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Reasons Why Money

Can’t Buy Happiness
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What You Will Learn

# ‘Money and Happiness,’ A Concept

# Why Money Can’t Buy Happiness

# Tips That Can Lead to Happiness

by Marcus Life Learning Team

The Controversy
“Money Can’t Buy Happiness” is an adage
that some people live by and others ignore.
The saying means that true happiness
comes from within, not from possessions
that can be bought. Beyond the ability to
pay your bills, happiness is a state of mind
that is short-lived when you base it on
physical objects and the numbers in an
investment portfolio. To borrow a quote
from the movie Forrest Gump, “There’s only
so much money a man really needs, the rest
is just for showing off.”

People suffering from poverty scoff at the

concept that money can’t buy happiness.
The American Psychological Association
published an article about research
conducted by Robert Kenny, EdD. Wealthy
people he interviewed admitted they loved
having a lot of money and understand they
are fortunate, but sometimes having a lot of
money means isolation, loss of friendships
to get you through difficult times and
struggling with the same parenting issues
as everyone else. “If their kids have access
to a lot of money, and therefore a lot of
drugs, that hurts just as much as if they
don’t have any money and their kids are
doing drugs. It doesn’t save you from any of
that.”

Can Money Buy Happiness?

To answer this question, look around your
home at all the things you bought that
excited you at the time but now may feel
more like clutter. Do you ever look at those
things and think, “I am so glad I bought that
because now I am happy.” On the other
hand, when you look at photos of trips you
have taken, nature that inspired you, family
and friends, and people who captured your
heart in different ways, it probably fills you
with a sense of joy. Material goods can’t
compete with that.

Five Reasons Why Money

Can’t Buy Happiness
Money and trinkets may provide temporary
joy but not true happiness. Here are five
reasons why happiness derived from
money is not everlasting:

1. You Will Never Be

Satis!ed.
Once you allow money to become your
source of happiness, you will never be
satisfied. You will always want more
because that shiny, new thing will become
old and used one day. With technology
introducing new products at lightning
speed, there will always be a carrot dangling
for you to reach for

2. Money Can't Buy True

Friends.
Although it may seem like the wealthy are
surrounded by an extensive and devoted
entourage, oftentimes those “friends” tend
to fade away if the money diminishes or
someone more affluent and influential
arrives on the scene.

3. Happiness is Doing What

You Love.
Happiness comes from doing the things
you love, not from your bank account
balance. As for the passions that require
money, such as travel and sporting
adventures, budgeting and prioritizing will
enable you to spend money on what is
important to you.

4. Money Can't Buy Time.

Rather than wasting time to shop and buy,
spend your time doing what you love to do.

5. Saving is Important, but

Don't Forget to Enjoy Life.
Experiencing and savoring special
moments can fill your heart in a way that
money cannot.

Money Does Buy Some

Happiness
Of course, we still need to pay our bills and
save for the future. Money buys peace of
mind when we are able to live within our
budget and save for the future. In the
present, you will sleep better knowing you
have some money in reserve in the event of
an emergency. Looking into the future, you
will be happy knowing you have built up
enough of a nest egg to enable you to retire
and live independently for as long as
possible.

Money is necessary to invest in a business,

but so is the passion that makes you happy.
When you can identify what truly makes
you happy and build your business around
your passion, you increase the chances
your business will be a success. As Marcus
has said, “I’m a big believer that if you’re
happy and your employees are happy, your
customers are going to be happy. If you’re
unhappy and your employees are unhappy,
there’s no way your customers are going to
be happy.”

Basic Necessities are

Important
We often find ourselves saying, “I need
this,” or “I need that.” With ads in our face
all the time, telling us what we need,
sometimes it is hard to distinguish between
what we need and what we want. We need
to pay for our housing, utilities, food,
transportation and, of course, taxes. Just
about everything else is nonessential. Make
sure you have money for basic necessities.
Reserve funds for things that fuel your
passion, but think in the long term. The
latest cell phone model and luxury car may
tempt you, but think bigger than that. Start
by understanding your true self and values.

Tips on How to Find

Happiness Outside of
Money
Here are a few ideas to discover happiness
that does not require financial wealth:

1. Search for a Cause that

Resonates with You.
This can be giving your time rather than a
monetary donation. To identify such a
cause, the Forbes Nonprofit Council
encourages thinking about your values,
what gives you a sense of fulfillment, what
you want to impact, your skill set and what
skills or experiences you want to gain.

2. Find Happiness Within

Yourself and Where You
are Today.
What are you grateful for? What
investments would you like to deposit in
your memory bank to build on for the rest
of your life?

3. Avoid Comparing
Yourself to Others, Known
as the "Keeping Up with
the Joneses" Mentality.
Appearances are deceiving. As mentioned
earlier, wealth is not a sign of happiness.

4. If You Constantly Worry

About Money, Take the
Pressure Off Yourself by
Maintaining a Budget that
Makes You Comfortable
with Where You Are Now.
Keep a record of your monthly expenses,
and consider adjustments if the differential
between your total monthly expense and
net

What Does Happiness

Mean to You?
The next time you see an ad for something
you didn’t know you needed but now can’t
imagine living without, take a deep breath,
count to 10, and think about where your
happiness really comes from. Call a friend,
take a nature hike, or read a great novel.
Then reconsider whether buying that item
will really make you happy. If it does, by all
means – go for it! But if it’s just a passing
whim, you may want to save that money for
a rainy day.

MARCUS’ CLOSING
QUESTIONS
1. Do you currently do anything
to help you feel more
empowered in your day to
day life?

2. What tips from above do you

think will help you feel
empowered the most?

Free Education for Everyone.

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