Sorry about this headliner, but they finally got my goat! It is all over the internet and in the newspapers that if you make $75,000 a year you will be happy. They finally put a price tag on happiness. I knew sooner or later someone would find away to do this. Yes, The Associated Press has an article written by Randolph E. Schmid titled, “Happiness will run you $75,000 a year.”
Let me tell you a little story about money buying happiness!
I have a sister, her and her husband are both career people, with no children and have a million dollars to their names. Oh, yes, they paid cash for a $400,000 house back in the late 80’s and still had that million dollars.
Then there was me back then, with a quarter to my name, and 3 little girls. I had to work a little harder to take care of these little girls while my sister was becoming an alcoholic, because she was so miserable. All her money and 6,000sq ft house wasn’t making her happy.
She is now a full blown alcoholic that doesn’t know day from night and I have a beautiful family of my 3 daughter, hubby and 6 wonderful grandkids. (Don’t want to forget the son-in-laws).
Money didn’t get me the happiness in my life, people did and do. Money doesn’t give you those needed hugs and messy kisses that you get from the little people.
The one thing that people need to keep in mind is that the more money you have the more ways you find to spend it, so what do you really have in the end. You sure can’t take it with you someday when you’re not around anymore.
I look at families with more money and can see that their children aren’t as well off as they may think. They give them everything material they could ever want, but forget to give them one on one time and love. Look at the boys that committed the Columbine shooting. Those kids had everything money could buy and we all know where that got them.
When I was small and poor, even thought my parents were not perfect the one thing that I always knew and felt was that I was loved. And when I did get something new or used I appreciated it and took care of it. Last week some kid left a scooter if front of the house and never returned to get it. We all know that this child didn’t give it another thought, because mom and dad would just go get them another one.
Yes, we all know that money may eliminate some problems and make life a little easier, but it will not make you happy day after day. It takes loving people to do this.
The big question is: If someone offered you a million dollar and said that you had to give up the people in your life to get it, would you do it?
Leave the answer to the question in the comment box below, looking forward to hearing your answers.
May you all find happiness in the right places!
Debbie
Twitter: makegirlfriends
says:
Debbie, great post and so very true…..no money in the world can buy you happiness and the answer to your question is absolutely NO way we I take the money and loose the people……
Nancy
http://www.makegirlfriends.com
Hi Nancy,
You are so right Nancy. I wish more people in the world would realize that money isn’t the answer to happiness. I like your answer.
Thank Nancy and have a wonderful week.
Debbie
Hell no !!
Love is what makes the world go around. AND it’s what makes me go around!
So what if I haven’t bought any new clothes for ages?
The love in my life, from the people in my life, warms my heart, makes me smile, keeps me happy.
Money I can do without, as long as I have love.
Live Life Happy!
.-= Jacqueline Johns – Your Happy Life Mentor´s last blog ..definition of happiness =-.
Hi Jacqueline,
You are so right, Love is what makes the world go round. I think it is time that we really get on it and spread the word. Money is only a tool in this world just like any other materialist thing. Thank you very much for coming out strong. Your good.
To the love in your life and happiness everyday,
Debbie
Hi Debbie!
I wouldn’t give up my family and friends for any amount of money.
Money is not evil per say, it’s one of the ways in which your abundance can manifest. If a million dollars came through peaceful channels it would be ok. Although it’s important to point out that this money wouldn’t be the basis of my happiness either. True happiness is not contingent on anything that comes and goes, such as money.
Lovely post! Thanks for sharing your thoughts. Many loving blessings!
.-= Andrea DeBell – britetalk´s last blog ..How to Get What You Want in Three Steps =-.
Good for you Andrea. Thank you for all your kind words. I just feel that people do lose site of what is really important in this world. And it can be easy to do when times are rough. To me if you have the people around you that you love you are the richest person in the world.
Many blessing back to you,
Debbie
Amazing. Thanks for such a wonderful post.
You are welcome, Treva.
Debbie
To many of us, it was a well thought-out plan: with more money, there comes security; then it would be time to have kids..
Remember this: You won’t be remembered by your clothes, your house, your bank account, church or computer, but you were important in the life of a child.
