Why Do We Have to Have Money To Be Happy?

United States
August 24, 2010 5:02pm CST
I was thinking today of how happy I used to be and how it semms I'm not that care free joyous person anymore. It's sad but I think the reason is I'm always worrying about money. Can I pay this bill, can I pay that bill, am I going to have any left out of my paycheck? I'm making payments on a beatuiful home and I don't regret that for a minute but I do miss the days I could go shopping whenever I wanted. I alwys love shopping for my home, putting new things in it, changing decorations with the seasons. I go to a store now and it just depresses me. I know I am very blessed in other area's of my life. I have the best friends anyone could ask for, I have a wonderful hubby, a job, etc. Why are we so spoiled that without money alot of us just are not very happy? It bothers me that I feel that way but it's just something I can't stop. Do you guys ever feel this way? What do you do to get around it?
3 people like this
21 responses
@SimpleBB (1329)
• Philippines
25 Aug 10
It'sa mere fact that money can make us happy, but not in everything. Didn't you notice the people around us? There are more less fortunate than us. Let's say, we are fortunate for having this stuff to communicate, and we are bless to be able to have such high-tech stuffs, but still we are longing for more, but those people I'm referring to which are less fortunate are usually happier than us. Because, they are contented of what they have. They have less bills, for htey don't have houses to pay, some doesn't have high electric bill because they have no lot of electric appliances or whatsoever. They don't have credit cards to buy more than they need, they will just spend what they have actual in their hands. You are not happy because of your worries how to pay bill, how to get over with those expenses, but if you had paid them, you can be happy, right? Therefore,money is not the one who make us happy, but the peace of mind and satisfaction. We can be happy in some ways like finding ways to cut our expenses. Live with what we need first than what we want.
• United States
25 Aug 10
I loved your response to this, it is so true. I guess I need to be content with what I have and stop Longing for more. So many people doen't have all the things I do and yes, they are still happy because of what they do have. I need to stop worrying about how much money I have left and be happy when I can pay the monthly bills. Thanks again for this wonderful response, you have made me think!
@SimpleBB (1329)
• Philippines
25 Aug 10
U'r welcome. It is always our pleasure here in our mylot if we could be of help to our co-mylotters. Good luck.
@sender621 (14894)
• United States
25 Aug 10
We often see having money as a solution to any problems we have. We can have all of the money in the world and still not be happy. Money may solve a financial need, but it will not bring true happiness into your life. We just fool ourselves into believing that if we have money, we will be happy.
• United States
25 Aug 10
True and I am very happy with the rest of my life. But I still want and need money, lol
@cher913 (25782)
• Canada
25 Aug 10
i find that todays generation and the previous generation just dont know how to entertain themselves so they go shopping.
• United States
25 Aug 10
I know what you mean. I don't think that money makes us happy but to me money takes away the worry of getting the bills paid or being able to buy food and provide for our loved ones. I am most happy when I don't have to worry about anything like that and I know that I have the money to take care of that. Now that I think about it money does have something to do with happiness beause since it takes away the worry it's contributin to the happiness that we feel after being able to pay what we need to pay. I think at some point everyone feels that way, because everyone wants to be able to provide for their families. And it's stressful and hard on the family when they have to worry about how your going to buy food and how the bills are going to get paid. I don't think it's wrong that you feel that way because I feel that way a lot. I'm always thinking about how I'm going to help my mother or how I'm going to pay off my student loans and it's something that does indeed make sad at times. What I do to get around it, is that I say to myself that everything happens for a reason and that if I keep working as hard as I do pretty soon I won't have to much to worry about anymore.
@indahfth (11161)
• Indonesia
12 Oct 10
Money. When talking money, I feel very confused. Because the money that makes me miserable, because money can make me happy. When I do not have money, I can not buy what I need. When no money, there's nothing I can do. Working as hard as anything, I'm still having trouble.
• United Arab Emirates
25 Aug 10
Money and happiness are like two other end of a magnet,under no circumstances we get both of them. Time when we don't think of money we are happy nut the moment money comes it spoils relationships,friendship.... Someone said money is never enough and the person is never satisfied no matter how much he has.
@Absinto (2385)
• Portugal
25 Aug 10
Money does make us happy just by the fact that for us to have what we want the most we need to pay for it. I am referring to acessories for us of course, even though some people buy other people, not sure why. It does still happen now a days.
• Philippines
25 Aug 10
money makes things easier for us and gives us what we want but it can't really make us happy. it just gives us satisfaction for the moment. the more we have, the more are our needs and wants and the more we want to have more money.
• India
25 Aug 10
it is not true that with money every person will be happy. yes ofcourse without money it is difficult for dailylife. but there are people with limited salary they are happy because they live every moment of life. some people with large salary fail to do so because these people always in fear of loss of money .
• Philippines
25 Aug 10
nowadays, people need money to buy things that make them feel happy. Without it we can still be happy in any ways but of different level. Money can buy everything you like, all the luxuries in the world and definitely can solve a big problem of any kind.
