How happy does money make you?

[liveandchi]

I know that money isn't supposed to be "happiness" but when you are in debt and balancing on the edge of bankruptcy, it's amazing the joy that even a little extra money can bring.

I received $250 unexpectedly and that will mean the difference between another month in the red and not being in the red. I had tears flowing down my face all day yesterday.

It'll be nice when something like this doesn't bring me to tears.

[jacquelynrose]

I don't think it is necessarily money that makes you happy, but you need it to do fun things but there are alot of fun things you can do for free as well.

Jacquelyn

[sszippy]

Are you kidding...Money makes all of the difference in the world. Money gives you more options, power and control. And that makes me happy. I just don't do "BROKE" well!!

[PrincessPerky]

Dunno not being broke I wasn't any happier really. I am happy playing with the kids, which is free.

Though I do need some money just to afford the neccessities, but I am slowly discovering quite a few things are not neccessities.

[gakline]

Having money just lets you focus on other things in your life. If you aren't worrying about the necessities, you can start worrying about something else. I think if you can reach that point of paying for the necessities, and you aren't thinking about keeping up with the Jones' you'll be just happy.

[terry1156]

Money gives you freedom to do other things. If you know what you want to do and that makes you happy, then I think that money can but happiness to some degree. If nothing else, it takes a lot of the stress of not knowing how you're going to pay for things away.

[Russell]

Money can bring happiness, just take a walk down Hollywood Blvd holding out a $50 bill...

Just kidding! (hope my wife's not on this forum)

Seriously though, money doesn't make you happy directly but its the things you can do with it that might bring happiness. I'm sure most of us would be happy if we drove a new BMW or a Lexus or bought a nice pair of shoes etc.

However, I'm noticing that the more money I save the less I want to spend, I hope I'm not turning into a cheap ass

[baselle]

I don't think its that money makes you happy, but that the lack of money can make you very unhappy.

Managing your money, putting it into the service of your goals and values can make you happy, but its really achieving the goals and values that create the happiness, not the money itself.

Having some money, for me, makes me feel secure and able to sleep at night. That makes me happy.

[PRICEPLUS]

Only you can make you happy or unhappy. There are wealthy people who are very miserable and there are poor people who are very happy. Money can help purchase goods and services but in reality it cannot bring you happiness.

[SeeAPenny]

I'd have to agree with PRICEPLUS. A neighbor couple down the street from me both have VERY well-paying careers -- enough to afford a huge house (and add two lovely additions onto it), as well as trips to the beach (we're in the midwest), and vacations to exotic locations (including international travel), plus boarding school for their teenaged DD, among other comfortable things. But, after 20+ years of marriage, they are getting divorced, and rather miserably at that. So, clearly money wasn't the answer to THEIR happiness.....

[elliemay]

Money does not make me happy, but money certainly can eleviate stress in your life. I've gone from growing up in a middle class family, to scraping by for years (very stressful) to making a lot of money in our own business (the good years) and now wondering what the heck we're gonna do when we retire (big turn in the economy, downside change in business). I've become frugal because I've been forced to (although we really didn't spend unresponsibly when we had money). We have no children at home. The most important thing for me is mine and my husband's health. I want to enjoy our lives together as we grow older. Second to that is making sure we're stable financially for retirement.

[skipper]

money doesnt make me happy but knowing I can pay all my bills and have a little money to have fun with and know that I wont have to rely on social security if its even there when we retire makes me a whole lot less stressed which in turn makes me happy so I guess money does make me happy and when mommas happy everyones happy

[BlingBling]

It does'nt make me happy but the security has done wonders for my peace of mind.

[BlingBling]

liveandchi, I wanted to add, I've had several of those moments over the years and let me tell ya, I experienced more hope, more determination to overcome whatever it was because of those moments. For me, it was like a sign to continue to have faith, take it day by day and be assured that I was going to be alright.

I still have those moments and though I am not experiencing the desperation like before I still have the tears but now along with those a big old smile. Tell ya the truth I expect those moments and I am never disappointed.

I hope this makes sense!

[singinjeannie]

Having enough money to pay the bills, save for retirement and my kids college education and not ending up in the red after each paycheck, borrowing from Peter to Pay Paul...

Yeah - Money would make me much happier. I don't need a ton -- just enough would be a gggggreeeeeaaat thing. I'd be home watching my kids baseball games instead of running off to work and missing so much of the joy of their growing up.

-Jean

[Amy752]

I wish money didn't make me happy, but it does! If I wasn't dirt poor, it probably wouldn't so much. I think baselle hit it on the head:

I don't think its that money makes you happy, but that the lack of money can make you very unhappy.

[DivaJen]

Having enough money to cover our bills and save for what we feel is important gives me a feeling of security. That, in turn, frees me up to enjoy my day to day life. Buying *stuff* brings a transient happiness, but it isn't the kind that lasts or really matters, for me.