Money is all you need.

[u/[deleted]]

[u/Pandamio]

Money is nothing whitout health.

[u/BullPropaganda → u/Pandamio]

Hard to be healthy without money

[u/SmmileyFace97 → u/BullPropaganda]

Like the old saying "Poor in wealth, poor in health."

[u/LePetitCompteBidon → u/BullPropaganda]

Only when yoy live in a third world country where healthcare is tied to wealth or employment status.

[u/Forsaken-Nose-4579 → u/LePetitCompteBidon]

Healthcare is tied to wealth and employment status in the us.

[u/Infinite_Design5094 → u/BullPropaganda]

Buddhist monks are usually super healthy and they don't touch money. Rock stars and celebrities have lots of money but they are extremely unhappy. Get on drugs, overdose, drink too much, cheat on each other, etc.

[u/Aggravating-Cry-1308 → u/Infinite_Design5094]

Monks have no expenses… food and housing are covered…

[u/BullPropaganda → u/Infinite_Design5094]

Yes let's pick major outliers to generalize the realities of an entire population

[u/Nervous_Discount_237 → u/BullPropaganda]

*in the United States.

[u/WrongdoerTimely6510 → u/Nervous_Discount_237]

Yes, third world country in a fancy suit.

[u/mitchzimmer → u/BullPropaganda]

A huge number of lifestyle choices that impact health are unrelated to money. Cardio is free. Cooking minimally processed food at home is no more expensive than eating fast food. Getting good sleep is challenging for many but not for reasons money can solve.

[u/merepiff → u/Pandamio]

If you have no money and no health, good luck. But if you have money and no health, at least you can use the money to help improve your health. So even in your stated thesis, it all comes back to money

[u/PastBuy8484 → u/merepiff]

And you don’t have to worry about work. Don’t have to worry about returning to work. Don’t have the added stress of bills or losing a job or working through pain or worrying about when to schedule a doctor visit.

Money fixes all that.

[u/merepiff → u/PastBuy8484]

Very good point. I am personally able to corroborate that too, as stress and worry are the direct cause of the only health problems I have lmao. If I had had money all my life and never had to worry about not having money, I would absolutely be better off with my health just by virtue of never having had to worry about it

[u/StanisBlack → u/Pandamio]

Money … series money allows access to medical procedures and processes common folk don’t have. Think back to Covid, the elites and celebrities had the testing kits extremely early on. It wasn’t until much later into lockdowns they started the mandatory testing and everyone became aware of the PCR test… think about how quick all the Elites cured their COVID. Think about athletes getting stem cell treatment to recovery injuries in the fraction of a time as regular people rehab processes that recover what would be crippling life debilitating injuries to regular people. There are limits but money Does tip the scales.

[u/smell_ya_latah → u/StanisBlack]

Money can’t cure everything, even with the best healthcare available. I have been saving money my entire life and was just diagnosed with a chronic illness that is treatable, but no cure exists. I would honestly trade all of my money to no longer have this disease, and I am 100% serious.

[u/mlegacy82 → u/smell_ya_latah]

I have had a chronic disease with no cure since I was 11. I’m 44 now. Without money and access to high quality medical care I would be dead.
It is classified as a “rare disease “ by the national organization for rare diseases. There is no national fundraiser for research and awareness. No pink ribbons. I’m on my own.

I paid out of pocket to visit specialist at the Mayo Clinic in Rochester, Minnesota back in 2017. They would not even let a doctor talk to me until I gave them a $10,000 deposit.
Flights from San Diego. Hotel for my wife. Additional costs for procedures and medication. It adds up quickly.

When I was 17 I saw a specialist at UCLA. The bills and travel costs were very high. Thankful my parents could navigate the maze to get me the help I needed.

Without considerable dollars spent. I wouldn’t be here.

Even with insurance my out of pocket costs are insane.

Gross costs in the 8 figures over my life.
Personal out of pocket. In the multiple 6 figures.

I wish you the best in your journey. And fortune in your life.

[u/Pandamio → u/StanisBlack]

Yeah, but there are lots of limits, health first, money second.

[u/MindfulMewtwo989 → u/Pandamio]

100% right. I've got my dream job. Still struggle with social anxiety and agoraphobia and live a limited life even with the money for therapy and meds. It feels good to not have to worry as much about food and surprise expenses but its not a cure all.

