"Money doesn't make you happy"

"Money does not make you happy" is a Catholic concept dating from the Middle Age. In Christian societies it was always frowned to make a lot of money. The nobles owned the land and were rich but never tried to "make money". The Catholic commoners for the most part never got very rich. This is why the bankers in Europe were not Catholic, but Jews...As the Bible forbids to lend money for an interest...long story...

So whoever says this to today is simply a moron who does not know much.
 


I would say around $10-20k per mo is a level past which happiness increases very little. At this level you can buy virtually anything you want, except super luxury items. Once your basic needs of shelter, good quality food, sex (if you have to pay for it), security are met, not much you gotta work on yourself to get the rest.

Happiness is more a choice you make. You can choose misery or you can choose peace, contentment, acceptance of what is. The choice is yours.

I cant remember the study but the number they got was $75k per year....
 
I've found money to be a magnifying glass.

If you're an asshole and you get a bunch of money, you'll be a bigger asshole. If you're generous and kind, you'll be kinder and more generous.

Habits determine everything. For example, BlokBlok works out regularly, eats well, and has a good physique (yes, jeffery you do too, don't get all butt-hurt). If I were to add 50 pounds of fat onto BlokBlok's body, what would happen after 6 months? It'd all fall off because his HABITS (regular exercise, a healthy diet *Chipotle*, etc.) lead to him having a good physique.

So with these Lotto winners - why do they end up broke and in despair? It's not because of the money.

They end up broke and shitty because money was a magnifying glass... What type of person regularly plays Lotto? Someone who thinks that wealth is acquired through luck, is probably not financially savvy, and is probably not educating themselves on how to create wealth (since they're playing the Lotto in the first place).

The fact is, Lotto winners are typically broke - financially, mentally, or both. If you give a mentally broke individual a sudden influx of money, they are going to find a way to get broke again. Money doesn't fix a broke mind. Their habits haven't changed, so they will continue them regardless of how much money they have.

Like the example above with BlokBlok - if you were to take 100 pounds off of someone who is perpetually overweight, in 6 months, where will they be? They will be grossly overweight again. Why? Because they have bad habits (little to no exercise, bad diet, etc.)

If someone has good financial habits (saving, donating, investing, tithing, etc.) they are going to do good things with money - because they already have a good understanding of how money works properly.

If someone has shitty financial habits (overspending, overdrafting, payday loans, borrowing, excessive debt to buy "stuff") I'm willing to bet they end up broke no matter how much money you give them.
Much of this is true, Mr. S. I actually dated somebody like your example. He even declared bankruptcy, and was thousands in debt months later. Another person close to me who was always a spendthrift went nuts with the spending when he suddenly made a lot, and brought destruction upon himself.

But the story about Jack Whittaker is even stranger. He was a self-made millionaire before he won the lotto. After he won, his whole life became a continuing train wreck.

There are examples of families that got along fine, then someone dies and they're estate heirs. They're suddenly at each other's throats over money and trinkets.

In this culture, people tie the amount of money they have closely to their self-worth. Those who've been poor all their lives will typically flash their wad and throw money around to feel good about themselves.

To me, money is about freedom and autonomy. Self-directed lifestyle = happy.
 
Here you go then:


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Dude, how did you get this picture of my shower?
 
Most people don't actually want to be rich. They want the things that come with being rich (respect,comfort,etc). It's like going to college to be a doctor (lots of freshmen are premed). Before you go to college, you should ask yourself why you want to go. If it is because your parents want you to go, please rethink your decision. If the answer is money, please rethink your decision. Keep asking yourself until you get an answer that is not outcome related (bang bitches,cars, money). If you want to go because you want to help people then go. If you don't make it be open to other avenues of achieving your chosen path of helping people.

TL;DR Happiness is purpose. It sounds so simple and so guru-ish but it works.
 
[ame="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=w4Pu_JuPILw"]Ben Affleck's 'Boiler Room' Speech [HD] - YouTube[/ame]
 
I actually do agree.
Though money doesn't make you happy, it's somewhat of a catalyst.
You can't be truly happy unless you have don't have to worry about money anymore!
 
I don't really know that much about staying happy, since I seem to be scared of losing that happiness once I have with. However, I do know some things that make me unhappy:

Being jealous of others who have more money, better relationships, better sex. The only one who can feel your negative shit is yourself. Jealousy will keep you from being happy with who you are and what you have. Struggling financially almost always creates jealousy.

Being forced to take shit from assholes because you don't have money. I refuse to deal with shitbags on a daily basis just because I need the paycheck. I'd rather be poor than prostitute my values day in day out.

Giving up my dreams and ambitions. I'd like to think that even at 80 years (if I live that long) that I will have some over-ambitious dream about achieving something great. As long as I have my freedom, there's always another sunset to chase.

Cold weather year round makes me depressed. Money helps me escape.

Lying awake at night wondering how to pay my bills.
 
The world loses it's shine when you're rich. So, if you're rich I think it's up to people to find their own happiness. Whether its at the club poppin' bottles with strippers or it's taking your dog to the beach.. having money just gives you the chance to do it when you feel like it. But whether or not you draw happiness from your experiences is up to you.
 
The money you've inherited not necessarily will make you happier. If you suddenly received money but still operate in your peasant mode there is no much you can do to be happier.

The money you've earned got different taste. You were probably growing (as a person) while earning them. You were clarifying your goals, developing your personality. You were finally ready when the money came. You were using them as a tool which give you control, freedom and access to the world you always wanted (whatever is its shape).

People who got their money by luck (even earned) are similar to people who inherited them. Money can buy you nice cloths, cars, bitches. But they will never remove the scent of peasant characteristic for person who didn't grow to have them.
 
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The question is how much is enough? The answer is with IMs nothing is enough. Since there is no upper limit on how much money should make you happy, none of us will ever be happy with our money making lore:thumbsup: