionaires’ wealth (moderately) predict their happiness . . Personality and Social Psychology Bulletin. 2018.

Piff, P. K., & Moskowitz, J. P. . Wealth, poverty, and happiness: Social class is differentially associated with positive emotions.. Emotion. 2018.

Jade Wu, Ph.D., is a clinical health psychologist and host of the Savvy Psychologist podcast. She specializes in helping those with sleep problems and anxiety disorders.

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Money Can T Buy Happiness

This essay will explore the adage “Money can’t buy happiness.” It will discuss the relationship between wealth and well-being, examining how and why increased income does not necessarily lead to increased happiness, and the factors that contribute to genuine contentment and fulfillment. On PapersOwl, there’s also a selection of free essay templates associated with Happiness.

How it works

Since happiness is a unique experience, the factors that promote happiness can of course be different for everyone. However, scientific research in the last 20 years has come a long way to identify many common factors that contribute to our happiness. Money (or income) is one of them. When we encounter the questions if feeling happy is related with money or not, some will use their opt in favour of money. However, the others, including me, claim money has a tiny role and comes not in the leading positions when compared with other effects.

In its simplest form, we can say: Yes, money is affecting our happiness. However, after this sentence, I can add a sentence that starts with “but’’.

What dimension of happiness is affected by money? There are many answers to this question. Because different theories and different disciplines (such as psychology, economy) can define in different ways. However, there is a general definition that is now accepted in the field of psychology. In fact, if we look at the dimensions of happiness rather than definition, we can better understand this concept.

Happiness is a concept with both emotional and cognitive dimensions. Emotionally feeling good means experiencing positive emotions frequently rather than experiencing negative emotions less often. Some experts define this as emotional balance. In the cognitive sense, happiness reflects the person’s perception of his / her life as satisfying. Many studies show that emotional and cognitive aspects of happiness can be affected by different factors. Money is one of these factors. For example, the monthly income of a person is important for life satisfaction and does not show a meaningful relationship with the emotional dimension of happiness. So as our income increases, we are beginning to perceive our lives as more satisfying. However, increasing income does not affect our daily emotional state much. Therefore, it may be important to know in what sense our income makes us happy.

If the quantity of money increases, does your level of happiness also increase? The answer to this question can be summarized as follows: While more money does not bring happiness, little money can make you feel emotionally worse. Therefore, making less money than a certain income level can reduce our quality of life. On the other hand, excess money after reaching a certain economic standard can increase our life satisfaction. The surplus money that comes after reaching a certain economic standard may not be emotionally happy. For example, in a study conducted by Kahneman and Deaton in 2010, it was seen that the winners of more than US $ 75,000 a year in the US compared to the winners of 75,000 US Dollars and the winners above this figure were not happier, or rather, their daily emotional states did not change.

In fact, the main point here is that if our earnings are enough to capture the living standards of our own, then this encourages us to feel good. However, gaining more than this income does not give us any extra happiness. In other words, I would not be very happy if I made so much money, it might not be meaningful to make guesses. Connecting our happiness to money may leave us completely powerless. Because when we get it and catch it, we feel happy but then we start searching for more.

Why is earning a lot of money problem for happiness? After a certain level of income (I said this is an average of $ 75,000 a year for America), there are a few reasons why money doesn’t make us happy in the emotional sense after a certain amount of money. One of these is that when people earn more money, people start to feel less gratitude for small things. There are also researches that support the fact that people can not really be happy with some tiny things as they earn more money. Another reason is that as income increases, people stop doing activities that will make them feel good in everyday life. For example, people with high incomes spend more time on working, shopping, child care or other obligatory jobs than being interested in socializing or hobbies or leisure activities that make them feel good. This can restrict their happiness.

How would spending money make us happy? Not having enough money is enough for a good life. The relationship between money and happiness is that a high income contributes to our happiness only when we spend it for those who need it or to buy gifts for our loved ones. For example, in a series of research by Professor Dunn and his friends, it shows that when university students spend about $ 10 or $ 20 of money to buy something for someone else, they feel better than spending time for themselves. Other studies show that they feel better when they use a certain amount of money given to them to experience experiences such as traveling or a little trip. His research in many rich and poor countries also shows that person is happier when almost everyone pays his / her money to a charity. Briefly, research tells us how our use of money is effective in our happiness.

Well, why do we choose to spend money for an article if it makes us happier to spend money for an experience or for someone else? One of the reasons for this is that our experiences are temporary and we think that what we buy is more permanent. For example, instead of spending money to go on a concert or a trip, we can choose to buy a new television which we think will be more permanent. So again, we can make mistakes when guessing what makes us happy.

Of course the outcome is not to spend our money for others and not to spend money. It is important for our happiness and life satisfaction to meet our own needs. It may not make sense to give our money to others in debt. I’ll talk about the details of the debt in the future.