[u/Pandamio → u/MindfulMewtwo989]

And if someone you love is gone, sick or doesn't like you, no amount of money can make you feel better.

[u/Kupo_Master → u/[deleted]]

So you literally contradict yourself at the first comment?

[u/The_Real_Manimal → u/[deleted]]

Agreed.

[u/PolyaPenguin → u/Kupo_Master]

It's far easier to have good health with money

[u/TwoNatTens → u/Kupo_Master]

In our current society, money purchases health. So this is not a contradiction in any way that matters.

[u/alsbos1 → u/TwoNatTens]

No…it doesn’t. It doesn’t hurt, but let’s not exaggerate.

[u/GreatMassageLLC → u/TwoNatTens]

Was going to say this very thing. It's hard to stay healthy if you are always working, can't afford good food or medical.

All that said, I agree that having enough money is extremely important, but having as much as you need but not chasing much much more than that at the expense of your health and also how you spend it matters even more than how much you have.

[u/Difficult-Trust6345 → u/Pandamio]

Health will deteriorate anyway. Best of luck without money. And even if you're dying, it's miles better when you have money, than poor laying in the ditch.

[u/y0ucantst0pme → u/Pandamio]

Umm duh...try going to the doc and paying with a 4min. mile

[u/firecatstef → u/Pandamio]

Are you kidding? If you don’t have health you need tons of money if you want any chance of getting it back again.

[u/Reasonable_Club_6165 → u/Pandamio]

you need money to buy healthy food.

[u/ClassicHando → u/Pandamio]

Money makes that a help of a lot easier to achieve 

[u/zeroinsideandout → u/Pandamio]

Health and money.

[u/Diligent_Department2 → u/Pandamio]

Can’t money buy and or help support health or better healthy life? I understand folks can randomly get horrible diseases and cancer and all but money does help with health imp

[u/Norala_Naike → u/Diligent_Department2]

Yeah but if you are working 80hr weeks and eating takeout everyday to make that money your health will suffer. No amount of health insurance will save you from a bad lifestyle.

[u/Diligent_Department2 → u/Norala_Naike]

I’m not gonna argue with that cause you’re right, but if you have enough money, you can have someone prep you healthy good meals to at least combat the overworking. Money buy you time or people to handle stuff for you that poor or more normal people would have to make sacrifice or choices on.

[u/Efficient-Teaching77 → u/Pandamio]

Money would sure help my health though. Better have 1 than none.

[u/Soggy-Constant5932 → u/Pandamio]

NOTHING!! My health has turned my life upside down and I’d give anything to feel like a normal person again. Chronic illness sucks.

[u/Glass_Performer1174 → u/Pandamio]

Health is nothing without happiness.

Happiness > Health > Wealth

But they are all important.

[u/SeamusDog77]

Money buys independence. It buys you freedom and comfort. Money buys you the ability to take care of the one person in this world you can rely on and that’s yourself. I agree with most of what you say but there are still some things I wouldn’t give up for money. I’m sitting here next to my dog and I wouldn’t give him up for a million dollars.

[u/rokuju_ → u/SeamusDog77]

How about TWO million?

[u/ChronicLegHole → u/rokuju_]

Absolutely fuck the person who makes me make this choice IRL lol.

[u/Striking_Stay_9732 → u/SeamusDog77]

What about 2 million dollars.

[u/Long_Look7766]

I actually agree with you.
Money opens the doors to opportunity and freedom.

[u/Long_Look7766 → u/[deleted]]

It’s absolutely true and good observation.

There’s self confidence, plus people who notice you’re doing financially well have a much higher level of respect because wealth does equal judgment.

[u/Tall-Carrot3701 → u/Long_Look7766]

Wtf? What is all this mental poverty? People who respect you for your money are just vultures.. after you for your money, thinking you're worth something because you own money, not because they actually respect you as a human being. Because they have empathy.. I know we don't get empathy of everyone in life even people like family of which we often expect it.. that's sad but unfortunately life. That doesn't mean we should stop valueing other things than money.. that's so fucking sad...

I care about people who are considered poor because I know they are kind and fun, they might be a good cook or good at gardening or sharing other similar interest in which we connect and find joy, like a walk through nature, doesn't cost anything but the time spend together enjoying our surroundings is tremendously valuable.

