http://abcnews.go.com/Business/wireStory?id=11569857
They say money can't buy happiness. They're wrong.

At least up to a point.

People's emotional well-being - happiness - increases along with their income up to about $75,000, researchers report in Tuesday's edition of Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences.

For folks making less than that, said Angus Deaton, an economist at the Center for Health and Wellbeing at Princeton University, "Stuff is so in your face it's hard to be happy. It interferes with your enjoyment."

..

Happiness got better as income rose but the effect leveled out at $75,000, Deaton said. On the other hand, their overall sense of success or well-being continued to rise as their earnings grew beyond that point.

"Giving people more income beyond 75K is not going to do much for their daily mood ... but it is going to make them feel they have a better life," Deaton said in an inte

...

The Study (http://www.pnas.org/content/early/2010/08/27/1011492107.full.pdf)

Do you agree?

I think someone should give me a few billion dollars, and then we'll see how happy I can become...

Do you agree?

This is not the podium so I don't have to take a side :harhar:

I want my company to make me very happy, will send this to them.

The title is correct. But the article has flaws. $75000 is not adequate to make you happy, trust me.


I think money can't certainly buy temporary happiness. But for your life time long happiness, you will need to have something else to support it.

I want my company to make me very happy, will send this to them.

Just remember to stop sending after you hit $75k....or else you will never get a raise again.

Just remember to stop sending after you hit $75k....or else you will never get a raise again.

I have photoshop.....

$75,000?? Looks like $175,000 to me.

The title is correct. But the article has flaws. $75000 is not adequate to make you happy, trust me.


I think money can't certainly buy temporary happiness. But for your life time long happiness, you will need to have something else to support it.
Can't???


I don't think you are interpreting it right. $75,000 will give you the maximum amount of happiness out of income/money not the actual maximum happiness you can obtain.

Can't???


I don't think you are interpreting it right. $75,000 will give you the maximum amount of happiness out of income/money not the actual maximum happiness you can obtain.

I hardly agree with this number. And that's all I was trying to say.

I think that happiness is defined as financial security in that article.

Money doesn't give you happiness, financial security does. Sometimes that comes with more money, and sometimes that doesn't. I don't think a doctor that is thousands in debt is any happier than a bus driver who lives within his means and has a savings.

I hardly agree with this number. And that's all I was trying to say.

What's the magic number then?

I think that happiness is defined as financial security in that article.

Pretty much...although it doesn't quantify for the difference of standard of living in each state.

Remember when you were doing rather well if you were making a grand for every year you were old? I hope to reach that plateau one day. :sadwalk:

http://www.chicagotribune.com/health/la-heb-money-20100906,0,7805444.story
...

The study found that being divorced, being sick and other painful experiences have worse effects on a poor person than on a wealthier one.

"More money does not necessarily buy more happiness, but less money is associated with emotional pain," the authors wrote. "Perhaps $75,000 is a threshold beyond which further increases in income no longer improve individuals' ability to do what matters most to their emotional well-being, such as spending time with people they like, avoiding pain and disease, and enjoying leisure."

...


Full study PDF is in the OP

Money doesn't give you happiness, financial security does. Sometimes that comes with more money, and sometimes that doesn't. I don't think a doctor that is thousands in debt is any happier than a bus driver who lives within his means and has a savings.

Dave Ramsey would probably say the same thing! :highfive:

I would like to give it a try! :woot2:

I'm guessing that whoever says money can't buy happiness, never had any.

I would like to give it a try! :woot2:

:highfive:

The title is correct. But the article has flaws. $75000 is not adequate to make you happy, trust me.


I think money can't certainly buy temporary happiness. But for your life time long happiness, you will need to have something else to support it.

OOOOOO i disagree. i was sooo much happier at 75k then i was @ 30k TRUST ME.

I'm guessing that whoever says money can buy happiness, never had any.

Fixed and :iagree:

I think I'd be extremely happy... on my own personal Island, sitting in my mansion, looking out at the horizon with only my massive yacht in sight...

So if there are 2 people in the family, do they need to make $150k combined to be happy?
Check the study...$75,000 household income

Check the study...$75,000 household income

Thanks :lol: There was a lot of reading...

I agree that it doesn't take into account different cities and standards of living, but interesting nonetheless.

The title is correct. But the article has flaws. $75000 is not adequate to make you happy, trust me.


Move out of LA!

Happiness is all in your head. There are people barely getting by that belong to a loving family and are happy.. then there are people making 100's of thousands that hate their life. I'm sure having a lot of money alleviates the stress of financial hardships. It also allows you to provide better for your children. I just don't trust the numbers given by studies. Subjective things shouldn't be labeled as fact.

I prefer to think that money can't buy happiness but it can make it easier to find.

I'm as happy as can be :woot::woot2::punk::rock::yahoo:

I prefer to think that money can't buy happiness but it can make it easier to find.

Money may not be able to buy happiness but it can buy a great big boat, and then you can sail right up next to happiness.

http://images.askmen.com/top_10/entertainment/top-10-ways-men-have-brainwashed-women_5.jpg

Proof that money can buy happiness :drool2: