You don’t need a fancy vacation to have a good time; it’s just a matter of who you spend it with. Over the years, humans have blown the value of money way out of proportion. People make it seem like if you’re not filthy rich, then you won’t live a good life but it’s not true. You can lack money and yet still live a perfect, happy life. In conclusion, I believe that money does not buy happiness.
People never know who works hard and get it easy, but in any way they want to be like them. Moreover, people forget what they have, and they just want more. In the article “All That Glitters Is Not Gold”, it says that everyone should be equal. It is true that being equal would be an easy solution for people. Most of the people earn enough money to live good and simple lives, but that is not enough for them.
But “[when one’s] basic necessities are met, research has shown that additional money does not have a lot to do with happiness.” Owning large quantities of money doesn’t necessarily mean that you’ll be happy. Money is not the only thing that can make one content. Having other hobbies and challenges makes one equally happy. Some may be satisfied with money, but it will be spent on materialistic things that is not useful for the overall long term benefit of one in the future. One should be focused on more important factors that makes them happy, including relationships, pleasurable activities, and kindness to others.
Most puzzling, though, is that people often seem aware at some level that money won’t make them happy. And yet they continue to work away earning money they don’t objectively need. First, though, let’s look at the three reasons money doesn’t make us happy: It’s relative income that’s important. As I’ve noted previously, money is relative. It turns out we don’t mind so much about our actual level of income, so long as we’re earning more than other people around us.
Money alone can’t buy happiness” (293). In my opinion, she is correct and money alone cannot buy happiness, but making money leads to stability which lowers stress in my life thus making me happier. “’Can money help buy happiness?’ The answer: yes, used wisely, it can” (Rubin 293). The way I spend my money can bring happiness, and if I acquired an excess amount of belongings with a complete disregard for the people in my life, as a result I wouldn’t be happier. One part of finding happiness is finding what I want, and happiness cannot rely solely on buying material things in excess.
The article illustrates that while some people depend on the materialistic things in life to make them happy such as the advancement of technology and higher incomes, they are still no more happier as a result. . This shows that while money provides us with the means to meet our basic needs and also affords the finer things in life, money in itself or by itself, does not equate to happiness. In summary, happiness could only be viewed from the eyes of the beholder and could only be explained from a subjective point of view. While money is essential for our very existence, money as a singular entity would not contribute to our overall happiness.
For example, the idea of wealth is great and if used correctly it can take people above and beyond in life allowing them to be successful but at the same time if wealth is in the wrong hands it can become corrupt and no longer a benefit to human society. This is all because every individual handles wealth differently. Some are thankful for it and use it in a good light making it good but others are tempted by it so much that they either throw it all away by gambling as an addiction to get more or they waste it doing things that are not good for their health
One thing for sure is happiness can be artificial and real happiness can be elusive when pursued. One place where many people look for happiness is through their work. This is also an area where many, ironically, find pseudo happiness or just plain unhappiness. In our country we have placed so much emphasis on earning opportunities when choosing careers, rather than the calling, the talent or the true passions being the driving force of the career. This potential poor career choice can make a lot of people unhappy with the job or career they are doing.
Obviously, it does not mean that all time is money, because time sleeping does not usually equal a check. However, time in this context can also extend to mean effort, or work. Another definition, thus, could be that hard work corresponds to money. Money also has many meanings in this tenet; success, betterment, or happiness all express its feel. It is obvious why our society smiles on this axiom; most, if not all people, would agree that hard-working is a good character trait, while slacking is not.
Granted, money is a major determinant, but not the only determinant of happiness. Happiness on the job is better determined by the support to values that a job provides. Happiness seems to be one of those words that can only be defined in general terms, like love. It is easy to know when you are not happy, but determining happiness is a little harder. People often say that they feel happy or that something makes them happy.