Does money create happiness? Yes, I think to some extent it does. Or at least the converse is true. Lack of money can create unhappiness. But how much money do we need to be happy? Does more money always make us happy? Is there a point of diminishing returns, where after a certain amount more money only makes you marginally happier? Or at some point does making more money actually make you unhappy? Maybe the cost of making or having more money is too great.
What is happiness? And what role does money play in it? Merriam-Webster define happiness as "a state of well-being and contentment : joy". For that reason I believe having enough money to provide for my daily needs creates happiness or a state of well-being. Having more money than I need for just my daily existence also provides happiness. I'm in a state of well-being when I have enough money to create savings. Money gives me options & freedom. There is a contentment that comes from having enough to spend on non-essentials. If I don't have enough money, I can't buy the supplies to create my gardens. My vegetable, herb and flower gardens create happiness for me. I also derive a immense amount of happiness from being out West in the mountains. I love the scenery and having the opportunity to hike in its splendor. Money makes that happiness possible.
So, yes I do think that money plays a role in happiness. I want to explore this further in upcoming posts because I don't think that there's really a simple YES or NO answer. What are your thoughts?
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