Does Money Buy Happiness?

Some argue that money can buy happiness while others disagree. Personally, I believe money can bring instant happiness, but it cannot buy long-term fulfilment, nor can it sustain genuine happiness.

Why do I call it instant happiness? Let’s say you finally get something you have always wanted: a house, a car or even the new iPhone 17 Pro Max. At first, the excitement is overwhelming.

But after a few days or weeks, the excitement fades and suddenly you are asking yourself, what’s next? The cycle continues, and it never truly ends.

The difference is that wise people learn how to manage this.

They understand that the goalpost can’t keep moving forever. At some point, your wants need to slow down, and you need to learn to be content with what you already have.

There are essential things in life that no amount of money can buy yet every human being needs them.

If you are familiar with Maslow’s hierarchy of needs, that framework indicates that certain aspects of life are not for sale.

Money cannot buy genuine love, but it may buy people – usually the wrong people without guaranteeing true relationships. It cannot buy respect, as true integrity and character are built on honesty and values.

While money may attract people, it can never replace the true loyalty of family or the authenticity of genuine friendships. Gentlemen, remember, money cannot buy you a true girlfriend or wife. And this should be a life lesson.

In contrast, money can undeniably play a role in happiness, especially when it provides the essentials such as food, shelter, healthcare, education and security.

Having enough money brings freedom, allowing people to make more choices, reduce stress and spend their time as they wish, which greatly enhances life satisfaction.

Money can pay for trips and designer brands, yet you will still find many people who remain unhappy despite having so much of it. The list of what money can and cannot do is endless.

The thing about money is those who have thousands want millions, those with millions want billions, and so the cycle continues.

Satisfaction is rare, because there is no such thing as objective wealth – it is always relative, usually measured against the people around us.

In many ways, wealth becomes the easiest benchmark for deciding what life owes us, and what we should expect from it. Yes, the world revolves around money, and yes, we do need it.

We need money to treat our partners, children, parents and others. But while money can help us nurture those relationships, it can never buy them.

Happiness and contentment come from within. As an individual, you must take charge of your own happiness because if you rely on others to create it for you, you are setting yourself up for disappointment.

Consider two families with the same setup: a millionaire with a wife and two children, and a middle-income family. Often, the middle-income family seems happier.

Wealth can sometimes create distance, toxic relationships or bad habits, while families with modest means often enjoy a stronger sense of togetherness. Even movies highlight these differences, where wealthy families dine apart versus middle-class families gathering around the table, sharing meals and conversations.

That simple connection brings happiness that money alone cannot buy.

In conclusion, the link between money and happiness is deeply personal and shaped by individual circumstances. For those struggling to meet basic needs, money can indeed feel like the key to happiness. For the wealthy, however, it often becomes clear that true fulfilment lies beyond material wealth.

Ultimately, whether money brings happiness or not depends on one’s journey and that is why the answer will always differ from person to person.

– Meneer_SK is a voice for men, advocating on issues that matter to men. Follow him on
Instagram: @Meneer_SK

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