Does it really make you happy to have something new? As I said, we’re pretty bad at predicting what makes us happy. We think we will be very happy when we have a new phone. So when our happiness increases with a new event, situation or something that we just have, we get used to the good feelings that we have experienced, and after a while we return to our old happiness level. Therefore, a new dress we bought brings a short time of happiness, and after a few days or even a few hours, we realize that we are not so happy or that our happiness lasts shorter than we expected.

Experiences are not like that. When we have a trip, a concert or a cinema experience, these experiences can help us to meet our psychological needs and make us feel better for longer. Because experiences are usually things we share with others, which brings us closer to others. We know that this kind of interpersonal relations has an important place in our happiness. Meeting the need for bonding with others is an experience that makes us feel good. This does not mean that the things we buy will not make us happy or give up on doing so. In fact, it is important to know that we are going to make a mistake when we guess what makes us happy. Moreover, we must be aware that our happiness may not be so long when we have something we desire, and that we may be disappointed that we are not happy again after we have reached the things we have been connected.

Does saving money make you happy? Our debts have a negative impact on our happiness. On the other hand, having an accumulation to keep us safe in the economic sense can contribute to our happiness. In fact, the debt causes conflicts in marriage and therefore negatively affects the happiness of couples. The negativity of being indebted has a stronger impact than the happiness of our experience. In other words, it may not make us happy to take a trip in debt and borrow again; The stress of debt can be more effective than the beauty of our experiences.

How accurate is it to compare ourselves with others? Another important factor in the relationship between money and happiness is relative income. Many people prefer to compare their earnings with the earnings of those around them (usually their peers). This situation, which is frequently seen especially among white-collar people, is not very useful. Research shows that the happiness of the group or the person we are comparing decreases as our income increases. But this is not always valid for everyone. For example, when comparing income in the early part of working life has a positive effect, a similar comparison in later times may adversely affect happiness. People’s income comparison with others at a young age and in their careers may be positive in terms of predicting their future earnings and increasing their motivation. However, the comparison of income after coming to a certain position may adversely affect happiness as it may lead to negative thoughts about the future.

On the other hand, according to the results of our research, it is better to see that our income is much more than one of our level (or our peers in general), especially in terms of career. However, social comparisons often rebound and leave a negative impact. Therefore, I cannot say that economic comparisons are very healthy.

Furthermore, your income from the past, your income today and the income you expect in the future can be quite important when looking at the relationship between money and happiness. Now it’s better to win more than we did in the past. I already mentioned above how the comparison affects happiness. If we are going to make us happy, we will be able to accept this idea even if we know that we won’t earn 8 billion a month. So even if it is not rational, we can hold onto a thought that makes us happy. For example, it is quite useful to appreciate what we have in economic terms and to remind them often. A materialist lifestyle may have negative consequences for psychological health. For example, when we look at America, people have more things (more cars or electronic goods per capita) compared to 50 years ago, but are they happier in the last 50 years? No. There is even the fact that they owe more. Especially nowadays it is quite natural to have more things to shop, to have more things and to take part in consumer culture. People may need it. However, it can affect our quality of life and relations badly. The life satisfaction of the people who make the habit of looking for riches decreases and they are less happy during the day.

In short, I can say that constantly thinking of making more money and looking for wealth, wishing to have more make us unhappy. Money is always a need but only enough to lead a good life. However, some people have different thoughts on this subject and these thoughts are actually confusing. For example, some say that expecting an increase in our financial situation has a positive impact on both general life satisfaction and economic satisfaction. So in the future – compared to today – we expect to be in a good economic situation, in other words, it is good to think optimistically about it. The financial situation that individuals think that they will have in the present and in the future contributes to their happiness. Another thing is that if there is an unexpected positive change in our income, our life satisfaction increases but in case of an unexpected negative change in our income, our life satisfaction is adversely affected. In other words, if we make an expectation error about our future financial expectations, this affects our life satisfaction badly.

What about comparing wealthy and prosperous countries with poor ones? I think that welfare countries are happier. Developed countries like Denmark, Finland, Norway and Canada are the happiest countries. Poor African countries appear to be at the end of the list. However, it should be kept in mind that the average levels of happiness in the country are taken into account. So there are unhappy people in rich countries, happy people in poor countries. In addition, while thinking about this issue in the framework of the above, it would be appropriate to make an evaluation. If we look at countries, the average income level is important for happiness and life satisfaction. But income, or money, is not enough to explain the difference in happiness between countries. In addition to income, factors such as democracy, social rights, human rights, security and trust are important factors in the level of general happiness of the countries.

As a consequence, the relationship between money and happiness is not that simple. Yes, money makes a sense of happiness, but there are many factors that prevent or allow it. Therefore, it is not quite right to make a comment without taking into account the circumstances and conditions. I believe that we can encourage our happiness for what we have. Because we know that we adapt to almost every situation. When we get a success, we are happy when we buy an item we want; but after a while we get used to it and we can return to our old level of happiness again. But it is also possible to slow down this harmony, or to be more realistic.

