Money Can't Buy Happiness

As I look back on this month, I realize how little impact money is having on our lives these days. 

It may seem ridiculous to say that when we’re in the midst of Project Money; but hear me out.  We sold a car and experienced the thrill of eliminating a car payment.  That felt great, but now, two weeks later, I barely even think about that car anymore; we’re doing just fine without it.  On the flip side, we also spent over $800 in repairs on another car this month.  Although writing that check really stung, now, a week later, it’s also not something I’m dwelling on.  Our lives are full of joy and stress, love and anxiety, and none of those feelings were caused by money. 

Studies show that once you make enough money that your basic human needs are met (and we are blessed that ours are), earning more has almost no impact on your happiness level.  Getting our financial house in order allowed us to remove money from our list of daily stresses.  Competing to reduce spending as much as possible helped us focus on low cost ways to have fun – and most of those activities involve spending time (not money!) with our friends, family and community. 

It’s these types of activities that raise happiness levels. Studies prove that “money can’t buy happiness.”  Our journey proves that we don’t need it to.

Comments

[Rachel]

I totally agree -- I am often so caught up in pushing for a raise, getting a promotion and moving up the corporate ladder to make more money. Greed slowly sinks in and this is so conterproductive to happiness. At the end of the day, there are so many things that are so much more important – watching the changing leaves, listening to your child read, sharing a prolonged stare with a loved one. And all of these things are FREE!!