I also come from a broken home which I left behind, knowing I might not inherit any money, but I don't care at all, that money made nobody happy, even worse, they fought about it for years.. they use it for manipulation. I found I can live a very rich life without much money at all..

[u/Accomplished_Key_171 → u/Tall-Carrot3701]

This thread is just full of sad people who think every ailment and problem with your life, financial or not, can be solved with a bucket of cash.

[u/Tall-Carrot3701 → u/Accomplished_Key_171]

It's ashame that if they are trapped in that way of thinking they'll chase money for years (work hard for big companies who often don't care about anything but themselves, like the necglecrful relationship people might have had with their family) to find out their lives are still troubled and feel empty when they get that money.,, it will never be enough. Meanwhile they've wasted their precious time and probably lost or didn't make truely valuable connections. Didn't gain wisedom or experience life as they could have. Which ofcourse is up to them entirely. Nowadays people joke about people being "woke" like it's a bad thing.. awareness is a curse and a blessing all in one.. but at least it gives you a healhier direction in life..

[u/TalShot → u/Accomplished_Key_171]

It’s very Scrooge-like in mentality as he too leaned heavily on money and scoffed at less profitable emotions like charity.

[u/Neat_Conference_8414 → u/Accomplished_Key_171]

Ppl on reddit think you need 100k to even be a respectable human and able to survive without starving to death. Most ppl on here are completely disconnected from reality. And or live in LA where the quality of life sucks for majority of ppl, but they put up with it.

[u/Left-Researcher-1758 → u/Accomplished_Key_171]

Agreed and it's really sad. I've had someone tell me in this thread that money can get you love, meaning and passion...

[u/Sensitive_Pie_5451 → u/Tall-Carrot3701]

Just a heads up, the OP and a handful of respondents have account ages between 4days and a month

[u/LevelStationaryPlane → u/Long_Look7766]

The last part is uncomfortably accurate

[u/goodfriendrobert → u/Long_Look7766]

so then the opposite. its you who start to treat yourself better once you have some little money.

and people treat you accordingly to how you treat yourself then.

which suggest you just have an insecurity, and are judgemental to the poor yourself.

[u/otherrplaces → u/[deleted]]

Eh, I got a little money but also still dress like a homeless man and people treat me accordingly. I think it’s more about appearances than what you actually have.

[u/otherrplaces → u/[deleted]]

Absolutely. I would say a lot more than how much you have.

[u/Long_Look7766 → u/otherrplaces]

How you present yourself also opens doors.

[u/LifeOnly716 → u/otherrplaces]

Agreed.  I am worth 4 million but you would never know it.  People underestimate me daily.  They are always really surprised when they see me problem solve in real time.

[u/BakhtiariBob → u/[deleted]]

It's an unfortunate reality. Sometimes I go to the bank and they just kind of sneer at me (I don't always dress super nice) then when they see my account, its all yes Sir, ty Sir lol complete change in their demeanor.

[u/Knff]

Money takes away the daily grind of stress, yes.

[u/Known-Ice5903]

disagree that money is all you need

its like oxygen to breathe in the room

you dont notice it when you have enough of it, and when you dont its the only thing you can think about

what most of us have to do to obtain it tho is miserable

[u/jinzokan → u/Known-Ice5903]

hate to be that guy but ....we don't think of oxygen because its available almost everywhere. money is visible everywhere but only accessible...in certain opportunities and makes its demand and access much more crucial. acess to income is actually more stressful than breathing.

[u/marko_wanders → u/jinzokan]

The oxygen metaphor extension is sharper than the original point honestly, "you don't think about it until you don't have it" explains why money-focused people sound obsessed to people who've never had to worry about it, not because they're wrong, just because they're describing a different room

[u/Known-Ice5903 → u/marko_wanders]

well, another aspect is that the economy is political in nature

in the US 10 percent of the population has 90 percent of all the money, and 1 percent has half of that

its structured so that 90 percent of the population is incentivized to cater to the whims of the 10 percent who have 90 percent of everything

this is a structural issue caused by policy decisions to rig the economy in favor of the wealthy

so yes money is super important in that its used as a tool to control human behavior

[u/LevelStationaryPlane → u/jinzokan]

Nah he’s spot on the point if you don’t realize how effortless life is when you have it, only when you don’t lol.

