I’m sure everyone has had someone from an older generation tell them that money can’t buy happiness. I get that there are other things in life that can bring happiness, such as spending time with family, having good friends, and achieving a milestone in your career. But if we really think about it, a lot of things that can bring happiness involve money.
Take vacations, for example. I’ve always felt the most happy when I’m on vacation because I love seeing new sites and trying new food. But you can’t go on vacation without money. Even if you want to spend time with friends, you’ll most likely end up spending money. Whether you go out for dinner, drinks, or even host at your place — someone is bound to be spending.
Even career advancements involve money. Most people celebrate their advancement in their company because their new position comes with a raise. Sure, it’s nice to be recognized for your hard work but I think a lot of people would agree that much of the happiness comes from the salary increase.
In high school, I was one of those kids who struggled to find a job. I ended up staying unemployed until the latter half of my sophomore year of college. The entire time I was unemployed, I was miserable; all of my friends were going to concerts, vacations, and shopping, and I couldn’t do any of those things because I didn’t have any money.
When I finally got a job, I was so happy. If my favorite artists came out with new music, I could buy their albums. If my friends wanted to go shopping, I could go and have the freedom to spend. Now, I won’t say that retail therapy — buying things to make yourself feel better — is healthy, but I believe that there’s nothing wrong with buying yourself nice things with your hard-earned money.
It’s nice to know that at the end of a difficult week, you can buy yourself lunch. It’s nice to know that when you outgrow your clothes, you can buy a new wardrobe. Even just having money for necessities makes one happier. Someone without money for housing and food will most likely be less happy than someone with money for those things.
A lot of the time, people who win the lottery will quit their jobs. I once heard a story about a lottery winner who quit her job so she could learn to paint. People like her don’t have to dread their 9-to-5 job anymore. They can enjoy their hobbies without worrying about finances. Because let’s be honest, not everyone loves their job.
This is why I believe that money does, in fact, buy happiness. If I had a ton of money, I would never go to work and stay in school instead. Or, I would focus on my hobbies that make me happy — reading, writing, and singing. At the end of the day, I believe that a lot of us would be happier if we had more money. It’s not about being greedy, but about living comfortably and spending your days doing the things you love instead of working until you drop.
