On April 7 we asked readers if money can buy happiness. This was based on a study by Betsey Stevenson and Justin Wolfers, economists at the Wharton Business School, University of Pennsylvania. Their research concluded that inhabitants of richer countries are happier than those of poorer ones.
However, our readers seem to have had different opinions on the matter. Though a majority of readers think that money cannot buy happiness they also believe that money can play a small role in attaining happiness.
Here's what the readers have to say about the money and happiness debate:
Money makes many things but not all.
It gives bed but not sleep.
Gives wealth but not health.
Gives food but not appetite.
Gives fame but not satisfaction....
-- Mutharaju Ramana
Money is happiness. But happiness is not money.
-- Anonymous
Many people say that money does not matter as it is not permanent. But if anything in life is relatively permanent, it is money. Health, even if u take good care of yourself, there is no guarantee that you will remain healthy through out life. You can catch unexpected diseases or meet with an accident. Love, even if u may have control of ur feeling towards others there is no guarantee that others will have the same feelings toward you all the time.
On the other hand money, if you manage it prudently, will remain with you forever. You may still lose it but it is more predictable and controllable than many other factors of life which have a bearing on your happiness. But the important thing is what you do with your money. If making money itself is your objective it won't lead to happiness. You have to learn to make money work for you in such a way to make you happy. All the more better if you can find happiness in doing others good with the money you have made.
-- Unni Krishnan
My dear friend, the happiness u r talking about is a temporary one. Happiness is not sold in the market where u can go and buy it with ur money. You can find the happiness with the relationship u maintain with others, ur behaviour, ur care and concern & ur love and affection towards others. For that u don't need money nor does one expects from u.
Money can only satisfy your temporary financial needs. Our needs keep on increasing day by day and our hunger for money also keeps on increasing. Then where is the question of money buying happiness. Unless we are satisfied with what we have, we tend to keep on looking for more avenues to earn money so that we can lead a luxurious life and in the process we distance ourselves from the family, friends and relatives. We forget the true happiness found in the relationship of family, kids, friends, relatives etc, in the quest of more money and become like mechanical robots working without emotions.
True happiness can be found where you have an emotional attachment, love, sharing and caring for one another, helping the others, living in harmony.
Money can give you sleepless nights, Money can spoil your relationship with friends, relatives & family, Money can make you arrogant & egoistic, Money can may you to disrespect elders, disobey laws and Money can only bring your downfall. MONEY CAN MAKE EVERYTHING HAPPEN BUT CAN'T BUY YOU PERMANENT HAPPINESS.
-- Gururaj Koppad
Definitely not, money cannot buy you happiness.
Money is necessary and essential no doubt, but buying happiness is out of the question. Love, cleanliness plenty of this can bring you happiness because cleanliness is next to Godliness but money cannot buy you happiness. The more money you have the more you will spend on unnecessary things. Yes, if money can buy you a house or a shelter to live in, then yes, but buying you happiness is out of the question. Money is the root of all evil and there is no doubt about that.
-- Maureen Lobo
It is all a question of attitude. If basic physiological and psychological needs are satisfied, then people lookout for other higher/lower needs like ego and self actualization etc. Beyond a point money can itself become a source of worry for all normal persons. But exceptions may be there when greed takes over one may madly go after money.Evidence of this is seen in all societies. At that stage some spiritual guidance may be useful but cure not guaranteed. Too much money when it falls into the hands of younger generation has also lead to bad influence and low morals. In end money can buy many things but happiness may not be one of them!
-- Raghu
Only those who don't have enough money can understand the true value of money. You are dying with hunger and nobody, even God does not come to help you. However, surplus money may bring you happiness depending upon how you use that money. e.g. When you can afford a costly toy for which your kid is desperate, you will feel immense pleasure in the kid's happiness. Or, if you can provide some monetary help to your parents, you will feel really happy. So, money can sometimes buy happiness also but there are things money can't buy.
-- Sonia Sharma
I agree that money cannot buy happiness but I hope lot of you would agree with me that money keeps you happy. I am not talking about excess money which can bring lot of problems with it but about that.."Give me today our daily bread!".. So, just the minimum that would keep me and my family happy and contant!!! Ask a poor person on the road the same question he would tell you what money can bring. Lot of problems occur in the world for the lack of money...So, a bit of that for the survival is more than enough!!
-- Jessinda Patricia Mathew
Well to begin with it does contribute immensely to our materialistic desires, but what about time and health. If your better half is earning a lot of money for you and your family but does not have much time to spend with you what is the point.
-- Gunjan Mathur
Yes one can buy happiness (a product or a service of her choice) with money.
But life depends upon so many thing, family, health, society, environment, etc. Sometimes we find that with money under our possession is not sufficient to buy such things.
-- Sanjay Arun Kumar
For Sure money can't buy happiness. Happiness is all about success in following fields and a perfect balance among them.
1) Personal - Relationship with Spouse,near & dear relatives, friends etc.
2) Professional - Career
3) Financial
4) Health
5) Spiritual
If one is lacking completely in one field then I don't think, he could be happy.
-- Deepak Yadav
Happiness is in giving, more than in accepting. If you use your money for yourself you will be a bit happy. If you give it to some one in need, and see him relived off his troubles, Then you happiness is multiplied many fold.
There are people who give, share even what little they have, and their happiness is multiplied many fold (A poor mother feeds her child first then herself).
So happiness is more in giving than in accepting, it can be got WITH OR WITHOUT the money.
-- Nayeemulla Khan