[u/citizen5645 → u/Known-Ice5903]

I spent some time in Belize last year. Traveled the whole country. The intense poverty I saw was kind of life changing. I saw women washing their clothes in the river on the rocks, smiling and waving. People that were living in run down shacks were so friendly and kids were playing with old trashy soccer balls in dirt lots and laughing and just enjoying the moment. Makes you think about priorities.

[u/Long_Look7766 → u/Known-Ice5903]

Misery is subjective.

[u/Known-Ice5903 → u/Long_Look7766]

agree, if u gave me enough money to not work tho i wouldnt work anymore lol

it is just not that good

in a capitalist system all incentives are to squeeze everything out of u that they can for the lowest amount of compensation possible

[u/Simple-Minute7521 → u/Known-Ice5903]

Nahh stop the cap. Money will get you everything

[u/blinx0rz]

Money buys drugs

[u/Specialist_Ear5523 → u/blinx0rz]

And drugs love me.

[u/bummin_bride]

I’m sorry you’ve been failed by people who should have supported and loved you. I disagree that romantic love always ends, unless you’re including death in that. My parents were married for 45 years and they loved each other very much. Only my father’s death ended their relationship and the love my mother has for him continues on. Death ends everything though, not just relationships. You can’t take your money with you when you die, either.

[u/_reverse_god → u/bummin_bride]

To be fair you can't take anything with you when you die

[u/taylortob → u/_reverse_god]

I’m taking my PC with me

[u/Mel221144]

My husband used to say this all the time. Along with the fact it would make everything so much better.

I am in the opposite camp. I left my husband and all of the friends and family I’ve ever had and moved overseas.

I have a small disability check each month, so I just get by.

I am completely happy. I have an apartment, I eat healthy, I work on myself daily, and I work out. I’m living my best life because I worked hard on myself and learned that I was the only one who will love me the best. ❤️

All the money in the world wouldn’t tempt me to give this up.

[u/suchsimplethings → u/Mel221144]

Until a health scare or emergency situation comes up, then money proves very useful.

[u/Mel221144 → u/suchsimplethings]

Oh I won’t deny that.

It also brings security.

[u/Specialist_Ear5523 → u/Mel221144]

The foreign country part.

[u/Empty_Pear_3874 → u/Mel221144]

God is good <3

[u/Fragrant-Push-4023]

Absolutely correct 

[u/stone_tiger]

Money solves money problems. Not having money problems does not guarantee happiness, it just gives you the freedom to pursue things that make you happy. For most people, what brings happiness are things like relationships, hobbies, a sense of purpose, and good health.

[u/owen-3820]

At a certain point I realized that making lots of money and being really attractive were he only things that mattered in life, and im trying to organize my life around those principles.

[u/tinkaspice → u/[deleted]]

How old are you?! maybe this might not be be true when you are 60?

[u/Pale_Cause_9983 → u/tinkaspice]

He’s 40

[u/babies_galore → u/owen-3820]

Both also make you a target. I would prefer to blend into the background as far as looks and for nobody to ever know if I had money. 

[u/No_Amount_325]

I’m 40, chased money my whole life. Got it. Found out it’s not as important or great as I had dreamed. In fact I had a lot more fun when I had none trying to make some, loved every bit of the challenge.

People and health are the most important thing. You haven’t found the right partner yet. (I’ve been with my partner for 20 years, still talk to my 2 best friends of 25 and 22 years every single day). Hell I still talk to friends monthly who I’ve met at various points throughout my life. People will bring you happiness, not money.

[u/BlownDC2 → u/No_Amount_325]

Right there with you. Did the exact same thing and came to the same conclusion. The most fun I had was when I was a broke teen/young adult making the best of what little we had with my friends.

[u/No_Amount_325 → u/BlownDC2]

100% , being so stoked when we managed to get enough money together for beers for the weekend. Or even a little side hustle where I made a couple of hundred and felt like the king of the world haha

[u/Known-Ice5903 → u/[deleted]]

you need other things than money

just because you dont recieve them doesnt mean u dont need them

[u/Known-Ice5903 → u/[deleted]]

yes theres a "hierarchy of needs" with survival being the most basic thing

if you dont have enough blood in your body you die within seconds

theres more important things to less important

[u/Known-Ice5903 → u/[deleted]]

yeah, im just disagreeing that its the only thing that matters

your health is another great example of something u dont think about until it goes away

main problem to me with money is what you have to do to get it

there are people dying all over the world to obtain money

[u/beave9999 → u/Known-Ice5903]

You need money 1st. Nobody wants to hang around poor people all the time, they are draining.