Work cites:

• https://wws.princeton.edu/sites/default/files/content/docs/news/Happiness_Money_Summary.pdf
• https://news.harvard.edu/gazette/story/2008/04/money-spent-on-others-can-buy-happiness/
• https://www.nytimes.com/2006/02/08/health/materialism-is-badfor-you-studies-say.html

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Home — Essay Samples — Economics — Money — The Truth: Money Does Not Buy Happiness

The Truth: Money Does not Buy Happiness

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Published: Mar 3, 2020

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Research: Can Money Buy Happiness?

In his quarterly column, Francis J. Flynn looks at research that examines how to spend your way to a more satisfying life.

September 25, 2013

A boy looks at a toy train he received during an annual gift-giving event on Christmas Eve 2011. | Reuters/Jose Luis Gonzalez

What inspires people to act selflessly, help others, and make personal sacrifices? Each quarter, this column features one piece of scholarly research that provides insight on what motivates people to engage in what psychologists call “prosocial behavior” — things like making charitable contributions, buying gifts, volunteering one‘s time, and so forth. In short, it looks at the work of some of our finest researchers on what spurs people to do something on behalf of someone else.

In this column I explore the idea that many of the ways we spend money are prosocial acts — and prosocial expenditures may, in fact, make us happier than personal expenditures. Authors Elizabeth Dunn and Michael Norton discuss evidence for this in their new book, Happy Money: The Science of Smarter Spending . These behavioral scientists show that you can get more out of your money by following several principles — like spending money on others rather than yourself. Moreover, they demonstrate that these principles can be used not only by individuals, but also by companies seeking to create happier employees and more satisfying products.

According to Dunn and Norton, recent research on happiness suggests that the most satisfying way of using money is to invest in others. This can take a seemingly limitless variety of forms, from donating to a charity that helps strangers in a faraway country to buying lunch for a friend.

Witness Bill Gates and Warren Buffet, two of the wealthiest people in the world. On a March day in 2010, they sat in a diner in Carter Lake, Iowa, and hatched a scheme. They would ask America‘s billionaires to pledge the majority of their wealth to charity. Buffet decided to donate 99 percent of his, saying, “I couldn‘t be happier with that decision.”

And what about the rest of us? Dunn and Norton show how we all might learn from that example, regardless of the size of our bank accounts. Research demonstrating that people derive more satisfaction spending money on others than they do spending it on themselves spans poor and rich countries alike, as well as income levels. The authors show how this phenomenon extends over an extraordinary range of circumstances, from a Canadian college student purchasing a scarf for her mother to a Ugandan woman buying lifesaving malaria medication for a friend. Indeed, the benefits of giving emerge among children before the age of two.

Investing in others can make individuals feel healthier and wealthier, even if it means making yourself a little poorer to reap these benefits. One study shows that giving as little as $1 away can cause you to feel more flush.

Quote Investing in others can make you feel healthier and wealthier, even if it means making yourself a little poorer.

Dunn and Norton further discuss how businesses such as PepsiCo and Google and nonprofits such as DonorsChoose.org are harnessing these benefits by encouraging donors, customers, and employees to invest in others. When Pepsi punted advertising at the 2010 Superbowl and diverted funds to supporting grants that would allow people to “refresh” their communities, for example, more public votes were cast for projects than had been cast in the 2008 election. Pepsi got buzz, and the company‘s in-house competition also offering a seed grant boosted employee morale.

Could this altruistic happiness principle be applied to one of our most disputed spheres — paying taxes? As it turns out, countries with more equal distributions of income also tend to be happier. And people in countries with more progressive taxation (such as Sweden and Japan) are more content than those in countries where taxes are less progressive (such as Italy and Singapore). One study indicated that people would be happier about paying taxes if they had more choice as to where their money went. Dunn and Norton thus suggest that if taxes were made to feel more like charitable contributions, people might be less resentful having to pay them.

The researchers persuasively suggest that the proclivity to derive joy from investing in others may well be just a fundamental component of human nature. Thus the typical ratio we all tend to fall into of spending on self versus others — ten to one — may need a shift. Giving generously to charities, friends, and coworkers — and even your country — may well be a productive means of increasing well-being and improving our lives.

Research selected by Francis Flynn, Paul E. Holden Professor of Organizational Behavior at Stanford Graduate School of Business.

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Can money buy happiness, three psychological principles to consider before you make your next purchase.

By Sarah Gervais, Associate Professor of Psychology, Social and Cognitive Program and Law-Psychology Program

11 Nov 2015

We’re all familiar with the idea that money can’t buy happiness. Yet, the reality is that we all spend money and for most of us it is a limited resource. How can we spend our hard earned dough in ways that will maximize our happiness? Psychological research offers some useful insights about the connections between money and happiness to consider before you make your next purchase.

