On... Buying Happiness

Money can’t buy happiness - so the saying goes. I politely disagree. There are some things money can’t buy - like love for example (according to the Beatles anyway), but it definitely can buy happiness. I had KFC with a bottle of coke and some fries just the other day, and boy was I happy. And guess what, I bought that with money.

When you’re hungry and thirsty, money buys you food and drinks. If you need a roof over over your head (the last time I check, most people do), money buys you shelter. If its winter and the weather is cold, money buys you a jacket to keep you warm.  And the list goes on.  

So, since money buys you happiness - the more money, the better? Absolutely not! For the very simple fact that money don’t grow on trees. Usually, there is a trade off to earn more money. Either you spend more time working (time which you could spend with your family) or you take on more responsibility (which normally comes with stress). The question is - is the trade off worth it?   

You see, not all happiness are priced equally. It’s one thing to eat KFC, drink wine or buy a pair of new jeans but it’s another thing to buy a mansion, a sports car or a yacht. Some people work away from their family to send their children to an expensive university, others take on a stressful job to pay for their million dollar mansion. The question is - is the trade off worth it? There is a point of diminishing return where your extra sacrifice is just not worth the extra dollar anymore.

The road to riches is paved with sacrifices, how much are you willing to sacrifice? Kevin O Leary said “I’ve been poor and I’ve been rich. Rich is better”. Can’t argue with that, but to me - somewhere in between is not that bad either.