Do you need money to be happy?

[Dioz]

Can you be happy without the need for money?

I mean, not spending a cent on anything to achieve it. Think it's possible?

[LaBonneEtoille]

No

[Stay-Gold]

I believe that some people could find a way.
I couldn't.


I mean, I'd be perfectly content with living off the land, hunting and gathering for food and living that sort of simple life as long as I had running water and basic electricity but even that costs money these days.
Hunting tags,gun permits and licenses,land to live on,hydro for running water and a way to preserve food etc.

[emorobots]

To slightly spin your question, studies show that money can indeed buy happiness.

TL;DR:
- spend money on experiences, not material objects
- spend money on others, not necessarily yourself
- spend now, not later

[hovla]

yeh, because you need money for everything these days.

[purplegal]

Yes and no.
Yes, because you obviously need money to take care of yourself, and if you're sick/hungry/homeless you probably aren't very happy.
No, because there are free things in life that don't cost money, but can still make a person happy...spending time with friends and family being one of the main ones.

[MysteryGirl44]

"The best things in life are free."

[Legolambnon]

Money is not happiness, but money is freedom and freedom is happiness.

[purplegal]

As Le Cordon Bleu says "The best things in life are free...the sun, the beach, and this free culinary career guide."
Although to be honest, as a person that doesn't really like to cook, I doubt that I would find happiness owning a culinary career guide.

[hovla]

No, because there are free things in life that don't cost money, but can still make a person happy...spending time with friends and family being one of the main ones.

still need money for that

i want to visit my cousins this summer and i still have to save large amount of money to make a trip. You will probably need money for hanging out with any of the friends or family that are not within walking distance.

Awesome article on this topic

[K_F_C]

Money is not happiness, but money is freedom and freedom is happiness.

best answer

[Schadenfreude-]

Sorry I need the money. What good is a workman without his tools?

[Reginasfangirl]

Money is not happiness, but money is freedom and freedom is happiness.

Truth. It's really hard to be happy when you can't pay rent.

[Mr_Quick]

I don't need money. All I need are the things that money buys.

Seriously though, a certain baseline level of income (namely, enough that you don't have to constantly worry about how you're going to afford food, rent, medication, or other basic necessities) seems to be immensely helpful in facilitating happiness and well-being, an effect I can attest to myself. Beyond that, though, there are severe diminishing returns. Money doesn't appear to be particularly effective at creating lasting happiness in and of itself, but it can remove some very formidable obstacles to happiness.

[JohnDoe429]

As John Lennon once said, "I don't care too much for money, money can't buy me love!"

[spiritualized]

Yes, obviously. You people who said no are kidding yourselves. Especially since you grew up with money. If you were born in Africa or some other third world country and had never experienced the luxuries that we all do now, then maybe. But if everyone in this thread who said no suddenly lost all their money, I can guarantee they would not be happy. Not to mention they would probably be dead within a year. As cool as it is to picture being completely free without money and running around in mountains, finding your own food, and not having a care in the world like some Into The Wild shit (even though he even needed money), it's incredibly unrealistic. But if we're talking about being rich vs the bare minimums, then yes I think I could still be happy.

[ladydesireturns]

Truth. It's really hard to be happy when you can't pay rent.

This. Exactly.

[ladydesireturns]

No, the only people who actually say the phrase money can't buy happiness are rich people. Me growing up poor and having to work for every cent I make, know the value of money. And money can certainly bring happiness, especially by taking away stress and worry about bills, rent, money and food, etc.

Just my opinion.

[Mystified_Love]

It sure does add to the happiness.

[brum_town_gyal]

No way could i be happy without money, fair enough im a student aswell as a single mother, but there would be no way to pay for food, rent, bills, clothes, bus and train fayres. It would start to stress you out in the end.