Does money make you any happier?

Swinstie73

Have been reading loads of diaries and have long been pondering this question!

Most people are obviously trying to pay off debt, as am I, with a number already debt free and now saving for ‘stuff’, but in reading some posts it would seem that people are becoming obsessed with ‘not spending’ money!

With the news of MJ yesterday, who apparently was in debt to the tune of millions, but was wealthy in his time, it makes me wonder why put ‘life’ on hold whilst paying back debt or even saving for the future?!

The old saying ‘You can’t take it with you!’ rings true with me, even more so now as you never know the minute! My other favourite quote is:

Carpe diem quam minimum credula postero – "seize the day and place no trust in tomorrow"

Personally, I want to pay off my debt as soon as I can, save for a place with my OH, have a good holiday etc., BUT still be able to enjoy life and not stress over every little penny. Even after I am debt free, and have savings, I want to enjoy them, not squirrel away every penny only to never get to use it!

What are your views on this?

davetrousers

Neither a borrower or lender be!

IMO it's people who say things like "I might get hit by a bus tomorrow" wha are bad with money and in debt!

Getting hit by a bus is your life plan????

GeorgeUK

Money doesn't make you happier.

Money can relieve stress which makes you happier though.

tallyhoh

Pay off debt, save, but live a little (or a lot)

I was happiest living at the YMCA with one change of clothes, if you aint got it you cant lose it.

gremlin

No money does not make you happier. If you are miserable with a negative attitude poor being rich wont make any difference.

Money is an enabler. It enables you to do the things you want. It gives you the freedom to make choices that you might not have if you are poor. That is why children from wealthier backgrounds are able to take more risks in life knowing there is a cushion of wealth to catch them should they fail. Poorer people dint have that option.

Ive seen first hand people who have won life changing amounts on the lottery and someone who has gone from a council flat to a premiership footballer. The money they now have hasnt made them happier or better people - in fact it just seems to have magnified the problems they were carrying around in the first place.

I would enjoy yourself now and save some for the future but dont deprive yourself. Dont wait for that magical day when the money will make everything wonderful - it wont.

leese2504

lack of money makes me feel sad : ( and I would hate to die before I have managed to live without the worry of debt )

January20

Lack of money makes me feel unsecure. I've had to used up some of my hard earned and saved up money for unexpected work in my flat this month, as well as having to pay a couple of large bills and I really felt unsettled until I got paid this morning.

Thankfully I have two jobs, so I get paid twice a month

robpw2

Pay off debt, save, but live a little (or a lot)

it certaintly couldnt make me feel anymore depressed than i do at the moment

talana

Pay off debt, save, but live a little (or a lot)

Does money make you happier? As a goal in itself, no of course not.
None of us I'm sure want to become old misers, sitting in a darkened room counting piles of cash but not doing anything with it.

But having money is a means to an end.

- it takes away the stress and worry of not having any. If you're not having to agonise over your finances daily, then you can focus on the things that do make you happy.

- and as another poster said, money is an enabler. It allows you to realise some of your goals, ambitions, dreams. Without money you don't get the opportunities to realise them.

Like most things in life, it's about reaching a happy balance in your attitude to it.

slig

I've just been reading the BBC News article about Michael Jackson dying in debt. It said he had a billionaire's spending habits on a millionaire's budget. That can't have made him happy.

The old Dickens quote certainly has some truth in it: "Annual income twenty pounds, annual expenditure nineteen six, result happiness. Annual income twenty pounds, annual expenditure twenty pound ought and six, result misery."

I think living within your means makes you happy, or at least more happy than living beyond your means does.

jayss

Yes, for me personally, yes.