• Being Rich Isn’t Necessarily the Path to Happiness. Money is important to happiness. Ask anyone who doesn’t have it. Having a higher income, for example, can give us access to homes in safer neighborhoods, better health care and nutrition, fulfilling work, and more leisure time. However, this only works up to a certain point. Once our income reaches a certain level and our basic needs for food, health care, safety, and shelter are met, the positive effects of money—such as buying your dream home—are often offset by the negative effects—such as working longer hours, or in more stressful jobs, to maintain that income.
• Doing Makes us Happier than Having. Most people assume that “things” will lead to more happiness than “experiences.” Physical objects—such as the latest iPhone, handbag, or car—last longer than say going to a concert, taking a cooking class, or going on vacation. Buying things does make us happy, at least in the short term. In the long-term, however, we habituate to new things and even though they may have made us excited and happy at first, eventually the item becomes the new normal and fades into the background. The happiness that comes from purchasing experiences, however, tends to increase over time. One reason is that we often share experiential purchases with other people. Even when you’ve driven that new car into the ground, you’ll still be telling stories with your family and friends about that time when you went on vacation to Colorado and you’ll even be chuckling about when the car broke down and you had to spend the night in the shady motel
• Consider Spending Money on Others. Most people think that spending money on themselves will make them happier than spending it on other people. Yet, when researchers assess happiness before and after people spend an annual bonus, people report greater happiness when they spend the bonus money on others or donate it to charity than when they spend it on themselves. This occurs regardless of how big the bonus was. One reason for this phenomenon is that giving to others makes us feel good about ourselves

So, before you pull out your wallet or click to order online, think about whether this purchase will really make you happy. If it will jeopardize your basic needs, think twice. If you have some disposable income, considering planning a trip or taking a class to learn a new skill. Finally, in this season of giving, know that if you spend your money on others or donate it to good causes, you may feel better than if you spend it on yourself.

Note: This article presents some basic principles for money and happiness. Individuals differ in their financial situation and psychological well-being. Consult a financial expert or behavioral health professional for guidance about finances and happiness.

Money can’t buy Happiness Essay

Essay on money can’t buy happiness for children and students.

Happiness is an emotion that we discover inside our own selves as human beings. An object can make a person happy for a short while but happiness is for a lifetime. If somebody thinks money can buy happiness then that is not true happiness.

Money is given huge importance and the simple things which bring us true happiness are often overlooked. One of the things that give happiness is love. It does not cost anything but can fill your life with happiness. This feeling cannot be purchased. It cannot be traded for any amount of money in the world. Generally, people believe that they can make someone feel happy or loved with the help of money, and perhaps they can but only for a while.

Long and Short Essay on Money can’t buy Happiness in English

Here are essays of varying lengths on the topic Money can’t buy happiness. You can select anyone you need:

Money can’t buy Happiness Essay 1 (200 words)

In general, Happiness is a difficult word to define. The way of measuring happiness is different for everyone. Few people trust that money can buy happiness, whereas others disagree. According to me, although having lots of money will surely provide us lot of ways to entertain ourselves but it can’t buy love and happiness.

Money can’t buy love and a happy life comes from having good friends and family who care about us. Our life becomes meaningful and happy when we are around loved ones. For example, I have read an article about a famous actress in Bollywood who died due to depression and was all alone during her last days. She had been a really popular actress because of her beauty and acting skills. Even though she was earning a huge fortune every year, she was not happy as she didn’t have any close friend or family who could take care of her. Whereas I have seen people who have a happy life without money because they are surrounded by people who love them and care for them.

In most cases people have to work hard to earn lots of money and due to which they have less time for their social life. Many businessmen work 6 days a week and earn good money but they don’t have the time to spend that money and remain stressed. People have money but if they don’t have the time to enjoy their life than it is worthless.  

Money can’t buy Happiness Essay 2 (300 words)

Introduction

This term happiness can be well explained by the happiness model. It is quite simple; Happiness refers to a greater presentation which can bring greater rewards. Let’s take a look at the Happiness Model:

The Happiness Model

According to this model, if you love what you do then it is obvious that you will be keen on knowing it better and will have a better clarity on the subject. With this clarity, you are bound to perform better which lead you to success and thus the reward attached to it.

A Psychological study has revealed that bigger happiness, comfort, and positivity can show the way to better performance. Whatsoever activity one is undertaking, he is sure to be successful when he is in a state of happiness. It enables him to perform at a superior level.

What does it bring?  It brings the rewards that you are aiming at. These can be both monetary and non-monetary. It can be a simple appreciation from your superior at work and receiving a pat on the back. On the other hand, it may also lead to the achievement of your sales target and attainment of the bonus attached to it, or a greater opportunity of getting a promotion.

The more constant and steady your happiness and optimistic outlook is, the better performance you will have in your pursuit.

A person will be more productive and more successful in whatever work he is doing if he is coming to work with excitement each day. In your personal life, it is not different.

You will reap the reward if you do what you love. You will generally perform better and will not only be more wealthy in monetary and non-monetary terms but you will also lead a more fulfilling and happy life. There is a world of opportunities. So get out into the world and enjoy what’s around.

