ive been dirt poor and ive been quite rich.

right now i have more than enough money to last me the rest of my life.

but somehow I see my happiness level slowly decreasing as my personal wealth accumulates. 

 

Does anyone else notice this?

when i was dirt poor i was free in many ways that i am no longer.

when you have money you are a slave to everyone who wants to get it from you.

slave to the latest iphone, fastest car, newest rolex etc

when you are poor none of that matters.

you just dont care.

 

I tried explaining this once to a thai girl. she told me her dream was to marry a rich man and I told her that money wont bring her happiness.

She looked at me as if i had farted. she was extremely offended by this notion and almost got up and walked out of the restaurant. 

 

So, does money make you happy?

If so, how?

 

I find that money is a tool to use whenever you need it. but as for bringing one happiness?

i've yet to experience that.

I, not events, have the power to make me happy or unhappy today. I can choose which it shall be. Yesterday is dead, tomorrow hasn't arrived yet. I have just one day, today, and I'm going to be happy in it.

Money may not make one happy.  But lack of money can sure make one miserable.

2 minutes ago, impulse said:

Money may not make one happy.  But lack of money can sure make one miserable.

i always think like its more of a feeling of not living up to others expectations.

 

if we were still all living in trees then that sense of feeling miserable would dissipate because everyone is in the same boat.

all other things staying the same, yes, more money makes me more happy, indirectly.

I guess this would remain true until I reach a certain wealth and then level off.

Definitely happier with more, than less, and simply provides more options ...

... so yes it does.

 

Do I/we need more money to be happy ...

... No

 

I've been just as happy with no extra money in my pocket, as I have been with more than enough.

 

Never been materialistic.  

1 minute ago, bob smith said:

i always think like its more of a feeling of not living up to others expectations.

 

if we were still all living in trees then that sense of feeling miserable would dissipate because everyone is in the same boat.

One guy would be living in the banana tree and the other guy would be living in a thorn bush.  Been that way since they learned to climb trees.

It's nice to have freedom of movement and not be tied down for lack of funds! Having money is better than not having any!

1 minute ago, 2baht said:

It's nice to have freedom of movement and not be tied down for lack of funds! Having money is better than not having any!

its definitely better to have 2baht instead of 1 ???? 

Most definitely...

- Money gives me the ability to assure the best education for my Son

- Money gives me the ability to do things I enjoy, both with and without family. 

- Life is more comfortable with more money.

 

Is money essential to happiness ?... No... but it sure helps. 

Can people with money be unhappy?... Yes, but money still helps.

 

 

 

They asked Elvis why there were no antiques in Graceland. Elvis said:

 

"When you've poor you've seen enough old sheet to last you a lifetime".

2 minutes ago, richard_smith237 said:

Is money essential to happiness ?... No... but it sure helps. 

Can people with money be unhappy?... Yes, but money still helps.

It makes me more comfortable, more secure, and gives me the ability to both buy nice things and be able to help others in times of need.. I can provide the funds for the best medical care for myself and family... 

 

i don't drink or smoke - I am not gaudily happy, but quite content... and at this age, I think if I had to worry about the electric bill and other worldly issues, it would make me feel insecure and unhappy. 

For sure, it certainly makes life more comfortable. 

I guess some when they are not happy just start a new AN topic.

1 minute ago, jerrymahoney said:

I guess some when they are not happy just start a new AN topic.

well thats what being a member of a forum is all about, posting!

 

isnt that why you are also here?

47 minutes ago, bob smith said:

ive been dirt poor and ive been quite rich.

right now i have more than enough money to last me the rest of my life.

but somehow I see my happiness level slowly decreasing as my personal wealth accumulates. 

 

Does anyone else notice this?

when i was dirt poor i was free in many ways that i am no longer.

when you have money you are a slave to everyone who wants to get it from you.

slave to the latest iphone, fastest car, newest rolex etc

when you are poor none of that matters.

you just dont care.

 

I tried explaining this once to a thai girl. she told me her dream was to marry a rich man and I told her that money wont bring her happiness.

She looked at me as if i had farted. she was extremely offended by this notion and almost got up and walked out of the restaurant. 

 

So, does money make you happy?

If so, how?

 

I find that money is a tool to use whenever you need it. but as for bringing one happiness?

i've yet to experience that.