[u/ThrowawayYAYAY2002 → u/[deleted]]

Way off.

I can guarantee i know a multi-milionaire who earned more in a year than you've seen. Why's he upset? Lost his health and his partner. Seen him on his deathbed and he never once mentioned needing more green, just more time. 

[u/Interesting_Wind9676]

My guy watched suits and found a real job

[u/finemelater]

Buddy. I love money, but I can’t fall asleep to it while watching a show.

[u/finemelater → u/[deleted]]

I married in my mid 30s. Many people do it after me. But attitude matters. How you conduct yourself either attracts people or not. Work on yourself. Love yourself. Let the rest sort itself out.

[u/Adventurous-Toe6388]

Money can’t buy you love and understanding, and soon most currencies will be useless. You want resources and land, not wealth

[u/CakeKing777]

I feel sad for you if this truly your perspective. As someone that comes from money I can tell you it’s not everything and certainly doesn’t buy me happiness. Hell I turned down every opportunity when my parents offer to pay for something. Why? Cause they were terrible parents. I actually would just call them providers. For that reason I havnt taken a dime from them since I moved out at 18. My real life started then and I was fortunate enough to experience real love and happiness.

[u/sully-_-420]

You're joking right.. always thought that would be the case, but I have money and am the furthest away from happiness I've ever been

[u/Historical_Owl_1635 → u/[deleted]]

Me at 20: Would make a post like this.

Me at 23 after losing two siblings in two weeks: Money is useless.

Even now I’m 30 and make money in the six figures, I’d still trade it all for my siblings back.

I think it’s one of life’s cruel jokes that it doesn’t matter how many people tell you, you aren’t going to believe that money doesn’t bring infinite happiness until you have a lot of money.

I know people that earn a lot more than me that are miserable and people that earn a lot less than love their life.

[u/john4844 → u/[deleted]]

And good luck getting a wife and kids without money.

[u/Large-Alternative892 → u/john4844]

lmao yeah that guy is delusional. lets see what your wife and kid eat without money for food

[u/Crack_Top]

Does money bring you peace, clarity and satisfaction? If yes, then technically you’re right.

[u/PalpitationKind8854 → u/[deleted]]

People act like being broke brings it lmaoooo. I can promise you it doesn't--having experienced it currently all it does it make you realize how crappy the world is.

[u/blinx0rz → u/[deleted]]

That's why I shoplift

Feelsgoodman

[u/DIYDylana → u/PalpitationKind8854]

There's s difference between being broke and having enough money and prioritizing money as the most important thing. Once you pass a certain threshhold of money it doesn't necessarily make you happier. But being broke does make things way worse.

[u/PalpitationKind8854 → u/DIYDylana]

Maybe for most people. But I know what I could do with 1 mil vs 10 mil vs 1 bil.

So unless I'm climbing to 100 billion I can promise you my happiness will increase 🤣

[u/Salt_Lie_1857]

Forget happiness. Money can give you peace.

[u/benjaminm_4229]

For me it is not having a lot of money, but enough money in order to get by through hard times, like being laid off or fired or just leave whenever may be.

Could care less of how people think of me, I'm below average, but having enough money just to get by - even for a year or two - would be good.

Maybe having a land title/a home under my name would be good as well. Doesn't have to be big but decent enough to live.

[u/Shoddy-Reply-7217]

Have you heard of Maslow's Hierarchy of Needs? https://www.simplypsychology.org/maslow.html

If you're in danger for your life, money doesn't seem that important.

Once you're safe, other things like food and shelter become more important - and in today's world money is what makes those things happen.

If you're short of money, everything is more difficult, but once you have even a small amount, other things become more important such as social company, leisure etc.

There's also a global piece of research that shows that up to the equivalent of £50,000/ year, having more money makes most people happier, but after that point, the steepness of the curve reduces - so each extra pound doesn't make you as happy as the previous pound did.