Money can’t buy Happiness 3 (400 words)

A lot of people think that happiness can be acquired with the help of money, or that you need money to be happy. But there are a few of us that still believe that the best things in life are free. Many things that can make us truly happy cost nothing. Friends, family, relationships all are priceless. Such things cannot be bought and that is what real happiness is about. Several people think that material wealth or just plain money can make them happy, or can buy them the things they believe can make them happy.

Money can’t buy Happiness

Our family, friends, and relatives are the people that have been there for us all through our lives. All the memories we have with us were created with them and every story behind our bumps, bruises, embarrassments, dating experiences and all other extraordinary events is known to them. No amount of money on the planet could pay for that. Memories are formed and created hence they cannot be paid for or paid off. I have been a family oriented person, so I don’t appreciate why some people would think that money could buy happiness.

Lot of us think of our friends as treasures. A friend is somebody that likes you for what you are and who you are, and they continue to believe in you even when you stop believing in yourself. The friendship which we form is a tight bond and we get emotionally involved with people. Money can’t obstruct with our approach, nor can money buy us true friends. We as individuals would be very sorrowful without friends to tell our secrets to and having a shoulder to lean on when we need it.

I have personally seen people who buy clothes, accessories, food or anything to buy friends. It might work but only for a while and then it just goes to demonstrate once again that money cannot buy happiness.

The finest things in life are indeed free. We may occasionally take for granted the items we have, which are priceless. We might not realize how important love, family, and friends are, but when we really analyze it, we know that indeed the best things in life are free of cost. Money can only buy the materialistic things and relations that last for a short while whereas no money is required for the relations build with heart and emotions. Remember, money can’t buy you happiness but happiness can get you more money!

Money can’t buy Happiness 4 (500 words)

Can you be happy if you have a big mansion to stay, an indoor pool to bathe or a luxury car to drive. Or is it something related to the sense of freedom, love, relationship, and self-realization. There are basically two types of people who think that Money can’t buy happiness – Those who have an excess of money and still find themselves unhappy and those who have never had plenty of money.

What is Happin ess?

What is happiness? Is it pleasure?

Is there any difference between happiness and pleasure?

Happiness is always defined differently by different people. Somebody’s happiness may be a bad fortune to the other. So what is ultimate happiness? It is something which differentiates you from the materialistic pleasures and you stay in constant bliss. You multiply your happiness by helping others, being calm and caring. This kind of happiness cannot be bought with money.

Needs V/S Wants

Life is very simple but we make it complicated. The basic rule of life includes ‘Needs and Wants’. The things which are basics for human survival like food, clothes, shelter etc are the needs. Sufficient money, electricity, education, and transport can also be counted as needs in modern day life. Once a man fulfils his basic needs, he doesn’t stop there, he desires for more. A salary hike, a better home in the city, expensive clothes, luxury vehicle and when he crosses this stage he wants even more like a world tour, a luxury villa and new hobbies like golf, sailing, etc.

So basically wants are never ending and if the happiness is dependent on these factors then it’s really hard to imagine that one will get happiness because he/she will be always indulged in acquiring more and more. It is good to be ambitious and money can be a good driving force to lead a comfortable life but when one becomes greedy and selfish then the ultimate goals of life are replaced with materialistic things. An achievement does bring happiness but for a short span. We work hard for years to achieve something but it vanishes in few days or months.

Is Money Important?

It will be wrong to say that money is not important. Just imagine, you are travelling somewhere with your family. In this journey, your goal is the journey itself and not the destination. That journey with family is the happiness but the fuel required to run the car throughout the journey requires money. If the fuel tank dries, you can still drive it on a slope but that will be risky. Human life also works the same way, money is essential to run the life and it is very difficult to survive without money. You struggle for happiness when earning money is the only goal in your life.

Happiness v/s Pleasure

You can acquire pleasure with money but actually you need a lot of money to buy pleasure. A wise man will not mix happiness with pleasure whereas a common man thinks pleasure as definitive happiness and at the end of the day he may find himself in depression, anger, loneliness but with a lot of money. There are several businessmen in India who earn in millions and can afford pleasures but they get happiness by doing social work and charity and that is the source of their happiness. Mr. Ratan Tata who is one of India’s top businessmen spends 60% of his earning to social service, NGO, and charity.

It should be noted that money is an essential part of modern life and one cannot survive without it but one should not make money as the sole source of happiness. Money can buy pleasures but not happiness and these two things should be kept different.

Money can’t buy Happiness 5 (600 words)

Happiness and honesty are some of the human attributes that cost nothing at all. As it is said, the best things in life are free and there are certain things in life where the currency has no value – like friends, family, and good memories.

True Happiness is Priceless

Some priceless possessions that are essential for happiness but cannot be bought are mentioned below:

• An honest opinion from a loved one.
• True friends who have your back.
• A family you can always count on.
• Humour and laughter
• Having a positive attitude
• Doing a good deed
• The first time someone says, “I love you.”
• Quality time with your loved ones.
• Having someone listen to you intently.
• The love of your children, family, and significant other.
• Pushing one to achieve something great.