When you are poor you are worrying about paying rent and other bills. I am not a slave to new things or people wanting money from me.

For me it is balance. 

 

Often, people with too much wealth and money seem to go off the rails and have mental health problems, addictions, and act like jerks. 

 

Also, how can they know if their friends or the people that they share their life with really care / love them for themselves or for their money?  Also I know of plenty of rich people who are grumpy and miserable and hate human beings....probably because they can become self centered. 

 

The again, living in poverty is hell...no opportunity to better your life with education and no privaligeas.  NO security for health or if things go wrong. 

 

It would be paradise of everyone got the same amount of money and the extremes of poverty or mega rich did not exist.. 

 

Being materialistic definitely does not make people happy from what I've seen. They always want more and are never satisfied. 

 

If I could choose i would have enough money so I did not have to worry about health costs, food and housing, bills etc. And some left over for nice holidays around the world occasionally. 

 

 

 

 

 

 

12 minutes ago, bob smith said:

well thats what being a member of a forum is all about, posting!

 

isnt that why you are also here?

Sure but not as a serial topic starter.

2 minutes ago, jerrymahoney said:

Sure but not as a serial topic starter.

ahh, so you differentiate between those that start topics and those that lurk in the shadows with their occasional snarky remarks.

 

gotcha! 

Money does not, and cannot make anyone happy. It can provide a great way to address problems, it can afford an amazing lifestyle, and it is a wonderful thing to have. But, it does not make us happy, and the lack of it does not make us unhappy. Happiness (I like to refer to it as fulfillment, as happiness is so hard to define) is something else.

 

I know alot of wealthy people who are quite miserable. I also know alot of people without much money at all, who seem very content. Happy? That is a very Disney type of word and description.

I have heard the act of giving can be very rewarding.

 

If you are giving your money away you will have less to worry about and maybe bring joy to someone in this world.

It is the way people treat you when you have money that makes people happy. At least they think.

I'm going to be very very happy when I win the Thai lottery tomorrow for 12 million.

1 hour ago, bob smith said:

I tried explaining this once to a thai girl. she told me her dream was to marry a rich man and I told her that money wont bring her happiness.

She looked at me as if i had farted. she was extremely offended by this notion and almost got up and walked out of the restauran

Bob why do you insist on making up stories constantly? This never happened. You know it, and I know it. 

 

 

Stop making up stupid-ass crap on here and GET A LIFE, you serial drunkard 

I remember a Doctor acquaintance of mine talking about depression!

He said he’d much rather be financially comfortable while suffering from depression as opposed to the opposite!

Money can’t buy happiness but it helps living comfortably!

What helps to be happy is doing things I like ,to go on holiday twice a year , shop at Topps ! go out for a shed full on Friday’s with my wife ! I couldn’t do any of that if I didn’t have baht!

 

 

 

Money makes the world goes round.

It's better to be crying in a Rolls Royce that be happy on a bicycle.

1 hour ago, bob smith said:

So, does money make you happy?

Where can I find the cheapest box of matches in Pattaya? Imagine that!????

1 hour ago, bob smith said:

i always think like its more of a feeling of not living up to others expectations.

 

if we were still all living in trees then that sense of feeling miserable would dissipate because everyone is in the same boat.

How do you get the boat up into the trees please? 555

Having enough money to last the rest of my life makes me happy.

I don't need the fastest car or latest smartphone. All I want is something reliable. I can't remember the last time I wore a watch.

As another poster has noted, giving to someone less fortunate than myself makes me feel good.

If I was to win the lottery, most of it would be given to the people I love. Flying business class would be enough.

1 hour ago, spidermike007 said:

Money does not, and cannot make anyone happy. It can provide a great way to address problems, it can afford an amazing lifestyle, and it is a wonderful thing to have. But, it does not make us happy, and the lack of it does not make us unhappy. Happiness (I like to refer to it as fulfillment, as happiness is so hard to define) is something else.

 

I know alot of wealthy people who are quite miserable. I also know alot of people without much money at all, who seem very content. Happy? That is a very Disney type of word and description.

But then nothing can actually make a person happy, fulfilled, or content, as everything is just external stimuli that we process consciously or subconsciously and then we have a positive, negative, or neutral reaction to the feeling that it gives us.