Debbie
Hi Debbie, thank you for commenting under my article
It is true what you write. I have only actually begun to understand this not long ago, and it actually only came after I battled marijuana induced psychosis for a few month, an episode which really opened my eyes and made me realize what was important in life.
Just to stay on the safe side, though, money is of course important as well. I’m not trying to contradict your article, since I know EXACTLY where you are coming from. It should be stated, however, that money does give us an independancy, which we should always strive for. Friends, family and loved ones are an extremely important factors for happiness – we are after all herd animals so it is only natural for us to be in herds – just go an observe monkeys in the zoo, they can actually be really inspiring, especially baboons
Money does, however, make us not become DEPENDANT on our loved ones. Dependancy can strain and ruin even the best relationship, so in my opinion we should always strive towards a balance: having great personal relationships, but at the same time having enough money that we do not need to burden our loved ones with any of our problems.
So as usual, there are two sides to the same issue, but your point is still valid and I completely agree with it. This is just a small warning since the internet is extremely prone to missinterpretation, and your wonderful article could easily be interpreted as meaning “to hell with money, only family and friends count!”
Balance!
Hey Debbie, I was making 65K+ and wasn’t happy, then I was forced to do something else for income due to the economy. I am not much happier making about half as much and struggling a little, but so much happier. Money didn’t make me happy when I had to deal with mad, angry unhappy people. Being an IT consultant, you tend to get unhappy people in your life because that’s when they call you, when something is wrong.
Now I am doing more to help others, and making less, but feeling more fulfilled.
.-= Larry Clark´s last blog ..Quitting The Day Job- Finally =-.
Hi Larry,
Good for you. I checked out that article of yours, great article and the picture of the baby is wonderful. Thanks for sharing. I have found that it is when we are forced to make a change it can be the best thing for us. I am so glad everything is working out for you and that new family. It would be hard having job that people only called you when they had a problem. To your success and happiness Larry you go for it. And it is wonderful meeting you.
Debbie
Hello ! Love your blog.
Thank you Shelby. Have a great day.
Debbie
Bunches of strong, tough to obtain information here. Noticed this blog entry by browsing on Cuil. You’re actually making me rework my belief about this stuff and seldom does that happen to me… LOL. Thanks!
You are welcome and have a wonderful very happy day.
Debbie
Some very interesting points but i think your research and bias leaves a lot to be desired. Then of course, that’s just my opinion. Have a great day definitely a thought-provoking post.
Hi Idella,
thank for the comment and opinion. Opinions are good and I really appreciate it. What would say i need to fix?
Debbie
Your Website is awesome. Thank you so much for providing plenty of practical information. I will bookmark your ebsiteand will be without doubt coming back. Once again, I appreciate all your work and also providing a lot great tricks for your readers.
Thank you, but i really not sure I have any tricks to use for happiness.
Debbie
Thanks for posting this.
A thoughtful opinion and ideas I will use on my own article. You¡¯ve obviously spent a lot of time on this site. keep it up..
Thank you Jenny. Have a wonderful happy day.
Debbie
Twitter: TrueLifeSuccess
says:
This is kind of funny! You’re talking about people, but this weekend we were having a family birthday party – about 15 people in all – and for some odd reason the question came up, “Would you sell your dog for $8,000?”
My answer was no and my husband was floored. That dog is my little boys best friend and he loves me more than most people do. Sure, the money would be nice, but losing the dog would be devistating and the money isn’t worth that.
On the other hand. If you’re struggling to make ends meet and put groceries in the frig, money is amazing! And if making more money would free up your time to spend with your family instead of working that day and night job on the internet (literally) then money would make you happy.
I totally agree that children raised with anything and everything they want not only don’t respect and appreciate what they have, but they never learn to respect and appreciate the people that they are around.
This was a very interesting post. Thanks for sharing,
Tammy
Tammy Matthews recently posted..The Limitless Power of Believing In Yourself
Thank you Tammy. I wouldn’t sell the dog either. The only way I would think about it if was a matter of keeping a roof over my children head and food in there little tummies. Thank you for sharing that was a really interesting question for people. The dog or money. LOL
Debbie