Recently, I’ve found an essay about money and happiness that I wrote some years ago for my English class. I am surprise that I already forgot all these ideas but at the same time completely agree with what it said. That’s why I’d love to share it with you. The writing is long, but I think the topic deserves to be discussed at some length.

The subject was:

A Lexus ad says "Whoever said money can't buy happiness isn't spending it right". Discuss.

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A Lexus advertisement says “Whoever said money can’t buy happiness isn’t spending it right”. Do you think money can buy happiness? If yes, at what price? If not, why are you working so hard for your pay raise? Would you be happy to life with the minium wage?

Money is always a delicate topic. The complexe relationship between money and happiness too. Today, I will talk about how money influences happiness. To begin, I will discuss how money contributes to our happiness. Then I will argue the limit of money on our satisfaction. And to conclude, I will give you some advices to use money wisely.

1.

Have you ever dreamt of winning a lottery? All of us have, right? Everyone has at least once wondered what he would do if he won a million dollars. Me included, and I would travel the world, buy a theater, a big house. So why money is so important ?

First, money represents security. If you have a great amount of money, you can tell yourself that at least, you can have food to eat, a house to live in, if you get sick or have an accident, you can go the hospital. At least, you are not homeless, not hungry, you can take care of yourself, your family. It reassures you.

Moreover, if you are rich, you can reach material convenience: you can buy your dream car, stay in luxury hotels, have dinner in Michelin restaurants, etc.

Furthermore, money contributes to your social status. For the new rich – the ones who have become millionaires by their own like Mark Zuckerberg, their money represents their success, intelligence, hard work and many other qualities: people admire them. For heirs and lottery winners, money brings them power too. Have you ever notice the different ways the sellers of luxury brands receive you depending on whether you were nice clothes, or a basic t-shirt? Have you ever feel uncomfortable to enter a Burberry boutique if you don’t feel to afford anything there?

But most of all, for me, money offers you possibilities: money conditions which dream is realistic, which will never come true. For instance, I know that my travel to France is possible thanks to my family’s wealth. But I also know that I can’t just quite my job to travel the world, or buy a theater. So, your financial situation limits your possibilities, your choices in life, on how you see and plan your future. It affects your vision, your perspective.

2.

Yet money has a strong impact on our mental, our material life, our place in society and our life path, it can’t by itself alone bring us happiness and fulfilment.

A study shows that yet happiness increases along with income for people with a pay check, you don’t feel greater well-being above the $75,000 plateau. Indeed, once that your income has attained a certain level, you don’t need to care for daily basic needs, a little raise won’t make much difference for you and you will look for another type of fulfilment. For example, once that you have got a $200,000 pay check, having some hundred-dollars-raise doesn’t make any difference to your life style, you will search for other criteria: great work environment, challenging projects, a director position who can make strategic decisions, etc.

The second reason why money doesn’t bring you happiness is because of our adaptability. In other words, however rich you are, you will get used to it and you will want more. The richer you are, the more money you will need. Human always wants more excitement, more confort, more entertainment, thus, more money to afford these. You have got your first Lamborghini, you feel so excited while driving it? In some months, you will get used to it and will want a helicopter. The next time, an airplane for your own. Then a rocket to experience space, etc.

Furthermore, not only that money is not equal to happiness, sometimes, money brings you troubles. When you are a millionaire, you will worry about your physical security, try to protect yourself from robbery, kidnapping, etc. risks. You also have to be careful about people around you, wonder whether people love you or just want to take benefit from you. Many families fight over money. Money is one of the first reasons for divorce.

3.

As we have seen, money is very important in our life, but is not enough to bring us fulfilment. So, “how should we use money at best?”. Here are some insights that I have learned from the Time.

First, use your money to buy moments, not stuff. Memorable experiences, enjoyable moments will last in our souvenirs. They are valuable. We will recall them years, even decades later, very few material purchase last that long.

The second advice is to spend with others, and spend on others. Rather than to go to shop alone and on yourself only, you can enjoy it with your friends, or spend money to please your family. Happiness brings happiness, you will feel the connection, the synergy.

The third advice comes from my experience, I think that you should spend your money as an investment. It can be a material investment like to build a house, to grow a business that can last and can bring you other values later, like money, networks, etc. Or it can be an immaterial investment: a training course, healthcare, new sports, etc. This will help you to grow up, to become better. This will open your mind.

Last but not least, for your well-being, it is very important to nourish a well-balanced relationship with money. To understand that money has its limits, to learn to control your spending impulsion, to enjoy moments, relationships instead of focusing on material, etc. Good mindset and healthy habits will bring you true happiness.

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Final thoughts

Now that I read years later what I wrote, I still find it useful and correct. I recall that some months ago, when our cat got very sick, my first thought was “we’re lucky that we earn enough money to not bother about spending more than €1000 in the treatment to save our cat”. But at same time, I know that my high pay check doesn’t guarantee my fulfilment.

Thanking care of our well-being (which includes our healthy relationship with money) is an everyday work. It’s also one of the reason why I cherish this blog.

What about you? What do you think about money? How is your relationship with money?