Money Please Bring Me Happiness !

Ryan Xu
Mrs. Becker
Period 2
December 11, 2014

Fun Can’t Be Bought With Gold
Whenever the words “money” and “happiness” are brought up, the phrase that always seem to appear is: “money can’t buy happiness." But is this the relationship everyone sees it as? Most people believe that money is the source to happiness. When money is present, one is able to satisfy all his needs with money. But is this actually true? Is money really the key to having a happy and satisfying life? The Washington post states “High incomes don’t bring you happiness, but they do bring you a life you think is better.” (https://diigo.com/075atm). What exactly does this mean? Money is just a piece of paper, but yet it’s so powerful at the same time, having lots of money doesn’t bring happiness but instead it gives an effect of having a “better” life. Many people argue with this because they think happiness can easily be bought with money. Whether its new car, house, or clothes. They can buy their happiness very fast. Even though money is essential to life, it can’t buy happiness. Happiness isn’t something that is purchasable, it’s something that you feel in your mind. Happiness comes from experiences that are organic and genuine.
An article from psychologytoday states: “money can buy happiness, so long as the money is spent on someone else” ( https://diigo.com/075b84). The money here isn’t used directly for yourself, but for another person. Spending money on some else gives you a gratified feeling. It allows one to see that other person reactions. If a wealthy man decides to get a diamond ring for his wife on their anniversary. The wife sees the ring and is shocked at how beautiful it is. This reaction is what brings joy to the man’s eyes. This idea is merely presented in “Of Mice and Men. George and Lennie’s dream of owning their own farm can be achieved from only one thing, Money. Whenever Lennie asks George to talk about their dream farm, he sees the farm in his mind and imagines the feeling of him and George working together. George is a bit like the husband and Lennie is like the wife.
Askmen.com said that seventy five thousand dollars a year is the amount of money needed in order to live happily “If you want to enjoy life... make more than $75,000 a year.”( https://diigo.com/075awa). How much does happiness cost here exactly? Well this depends on the way you spend your money. The average American makes about forty thousand a year according to askmen (https://diigo.com/075awa). The extra thirty five thousand here is what turns an average life into a wealthy life. After all the Necessities are paid and whatever is left, is what you can buy happiness with. But happiness doesn’t cost anything, it comes free, having money is simply an extra perk. Why? Happiness isn’t bought, it’s earned through handwork. Getting money from working hard and long hours¬¬ will never feel the same as getting it for free. Everyone works hard for money, what they get is not only a sense of accomplishment but also a good income and a better life. Whenever someone inherits money from another generation. They never seem to spend their money as efficient as someone who has hard earned it. A great example of this is in the novel The Great Gatsby. Tom Buchanan is someone that inherited his money through many generations. Even though Tom has a lot of money, he doesn’t show any signs of happiness. His money goes to pleasing a mistress but even then he still struggles to find happiness. Gatsby on the other hand, seems to know exactly how to spend his money. His way of finding happiness is through Daisy. He worked hard to earn his money, trying to impress Daisy. Even though he failed, the amount of time and effort he put in, was a satisfying reward.
Money is important, important enough that we’re thinking about it every day, every hour, and possibly even every minute. We underestimate how much money we spend to make our selves happy. What we don’t realize is money is not something that comes easily, even if it seems like it is. If you want money to feel as important as you make it, then you need to start looking at it differently. “Don’t let an economist bully you into believing money’s all that matters. And don’t let a psychologist bully you into believing that money is completely unimportant.” (https://diigo.com/075buo). A simpler way to put this is, don’t let money control your life, but don’t ignore enough that It has no meaning. Because money does bring happiness but not through extravagant shopping. Money can’t be seen as a door to happiness, but instead a step along the way.