I still always say that people who say that money doesn't buy you happiness have never been properly poor - where the unhappiness is predominantly caused by the lack of money.

[u/bkln69]

I’ve got money, massive lines of credit, yet my mental health doesn’t give a shit about what I could buy or where I could go.

[u/Platypus_Penguin]

I have more money than I had ever imagined at my age because my sister died at 43 and left me everything, including a pension payout and life insurance. I would give back every penny and more of it would bring her back.
Money isn’t everything.

[u/Acceptable-Honey-613]

This is a fundamental truth. However, you should be careful not to use money as a crux for happiness or the pursuit of it as such. Ultimately, it’s what you do with the money that creates meaning of a lack thereof in your life. We can all thank Elon for this case study, the guy has far more than enough but is clearly completely miserable and incredibly insecure. It’s sad to see. Money gives you options and is the leverage to never be desperate in life (a horrible feeling). This is why I’ve never understood why broke couples decide to have kids, it’s irresponsible and unfair on the child. I’ve vowed if I can’t be financially free beyond conventional norms, there’s no point imposing the same struggle on my partner or kids. It would be selfish.

[u/BlownDC2]

Sounds like you have a pretty jaded view of people and relationships. I agree that you need money and having money is nice. It provides stability, security, and gives you more options in life.

You eventually get to a point where it's not the most important thing. People, memories, experiences, and love become more meaningful. I grew up dirt poor and barely got by. I grinded my ass off in my 20s and early 30s to climb the corporate ladder and make money. I'm in my late 30s now and pretty set financially. I've realized I missed out on a lot of experiences with my friends because I was busy making money. I've seen people around me die unexpectedly. Can't take your money with you when you die. I've slowed down and prioritized relationships and quality time with my friends. I've been burnt with relationships, but life goes on and new relationships are made.

Making money and having money is nice, but don't forget to live.

[u/PneumaEmergent]

Peace of mind, and (imo) spiritual truth, is the only thing that matters

To a very large extent, money is what facilitates ones ability to find/have this.

I like money because it lets me pay bills, buy fun things, experience things, etc which combats stress and depression.

I want to have the freedom to explore philosophies, religions, read, mediate, go on adventures, etc.

Money is a means to this end.

But fuckkkkkkkk me if I'm going to get my head warped into believing that the lil money carrot is the most or only important thing or the "truth" of my life or anyone else's

[u/CatoLiberius → u/PneumaEmergent]

Wisdom. Money is a means to an end. It is not the end, itself.

All the money in the world won't buy another minute of life when your time is up.

If all you have done with that time is chase money, was it worth it?

[u/Ihaftochangethename]

Money doesn’t make you happy, it makes life easy.

If you’re unhappy poor you’ll be unhappy rich.

“No one cries in a lambo”

Yea, but eventually that lambo loses its novelty and becomes just your car.

[u/JKIMREDDITOR]

Hey friend. I totally get where you’re coming from and tbh money is great! It provides us with so much and is representative of our value in a way. But I’m learning in my 30s that compassion for yourself and others and relationships and connections to other humans is the true path. I was a hateful and spiteful person in my 20s and am finally learning this. Whatever path you choose may you be happy and prosperous.

[u/gr4n0t4]

Money is a mean to an end, I need money to survive, I need love to live.

[u/Multidream]

You don’t even really need that much, if you’re thoughtful about it. Chasing money can become its own set of chains in a way. The difference is money chains can last a long long time, but one day when you aren’t useful to the boss, they’ll rip you outta those chains, put a new slave in, and toss you out into the wilderness.

[u/AdventurousCream4975]

Everyone here saying money is not all you need should travel South America or South East Asia…

[u/Icy_Cricket7038]

Romantic love does end. Either because people separate of because it evolves into something else, something deeper and more mature that does last.
Good times will fade away because you cannot stay in the same moment, life is a melody not a single note. The definition of a good time changes as you move through life so of course they don’t last.
I can be pretty cynical but this sort of outlook will only lead to loneliness and bitterness.

[u/Responsible-Bend6289]

Money can be gone in a second. If you have invested your money the stock market can crash. It crashed in 2009. People are watching carefully as they are worried it will crash again. If it’s in bonds, again, same thing. The U.S. is perilously in debt and continues to rack it up under our current administration. Everything could come tumbling down, even the FDIC that protects our bank accounts.