Happiness and Other Things Money Cannot Buy

Clearly, money cannot buy happiness. What else can money not buy?

Love : Money can buy attraction, power, and lust but it cannot buy love. Love is an emotion that can only be felt and experienced. It is something intimate, heartfelt and mysterious.

Truth : Money may be able to buy authority but the truth is most powerful of all. Sometimes money is exhausted to shove beliefs or an agenda and can even be used to generate unfair study to strengthen an opinion. Sometimes, people are able to hide the truth with the help of money but not for long. In the end, no matter how much money is spent on forging the truth it will always be exposed.

Time : You will never get back the time you have spent. Each minute that has passed will never return. Despite so much scientific and medical advancements, there is no way that we can reverse the time or extend our life. No amount of money can turn the clock back so we should live our life to the fullest, work hard and enjoy what we have.

Peace:  It has been seen that the wealthier a person, the less peace of mind he possesses. Money cannot buy you peace. Many individuals have spent countless amount of money to establish inner peace and this vast sum of money has never been able to come close to what we could define as peaceful. Peace does not depend on your bank statement. It depends on how you train your mind and set your expectations.

Talent : Money can certainly help you to enhance and develop a talent within you but you won’t be able to purchase talent or skill. Besides inborn talent, there is a zest to learn and gain knowledge to nurture a skill or talent. All this cannot be purchased with any amount of money.

These are all essential components of happiness!

“Money has never made a man happy and nor will it. There is nothing in its nature to produce happiness”. A precious and priceless asset, happiness is something no sum of money can ever buy. It is doubtlessly treasured more than any material item you possess.

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• Can money buy happiness?   How can I use the following...

• Can money buy happiness?

How can I use the following information in a persuasive essay?

My Attitude: There's a misconception that money can easily bring joy. Research suggests this is true, even though actual money is not what is causing it.

My Purpose: Provide information.

My Thesis Statement: The amount of money you earn can contribute to your happiness, but it is not the only factor. The nature of a person's relationships, their sense of fulfillment, and even their physical health can all affect their ability to find happiness in life.

My Audience: Everyone

How much does my audience know about my subject? Age? Gender? Race? Social status? Location? Religion? Where does my audience stand on the issue; are they opposed or neutral?

Outline: People's lifestyles reflect the choices they make and the goals they set for themselves. Many people think meaningful connections bring joy and satisfaction. These people are famous and rich, so they attract others.

I. Everyone's lifestyles depend on the selections they bring in, along with goals that they collect on their own. a. Some think that enchanting connections carry joy and total satisfaction, while others discover it in prominence and wealth. b. Everyone has different goals in life. People think money will give them power and influence. II. I believe that having money makes people happy. Clinical research and my own personal experiences support this. I believe that having money makes people happy, because it enables them to get the things they want and require in life. a. Studies have shown that people feel happier and have a greater sense of well-being when they spend money on experiences rather than material possessions.

b. People often need money to feel satisfied, because it leads to security, relaxation, and comfort. This allows them to be true to themselves. Money is important to happiness.

III. There is no correlation between money and happiness. a. It is always worth investing in the things we value and hold dear to us. b. We will have a more meaningful and satisfying lifestyle.  

Answer & Explanation

Happiness and wealth have long been hotly contested topics. While it's a prevalent misunderstanding that having money makes people happy, research indicates that money's impact on happiness is more nuanced.

SUPPORTING EXPLANATIONS IS BELOW.

Happiness and wealth have long been hotly contested topics. While it's a prevalent misunderstanding that having money makes people happy, research indicates that money's impact on happiness is more nuanced. This essay will examine the connection between wealth and contentment, noting both its importance and the fact that it does not, by itself, determine a happy existence.

I. Understanding Different Perspectives

The decisions people make and the objectives they set for themselves are reflected in their lifestyles. While some people find happiness in enchanted ties, others look for contentment in success and fortune. It's crucial to recognize that everyone has unique life objectives, and that for some people, money is a method of achieving power and influence.  

II. The Role of Money in Happiness

It is indisputable that having money makes people happier, notwithstanding the drawbacks. Clinical studies and individual experiences back up this viewpoint. According to studies, people are happier and feel more well-being when they spend money on experiences rather than tangible things. People can spend their money in lasting enjoyment by partaking in memorable experiences and meaningful interactions.

Money also offers a feeling of ease, relaxation, and security. Being financially secure enables people to take care of their fundamental requirements while also enjoying occasional moments of relaxation and self-care. One is more likely to pursue their passions, be authentic to themselves, and find joy in life when their physiological and safety needs are met. In some ways, having money is essential for making this goal possible.

III. The Limitations of Money in Achieving Happiness

Recognizing the constraints of money in the pursuit of happiness is crucial, though. A fulfilling existence is not solely determined by one factor. True and enduring happiness comes from fostering relationships, discovering meaning and purpose, and maintaining good physical and mental health. Financial wealth can only provide momentary gratification.

