Blogpost 3: Can Money Buy Happiness?

People desires to have more money just like I do. Money can provide our needs and wants. It can take us wherever we want. Nowadays, it's like money can make the world go round. People would  do everything just to have money, in illegal or not. They will do whatever it takes to give happiness to the people they love by giving them money or by buying anything they want. Nevertheless, can money buy happiness?

According to the article entitled "Does Money Buy Happiness? Apparently, it does" written by Sara Miller, when we're introduced to the lifestyle of rich, we witness the majestic money can achieve. They mentioned that according to the Time Magazine article "Do We Need $75,000 a Year to Make Us Happy? money can buy happiness in a certain point. A study held by Princeton University's Woodrow Wilson School surveying 450,000 people, the happiness limits is around $75,000. This wage allows the average American to live comfortably and a little fancy. Economists Angus Deaton and Daniel Kahneman tested two different types of happiness. The first being the daily up and down of mood swings and the second focused on a deeper and long lasting fulfillment. $75,000 or above helps people to feel the deep satisfaction of happiness and gives them a positive outlook on their future.  Once under the $75.000 mark, dissatisfaction starts to arise and the worries of life.

Sara quoted, "Does money buy us happiness? It does, and it can.  In the modern world, money (be it $75,000 or 1 million) can bring us happiness to a certain degree, optimism about our futures, and leave a little extra for indulgence."

 I strongly disagree with the author. How can she measure the money that we need just to ensure our happiness? For me, her thoughts are mainly focused on tangible things that can make us even happier. However, she never thought of the things that absolutely money can't buy and those are the intangible just like love, friends, family, talents and so on. Surely we can live without material possession just like how our ancestors lived in simplicity. 

The second article is about "5 Ways Money Can Buy Happiness, Backed by Science" by Martha C. White. According to it, we have to spend wisely. Buy moments, not stuff. According to Psychology Professor Dan Gilbert, the key is to spend your money on experiences rather than material things. Material things, even if they're expensive or you wanted them badly. Memories of people, places and activities, however, never get old. Spend on others, spending money on others boosts people's emotional and physical well-being. Buy small splurges. Buy what you like and spend it with others.

"Doing things with friends or family, even if it’s not as exciting, makes you happy because it fosters a sense of togetherness and connection between you and other people", Martha said.

I still believe that money can't buy happiness. Because if it does, I would buy the talents that I do not have and the love from someone that I have been waiting for so many years. Money can buy any thing in this world, those are our needs and wants. However, these things can only be a part of our happiness. We must remember that happiness comes from our choices, family, friends, experiences and romantic relationships that are obviously money can't buy.