How much money do you need to be happy?

ninky_2

Studies have suggested that there is a maximum income above which happiness is not increased.

Those studying "Hedonics" have given figures such as $40 000 (yes, many of them are American).

So I'd like to ask, how much money do you think would make you happy?

What would this amount represent to you in terms of the life you could lead?

Also, if everyone else was earning this, would you be more happy? Or would you be happier if you knew you were making more than everyone else?

Being self employed my "income" is less black and white. Last year I had a turnover of 55k and a taxable profit of 33k. If everyone around me was earning the same I think I would be perfectly happy.

stevetodd

ninky wrote: »

Studies have suggested that there is a maximum income above which happiness is not increased.

Those studying "Hedonics" have given figures such as $40 000 (yes, many of them are American).

So I'd like to ask, how much money do you think would make you happy?

What would this amount represent to you in terms of the life you could lead?

Also, if everyone else was earning this, would you be more happy? Or would you be happier if you knew you were making more than everyone else?

Being self employed my "income" is less black and white. Last year I had a turnover of 55k and a taxable profit of 33k. If everyone around me was earning the same I think I would be perfectly happy.

I don't think money and happiness are connected to each other 100%

lostinrates

ninky wrote: »

So I'd like to ask, how much money do you think would make you happy?

.

So much as to make you not just very cross but extraordinarily cross.

mr_jetlag

ninky wrote: »

Studies have suggested that there is a maximum income above which happiness is not increased.

Those studying "Hedonics" have given figures such as $40 000 (yes, many of them are American).

So I'd like to ask, how much money do you think would make you happy?

What would this amount represent to you in terms of the life you could lead?

Also, if everyone else was earning this, would you be more happy? Or would you be happier if you knew you were making more than everyone else?

Being self employed my "income" is less black and white. Last year I had a turnover of 55k and a taxable profit of 33k. If everyone around me was earning the same I think I would be perfectly happy.

Presumably that's $40k in today's prices? Tax free? Without considering things such as age, gender, social position and "class"?

I will go ahead and short cut the discussion and say that my happiness depends on a number of factors, one of which is disposable income, and that number would be whatever it takes to pay my bills + enough to regularly travel and enjoy life outside of work. So about $100,000

zfrl

Just slightly more than I spend. That would be plenty.

chewmylegoff

$40,000 a day should do it.

moggylover

I suppose a lot would depend upon such things as how much a home was going to cost to buy and run, but allowing that I do not have a mortgage any more I suspect that a sum around the £25 - £30K per annum mark would do me just fine so that I could pay all my bills without worrying, have the odd treat and even a holiday occasionally and even save a bit for my "older" age:D .

I really have never seen the point of an extreme "excess" of money, and the majority of things those better off than me appear to want would never make me even a little bit happy and nor would most of their lifestyles I doubt that major dosh would make you any happier a person: but, it would allow you to continue being a depressed one, or a spiteful one, or a miserable and grumpy one in total comfort:D

lostinrates

moggylover wrote: »

I suppose a lot would depend upon such things as how much a home was going to cost to buy and run, but allowing that I do not have a mortgage any more I suspect that a sum around the £25 - £30K per annum mark would do me just fine so that I could pay all my bills without worrying, have the odd treat and even a holiday occasionally and even save a bit for my "older" age:D .

I really have never seen the point of an extreme "excess" of money, and the majority of things those better off than me appear to want would never make me even a little bit happy and nor would most of their lifestyles I doubt that major dosh would make you any happier a person: but, it would allow you to continue being a depressed one, or a spiteful one, or a miserable and grumpy one in total comfort:D

If I had extreme excess of money I might start be an employer, giving other people incomes of around 25-30k out of my extreme wealth. I don't think that would be a bad or greedy thing.

kabayiri

chewmylegoff wrote: »

$40,000 a day should do it.

Is this comment post-dated to 2014? :rotfl:

By my crude reckoning $40K will be equivalent to 'half a tank of gas' by then.

mitchaa

Ah, define happiness....Millions of happy homes with incomes less than £20k for example

I would say £10k pm would give you the high life if you are talking about financially secure and having everything in reason that you wanted.

JayScottGreenspan

I spend less than the people on the "Utterly disgraceful" thread and I don't think spending more would make me happier or healthier.

I've lived on an income below the official 'poverty' threshhold and was perfectly happy.