• Pakistan
25 Aug 10
its depend on age. if your i teen age you want it to just have fun and for your wishes. where in upper ages people want to have it because they are in position to run house. and other factors which you and me can't consider. but at the end we need it to spent happy life..
@chayapathys (2111)
• India
25 Aug 10
Yes money is necessary for good living but it is not everything in life.Without money we cannot get on in this world.But at the same time we should not waste our precious life in making money only.There are other things in life like health good atmosphere in the house good and understand spouse and obedient and loving children good neighbours and friends so on so forth. As you rightly said when you feel like buying good thins for life and if you do not sufficient money you certainly feel. At that time it is natural that you feel that money is everything. In such a situation the best alternative is to compare to compare yourself to less fortunate people who do not have minimum comforts or necessities.Therefore contentment is the best medicine.Do you agree
• Philippines
25 Aug 10
Admit it, money is already a part of our life. Of course we have money to gain happiness. Money can buy ALMOST everything that you want in life. Clothes, shoes, foods, etc. Try inverting the question to, "Are we happy if we do not have money?" Try looking outside. There are so many street children roaming around the streets without anything to eat. From that point, we can already tell the feelings they have inside. Now, try looking the rich ones. Do you think all of them are happy? I DON'T THINK SO. Maybe they are SATISFIED & CONTENTED, but some are still not happy with their own life. Some rich families have problems still. Therefore, I can say that money cannot fulfill all our happiness in life. Still, LOVE & HAPPINESS prevails.
@chinoxads (255)
• United States
25 Aug 10
Having money make us happy in a certain way, because if we have money we don't have to worried a lot in how we are going to pay, or thinking how to restricts something that before we use to do, or thinking of having a backup in case of emergency, or thinking about the school and college or some extracurricular activities for the kids or for us. I think the money give us the facility to make things easier, and let us have less stress thinking about all that, so with less stress our life can be more happy for us and for others, even with money we can help those who doesn't have.
@ladygator (3465)
• United States
25 Aug 10
I know how you feel. Nothing can make me more stressed at times than when I think about the lack of money in my bank account. Or the fact that all my money is already spent before I even get it. I just keep a positive perspective and tell myself often that its only money and I own it, not the other way around. The hardest part tho, is not being able to take the kids on vacations.
@coffeebreak (17798)
• United States
25 Aug 10
Because money buys happiness. People say it can't cause they don't know how to spend it or not spend it. Money is the only thing that can pay your rent/mortgage, buy groceries, clothes, education, you name it...it needs money to have it. Common sense. It is when it is spent wrong or irresponsibly that makes the big difference as to whether it makes one happy or not. Go ask a homeless person if they are happy...or were they happy when they were able to pay their rent and support their family.
• Australia
24 Aug 10
I feel happier when I have more money & I think that's because there is no stress of how I am going to pay bills of buy the amount of groceries I need to buy...I think that's what makes us all happier about having more money...LESS STRESS lol...I always feel that way but only because I hate stressing so much.
@SomeCowgirl (32191)
• United States
24 Aug 10
I can understand what you mean. Before I met my husband I had only one bill and that was my cellphone. All the other money I was getting could go to whatever I wanted. Now that I've met my husband we've gotten more bills, and I don't regret that, but I do find that I am more stressed. My husband and I both very much want to spend our money, but there are times we just can't. We've worked through ways to spend and also be able to pay our bills, but even that sometimes doesn't work as planned. Take for instance recently my husband and I paid a bill, before we paid this bill we called to find out the balance as we were about to pay the bill off. When I called I found out that they had received the money for the last bill, but as we grouped it in bulk and paid a different way then we had been paying, they didn't send it all through. This is causing us not to be able to use our credit card (which is what we used to pay the bill with) for the things we want to buy. It puts stress on us. Of course we could just as easily not buy the things we want, but we still have the money to do so, or will if we do a little more adjusting. Things just don't always go as planned, and it stinks but that's just reality. My suggestion for you and your husband is to look through your budget and see where you can pay double on a bill, or where you can save money on say groceries, and have that extra money to go on a little spree, $50.00 a piece. That is usually how my husband and I do it when it comes to using our credit card, we'll both spend $100.00 a piece on things we want, or we have in the past. As long as your able to figure out how to pay it off, all is well.. of course it's not always easy to figure out the best way to go about these things. Good luck to you!
@dodo19 (47034)
• Beaconsfield, Quebec
25 Aug 10
I don't think that money necessarily makes us happy, but it does help us not feel less stressed about bills, and such. I think that it helps to make things a little happier and a little better.
@aurorastorm (1131)
• United States
24 Aug 10
I think for many of us, it is not that having money is everything and will make us happier. The lack of money makes us so stressed out we cannot be relaxed or truly happy because we are too worried all of the time. I think having enough money to cover your bills and some money in the bank for emergencies would give those of us some peace of mine and that will make us less stressed, leading to happier days. I wish for all of us these things will change soon.