Money Can't Purchase Happiness, However...

The saying, "money can't buy happiness," was once taken for granted as a proverb or aphorism. But a lot of study has come out of the years that tries to explain this old statement a bit better.
Researchers have shown that people's perceptions of their own happiness do not alter much depending on their socioeconomic status. The opposite is true in many parts of the world; those living in poverty tend to report higher levels of happiness. People who just have less frantic and materialistic lives than the majority of us in more industrialised environments are what I have in mind here, not those who are starving or in other severe conditions.

Lots of ideas exist, but one common belief is that the poorer a person is, the more pleasure they report having. This is supposedly due to the fact that they have fewer worries and hence require less things to make them happy. People spend more time engaging in family activities and other interactions when they have fewer belongings and fewer opportunities for enjoyment, compared to when they are well affluent. Because of the substantial correlation between marital and familial relationships and subjective experiences of well-being, some research suggests that low-income families may actually be happier overall. Obviously, no one has to endure life in a developing nation. Even among the poorest citizens of developed nations like the US, similar results have been shown.
Because there are so many studies on the topic, you can find any number of them by searching for the term "money can't buy happiness" on any search engine. Therefore, I will not cite any specific references or statistics.
That doesn't mean you should actively seek for poverty if you're already wealthy; it just means you shouldn't expect to be pleased if you do. By the way, while most of us have an idea of what it means to be poor, have you ever considered the possibility that the majority of us don't have a firm grasp on what it means to be rich?
A large house and a fine car could make some people think that a person is "rich," but in reality, these things are usually better signs of debt than prosperity. Debt, not wealth, is symbolised by a huge mortgage on a large property or a hefty monthly payment on a great car.
Also, there's a widespread belief that anybody with a salary beyond a particular level is "rich," particularly if that salary is higher than the so-called "magic" million dollars. Absolutely not! Most people who earn $100,000 a year are not rich, as any $100,000 earner can tell you.
Earnings can vary pretty high without a person being truly "rich" because most people who earn more tend to spend more.
The question therefore becomes: how exactly is wealth defined? In particular, I adore the one that Bill Cosby provided in response to a question posed by his kids on "The Cosby Show," his legendary television series that ran from 1984 to 1992. As they broached the subject of wealth, he made the observation that, "people who are not rich work for their money, whereas rich people's money works for them." Not only is it widely acknowledged as accurate, but it is also among the best definitions you will discover.
People who are wealthy work because they enjoy it, not because it's a necessity; this is one of the widely held beliefs about what it means to be wealthy.
Continually believe that material wealth cannot purchase contentment? Is it feasible that if you are financially able to work less, you may spend more time with your family, making you and your family happier? After all, the happiest people in the world are said to be those who spend the most time with their families.
Consider this additional point: Owners of their own businesses account for the vast majority of the world's rich. The majority of millionaires (almost 70%) are also company owners.
Even if you don't have a tonne of money, you may still reap a lot of the rewards of a successful home-based business.
We already know that the thing that makes the majority of people happy is spending time with their loved ones. If you find that your current job or occupation forces you to work long hours and travel a lot, leaving little time for family or other things you enjoy, starting a home business can be a great way to earn some extra money and cut down on the amount of time you have to spend away from home.
Maintaining excellent health ranks high among the factors that contribute to an individual's sense of well-being. Actually, when asked which is more important, having excellent health or having money, the majority of individuals would choose good health. Money is nothing if it can't buy you good health, isn't it?
Are you aware that, for the majority of individuals, a high salary directly correlates to excellent health? For example, low-income families often struggle to afford the food and nutrition their members need to stay in peak physical and mental health. Similarly, they may struggle to pay for the high-quality medical insurance that is necessary to guarantee that their members receive the treatment they need in the event of an emergency or illness.
Among the many things that money can purchase is freedom of choice. Those who are financially well-off can buy whatever they want, while those who are less fortunate have to settle for what they can afford. Wealthy people not only have the means to purchase the most comprehensive health insurance plans, but they also usually have greater freedom of choice in the providers and facilities they visit for medical treatment. For those struggling financially, access to health care might be severely limited, if not nonexistent, altogether.
Of course, the food we eat is also a major factor in our overall health. Did you ever think about how much more affordable and convenient junk food is compared to the high-quality foods that have been shown to be good for our health?
For example, less healthful food options, such as potato chips, snack foods, junk food, and vegetables, tend to be significantly more affordable than fresh fruits and vegetables. There is a price difference between cheaper cuts of meat and high-quality meats (which have less fat). The price of conventionally farmed food is lower than that of organic food. Furthermore, it is often known that individuals tend to eat better, have better insurance, and generally be healthier when they have more education and a greater income. Happiness is a byproduct of good health. Continually believe that material wealth cannot purchase contentment?
For many, feeling secure is one of the most important factors in determining their level of happiness. Fear is the polar opposite of safety, and as we'll see shortly, stress is directly tied to fear. Are you behind the wheel of a less-than-ideal vehicle that fails to provide you with the level of peace of mind you desire? Houses that are well-built and well-maintained often have better security and comfort features than those that are not. A person's level of happiness is likely to be lower if they are unable to afford the home and neighbourhood of their dreams.
We have covered some of the things that studies have consistently shown to increase happiness; however, what about stress, which is known to be one of the main factors that lead to depression?
Stress has been shown to have negative health effects in addition to making individuals miserable. Poor health is a possible outcome of stress.
One could argue that people's stress levels rise in direct proportion to their wealth. And, naturally, there are others who can never be happy. They appear to bring more trouble upon themselves as their income rises, as the more they spend, the more they need to worry about. That, however, is by no means an exhaustive list of all monetary activities.
More money can directly translate to reduced financial stress, except those who are never happy and always have more than enough. A joyful individual experiences less stress.
Stress levels are likely to be higher for those who are perpetually living pay cheque to pay cheque or who do not have the funds to cover their expenses.
Having extra money allows you to indulge in luxury, unwind, and pamper yourself, which in turn reduces stress, increases happiness, and improves your physical health.
People look up to celebrities and the wealthy because they seem so much younger than they actually are. Disregarding the effects of cosmetic surgery, the aforementioned benefits are major contributors. The lives of celebrities are usually lavish and full with extravagance. More delicious food, less tension, more downtime, less wrinkles :)
The people who declare, "money can't buy happiness," are usually the ones who have never had or don't have any. Why else would they be in the dark? While the affluent may claim, "money can't buy happiness," they will almost certainly follow up by saying, "rather be with it than without it."
Do you still believe that material wealth cannot purchase contentment? Maybe you should reconsider if that's the case...
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Oh my goodness!

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