What genuinely adds to a more meaningful and fulfilling lifestyle is investing in the things we cherish and hold dear to us, such as forging close bonds with family and friends, pursuing meaningful job or hobbies, and placing a priority on our well-being. Money alone cannot replace the depth and richness that come from real human interactions and personal development, therefore concentrating simply on collecting wealth may leave one feeling empty.

Conclusion:

In conclusion, there are many different ways that money and happiness are related. Money is not the only component in creating a good life, but it may help by facilitating experiences, delivering security, and providing comfort. The type of relationships someone has, how fulfilled they feel, and even their physical health all have a big impact on whether or not they can be happy.

Instead of focusing only on the pursuit of riches as we go through life, let's try to strike a healthy balance. We can live a full and fulfilling life by appreciating the value of financial security while putting an emphasis on the development of meaningful relationships, discovering purpose, and preserving well-being. In our quest for a truly happy and fulfilling existence, we have the power to investigate and weave the many strands that make up happiness into a tapestry.  

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Can Money Buy Happiness Argumentative Essay, With Outline

Published by Boni on February 21, 2022 February 21, 2022

Can Money Buy Happiness Argumentative Essay Outline

Can money buy happiness? A question we ask ourselves everyday but when it comes to writing essays on the subject, the best solution is finding cheap research papers online where you can get a uniquely customized essay that will get you good grades.

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Introduction

Thesis: Money can buy happiness as it reduces stress, enables control, and enables spending on others.

Paragraph 1:

Money can help one reduce or relieve intense stress.

• People with higher incomes experience less negative intensity from distressing events.
• The higher the income, the lower the intensity of stress one may undergo regardless of the circumstances.
• With reduced stress, one is likely to experience happiness as they do not have to develop negative thoughts.

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Paragraph 2:

Money enables one to exercise greater control over their life.

• One can largely determine the direction their life takes by spending large amounts of money.
• They can access more leisure time, fulfilling work, better nutrition and healthcare, and homes in friendly and safer neighborhoods.
• Satisfaction of human wants forms part of what one needs in order to be happy.

Paragraph 3:

Money makes it possible for a person to attain happiness by spending on other people.

• People experience high happiness levels by donating their annual bonus to charitable organizations or spending it on other people.
• Giving to others, or lending a helping hand, makes human beings develop a good feeling about themselves.
• People have to have enough for themselves first before they can consider giving.

Paragraph 4:

Some people may argue that people need family and friends more than they need money for happiness.

• This may be true to some extent as people often turn to family and friends for various kinds of help.
• However, without good income, one cannot offer meaningful help to another person.
• One can also be happy even without depending so much on their family and friends if they have good income.

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• Money can buy happiness because with it, one experiences less stress, exercises control over their life, and can easily spend on other people.
• Less stress attracts more happiness while control over one’s life gives them immense satisfaction.
• Being able to help other people in terms of money makes one feel good about oneself.
• Therefore, it is not true that money cannot buy happiness.

Can Money Buy Happiness Argumentative Essay

It is often said that “ money cannot buy happiness .”This phrase has even become some wisdom of sorts, one that makes people regulate their “appetite” for money. The irony however is that almost all human needs, both primary and secondary, have some form of attachment to money. Plainly put, it is money that enables an individual to cater for most, if not all, of what they need in their daily life. This yields the question of whether it is true that one cannot buy happiness using money. While some people will align themselves with the argument that happiness depends not on money, others will argue that money attracts satisfaction and thus brings happiness. Irrespective of the argument one may front, money can indeed buy happiness as it reduces stress, enables control, and enables spending on others.      

Money can help one reduce or relieve intense stress. In a study investigating the relationship between stress and income, it was found out that regardless of their income, the participants experienced distressing circumstances and/or events almost in a similar manner (Blanding, 2022). The number of frustrations they underwent on a daily basis was similar. However, “those with higher incomes experienced less negative intensity from those events” (Blanding, 2022). The implication here is that the higher the income, the lower the intensity of stress one may undergo regardless of the circumstances. With reduced stress, one is likely to experience happiness as they do not have to develop negative thoughts which might plunge them into depression. It follows that with more money, it is possible that one may actually avoid being unhappy. They may spend their money in dealing with whatever stressing situation they may be experiencing and hence reduce the negative impact of the situation.

In close connection with the foregoing is that money enables one to exercise greater control over their life. One can actually largely determine the direction their life takes by spending large amounts of money. They can access more leisure time, fulfilling work, better nutrition and healthcare, and homes in neighborhoods that are friendly and safer (Gervais, 2015). As noted by Brooks (2022), satisfaction of human wants forms part of what one needs in order for them to lead a happy and fulfilling life. Therefore, when one can afford virtually everything they need for a comfortable life, there is no reason why they should be unhappy. They know they have control of what they will eat in their next meal. In the same breadth, they know they can determine the outcomes of happenings in their life. They are in full control of their life and are therefore very happy.