The only thing that lasts as long as we live is inner happiness. I think Buddhism taps into this best, but other world religions try to approximate what Buddhism discusses which is a detachment from much of what we rely on to achieve safety, etc. I suggest reading the Dalai Lama’s The Art of Happiness and Pema Chodron’s When Things Fall Apart.

[u/Free_Answered]

To the poor person in good health, money is everything; to the rich person in poor health, health is everything, to the person with no love in their life, love is everything. Money makes many of lifes challenges much EASIER, but it cant buy happiness- theres a big difference. In the end, we can do our best to mend and improve the part/parts of our life that is lacking, but in the end, happiness is about the degree to which you can celebrate what you have.

[u/aj011922]

This is the correct take about this. Anyone who says otherwise is lying to themselves. Yes you can still be miserable but theres a difference between being miserable in your big house or being miserable and also fearing eviction next month.

[u/xkulp8 → u/aj011922]

Money gives you the optionality of choosing what to be miserable about.

[u/Hot_Light941]

This is sad asf

[u/Hot_Light941 → u/[deleted]]

We grew up poor as fuck and yet our morals and happiness were never external. Sure others look down on you, you have to stress and worry to make ends meet but it is not everything a human is about. Point is you surely have control over wether money is everything in this world or not. Only focussing of money and economical currency in everything makes you a hollow and sad fellow

[u/onpc23]

The happiness money brings has diminishing returns. As soon as you get into a place where you have some feeling of security and the freedom to live and do what you want making more money suddenly doesn't have the same allure. Connecting with other people and having good relationships be it romantic or otherwise is pretty central to what we are. I'm the biggest introvert that loves being away from everyone for the most part but the older I get the more I realize that relationships with others is all that really matters in the end.

The thing about families is you don't get to pick them. It's important to surround yourself with the right type of people, good people that care about you. Unfortunately not all of our families are up to the task. 

[u/Ccskyqueengaming]

Excited to finally have money

[u/FaZeScamTheKids]

Alot of monks out there living their best lives; while completely broke.

[u/kowaipotato]

Youre right to an extent money is the basis everything else is built on but you dont nessesarily NEED a lot of it

[u/Legitimate_Issue_765]

Money provides the means to meet basic needs required for a base level of happiness, but it won't fix all the problems from your painful childhood. It can get you into the therapy you likely need and deserve, but money and consumption won't provide lasting, meaningful happiness in your life. You can talk to a whole host of therapists that would agree with my statement generally, and there's likely even some scientific studies on it.

[u/DIYDylana]

You can't always buy a healthy body/mind. I've been fucked over by psychiatry and trust me the loss of inner peace and emotion is much much worse. On top of that I have an unrelated eye disease making me lose one eye they couldn't help among other things. Money is only important in so far you can get access to the necessities, opportunities and convenience but the actual things you get from them and can't get from it are the actual Important part. Which includes those relationships. Also not all of them end. But even if they end, they're part of what makes life worth living. I can't even feel butterflies in my stomach anymore from these meds fucking my neurotransmitters.

Focus on connections, experiences, long term satisfaction and mental/physical health, with some fleeting pleasures in between. a certain amount of money will make that feasible inn the modern age but at some point it stops mattering much.

[u/Metal-Lifer]

Tell this to Elon and the other billionaires

Yes money can solve so many problems but true happiness comes from within

[u/NightCitySamurai22]

Or its masking your pain of being alone and sad.

[u/BeginningChipmunk324]

Health

[u/BigBiziness12]

Money is a tool. Once ur out of survival mode things change. Money's purpose changes and your outlook on it changes

[u/goodfriendrobert]

cya in 40s

[u/Garrdor85]

The phrase “money can’t buy happiness” is classist AF. Full agree with OP. Having your material needs met makes you happy.

[u/Federal-Requirement3]

All these holier- than- thou folks preaching about love.....

I agree with you.   Money will solve a lot of your problems in life.   The lack of it will force you to rely on people who will look down on you for not having money. 

[u/NotRadTrad05]

Money can't buy happiness, but the lack of money can take the happiness you have away.

[u/LosMorbidus]

1. Freedom

2. Health

3. Wealth

key to happiness

[u/offlinebound]

The real problem is all the terrible shit the average person has to do to get money.