Money also makes it possible for a person to attain happiness by spending on other people. A research study revealed that participants recorded higher happiness levels upon donating their annual bonus to charitable organizations or spending it on other people than using it on themselves (Gervais, 2015). This was the outcome irrespective of the bonus amount. One explanation to this finding was that giving to other people, or lending a helping hand, makes human beings develop a good feeling about themselves (Clements, 2018). However, it is common knowledge that one cannot give if they do not have. In most cases, they have to have enough for themselves first before they can consider giving. The implication here is that in order to enjoy the happiness that comes with giving, one has to have a higher income or a substantial amount of money. It is a clear case of how one can buy happiness using money.

Some people may front the argument that people need family and friends more than they need money for happiness. To some extent, this may be true as people often turn to family and friends for various kinds of help (Blanding, 2022). It is however also true that in the world of today, one can only offer meaningful help to a friend or family member in need of help mostly if they have good income. On the same note, one may not easily ask for help if they are in a position to afford most of the things they need. This means they can be happy even without depending so much on their family and friends. This argument is in line with the finding that the higher the household income, the higher the happiness and life satisfaction one enjoys, even for those earning more than $75,000 (Hazell & Plant, 2021). People with such income are less likely to find themselves in compelling situations that require calling for help from outside.        

Money can buy happiness because with it, one experiences less stress, exercises control over their life, and can easily spend on other people. Less stress attracts more happiness as it ensures that one can avoid being sad because of distressing situations. Control over one’s life gives them immense satisfaction as they can determine the quality of their life. Being able to help other people in terms of money makes one feel good about oneself. Those with high incomes do not even need family and friends that much because they can respond to almost all that they need in good time. Therefore, it is not true that money cannot buy happiness, and people should strive to find better income generating activities so they may enjoy the happiness that accompanies being in possession of large amounts of money.   

Blanding, M. (2022). “More proof that money can buy happiness (or a life with less stress)”. Harvard Business School . Retrieved February 20, 2022 from https://hbswk.hbs.edu/item/more-proof-that-money-can-buy-happiness    

Brooks, A. C. (2022). From strength to strength: finding success, happiness, and deep purpose in the second half of life . East Rutherford, NJ: Penguin Publishing Group.

Clements, J. (2018). From here to financial happiness: enrich your life in just 77 days . Hoboken, NJ: John Wiley & Sons.

Gervais, S. (2015). “Three psychological principles to consider before you make your next purchase”. College of Arts and Sciences . Retrieved February 20, 2022 from https://psychology.unl.edu/can-money-buy-happiness     

Hazell, J., & Plant, M. (2021). “Can money buy happiness? A review of new data”. Giving What We Can . Retrieved February 20, 2022 from https://www.givingwhatwecan.org/post/2021/06/can-money-buy-happiness-a-review-of-new-data/    

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Money Buys Happiness

Money Buys Happiness Abstract It always has been a great debatable topic that whether money can buy happiness or not. Many people and scholars believe that money is everything that can bring happiness in life while others believe that money is not everything and besides money there are many social factors that can bring true happiness in life. This research essay aims at discussing the importance of money in life and its correlation with happiness. The main argument of this paper is that money can buy happiness. For support of this statement, some research studies have been highlighted that supports the statement. It is also discussed in detail that how happiness has positive effect on life. Money Buys Happiness Thesis Statement Money can buy happiness which has positive effect on life Introduction Money is now considered as the matter of happiness of life. Especially young generation has the concept that the large sum of money is the considerable symptom of their wealth status. In today's world of fast competition, the competition of social status has also been increased. People especially young generations know that what impacts they may have in their life with money. People are convinced that plenty of money can give them happiness. People believe that money gives them power to help them to reach their goals. The concept of happiness is now confined to money and wealth only. The other factors of happiness such as friends, family, peers, and relatives are mostly ignored now days but in fact they are also there. However, on the other hand it is true that most of the problems are now solved with money. When there are financials problems in a family, many matters are remained unsolved that gives rise to various disputes. There are many people who seek their happiness by having expensive things in their life whether they are useful for the or not. Majority of the people feel that they need money to be happy in their lives but they are not clear about what sort of happiness they really want. In today's era the world has developed very fast. The life styles of people are changing. Modern styles of living are being adopted, new comforts are being adopted. All these utilizations of facilities and comfort life styles require money. Now, with the dramatic changed in the life styles, the new concept in people is that the new appliances and materials can bring them happiness. With the availability of money, happiness in today's people can be driven by many activities or things such as, having an expensive wrist watch, having dinners in hotels more frequently, having expensive car etc that enhances the self esteem of the person. Discussion For many people it is difficult to understand that what is important to the, either money or happiness. Some people claim that money can bought them a lot of things but not true happiness and not true peace of mind. They believe that money cannot buy happiness, unless and until the happiness is considered in terms of belongings. They argue ...

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