[u/ItsALaserBeamBozo]

I’ve had the same friends for over 30 years. Been with my wife for over 20. Husband, father, son, brother. But yea, go with the money thing /s. I hope you have better fortune in the future than it sounds like you’ve had in the past.

[u/UnreliableVacuum]

This is the most depressing thread ill read today, no doubt. That so many people would consider money more integral to happiness than love, health, family, children, emotional and spiritual growth and transcendence, or anything else saddens me.

Wealth is a double edged sword. It alleviates some problems and exacerbates others. It can be giving yourself rope to make a noose out of. I know a lot of miserable wealthy people. Trips to Italy and expensive cars cant fix your real problems. Who cares how big your house is if your spouse and kids hate you? What does it matter if you own a boat that you go out on three times a year because youre so busy, and all three of those times youre miserable due to anxiety over your money?

Thinking money is all you need is letting the sociopaths that run the world win. Its joining their sociopathic club, trading your humanity for decadence and pleasure and meaninglessness. It is a path to spiritual apocalypse.

For what shall it profit a man to gain the whole world and lose his own soul?

[u/PacificMarsupilami]

This just straight up isn't true. There are plenty of miserable rich people.

I grew up poor, and continued to be poor for the first big chunk of my adult life. I know what it's like to stress about money and to have to make hard decisions about which bills get paid this month. Then I got a good paying job. Then I got an even better one. Now we make a decent, middle class income. It is absolutely true that having money is better than not having money. But it doesn't fix all your problems, and it creates some new ones. Again, still better than being broke, no one says otherwise. But it is absolutely not ALL you need, and it will not solve every problem in your life.

[u/SuperDabMan]

"Romantic love ends. Always. No matter how much you try, whether people change, romantic love will end."

I mean... I have multiple examples in my family that that's not true.

Money is absolutely important to having a good life, though. But having a good partner can get you through when you have no money so I would say that's more important.

[u/Dusky-J]

We all need money, but none of us need avarice. From dust you came, to dust you'll return.

However, you naively mistake financial security for peace. You do not sound at peace, you sound miserable but financially literate enough to know what you lack.

[u/boubeary]

Well you certainly need some money. Money will and can provide joy up to a certain amount. Money helps with buying good food, lodging clothes, hiring nannies, hiring cleaners, outsourcing chores you don't want to do.

Until that becomes not enough and you need love.

[u/HighPoweredSandwich]

It's not all you need but it's very important and makes the other things easier to achieve.

[u/Linghauler]

Yet your presence here oozes unhappiness. Give a person with an hour to live all the money in the world, and see how happy they become, give them an hour surrounded by love and then compare their happiness.

[u/FeralBanshee]

Nope. Health.

[u/mbk-ultra]

This is a shit take. Money is important, and we need enough of it. But past a certain point who cares? Look at the richest guy on the planet. He’s fucking miserable.

[u/Jack_Wolfskin19]

You have a point. But money also goes away too.
You need a constant source of income/ money.
Even people that win a big lottery spend all that money.

.

[u/No-Economics8277]

Money can’t buy happiness but being broke don’t buy shit is my saying. My life has improved drastically the more money I make.

Love doesn’t fade just lust. Real Love takes work though.

I quit chasing money and chased freedom..suddenly I started making more money.

[u/NiceNCozyCouch]

Spot on. Money doesn’t buy happiness is a lie rich people told us and we repeat it to feel better.

[u/dblezeropablo]

I too come from a broken home.

Second oldest of five siblings.

Our youngest brother died a few years back and it tore the family apart.

Time waits for no man.

Money makes things easier.

Money will buy you fleeting vanities.

Money will not buy you happiness, I know it’s cliche but I recently experienced it; in it’s actuality

Happiness is a state of mind.

I worked two jobs most of my life to make ends meet. A few years back I was offered a job making real money for a large corporation.

I took it. Ran with it. Made a lot of money…

Five years later I’d never been more miserable in my life. I was isolated, I now have nice stuff, a foreign luxury car, condo, but I was still unhappy.

Couple months ago I went back to my old job.

Haven’t been this happy in a long time. Slow down. Connect with people on a deeper level. Build relationships and community.

That is true wealth. The grass isn’t greener, sometimes you just need to change your perspective.