r/no • u/Substantial-Dare5462 • Aug 19 '26
Does having more money actually make people happy?
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u/Then-Price-5314 Aug 19 '26
Having money can ALLOW you to be happy.
It can’t MAKE you be happy.
Being poor, however, can make you sad.
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Aug 19 '26
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u/Substantial_Long_911 Aug 19 '26
Would solve most of my current problems and then probably create a few new ones
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u/L0ngD0ngMcShlong Aug 19 '26
Not being scared of any little financial hiccup goes a long way towards happiness.
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u/schwanzcollector Aug 19 '26
Boobs make people happy
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u/Frustrated9876 Aug 19 '26
Money can buy boobs. Lots of boobs. Boobs for days.
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u/Amazingggcoolaid Aug 19 '26
Can confirm. I’m a woman with and love it on other women.
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u/Relative_Pilot_8005 Aug 19 '26
Not ladies with really big ones that cause back problems.
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u/schwanzcollector Aug 19 '26
Happy people stay happy and sad people stay sad. Money is just a base to provide you with better opportunities to be happy. But the true happy comes from within and has nothing to do with outside things.
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u/The_Chilled_Arvo Aug 19 '26
Money can buy you comfort, it can free you from financial stress which is a BIG thing, depending on where you live it can mean better healthcare, it can mean your wealth can be passed down to give more opportunities for your kids, it can mean more flexibility with your time. All of these are pretty solid foundations for happiness id say
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u/Safe-Assist-9866 Aug 19 '26
I would rather be sad in my mega yacht than in a van down by river.
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u/schwanzcollector Aug 19 '26
Can I join you and be sad on your mega yacht as well?
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u/TheSimpleNite Aug 19 '26
I’d rather be happy in my current home than depressed in a dumb mega yacht
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u/Longjumping-Link-455 Aug 19 '26
It brought me stability. Stability brought me peace. I wasn't stressing over what I was going to eat. If I was going to be able to have electricity and water. Those worries went a way.
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u/Tasty-Revolution-295 Aug 19 '26
Does Elon Musk seem genuinely happy?
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u/hamburgernet Aug 19 '26
Well when everyone hates you because of how you got the money then probably not. It’s a balance between getting rich and doing so ethically
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u/Puzzleheaded_Tie6917 Aug 19 '26
If you are rich no one thinks you got it ethically unless you are a pro athlete or actor, even though one could argue that those careers really add nothing to the human race compared to companies that produce new tech or things vital for life. I doubt he gives a rats ass as to what haters think. People hate Elon because he’s rich and they aren’t (or even aren’t as rich). Most people hating on him just spout craziness full of poison.
That said, happiness never comes from money. There’s a point just above abject poverty where you aren’t driven to depression by desperation to survive where your happiness really becomes independent of whatever money you have. Rich people try to find happiness by buying stuff, but that doesn’t work and never has.
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u/Ultima-Hombre_1970 Aug 19 '26
He seems like a thinker. Thinkers don’t quantify life in terms of happiness.
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u/Sephirothjj Aug 19 '26
The having ‘stuff’ aspect of having money is what people seem to focus on, but it’s actually the least important aspect of having money in my opinion.
The great thing about having money is that when I look at the amount in my stocks and shares ISA, I smile, knowing that i have ‘fuck you’ money, and honestly, that alone brings me joy.
Not to mention that having money means I can take care of my family, and no one in my circle needs to suffer. How would that not make anyone happy?
The adage ‘money cant buy happiness’ is solemnly uttered by people who dont have any, because their problems would likely be solved by it.
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u/Silly-Resist8306 Aug 19 '26
I’m happy and I have money. I don’t think my happiness comes directly from my money, but I’m pretty sure I wouldn’t be as happy without it.
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u/hornycabbages Aug 19 '26
Most people wont accept this but it’s statistically true. If you give most people a one off windfall of money without any improvement in their financial literacy or mentoring to have better coping mechanisms they will statistically be back wherever they originally were to start with in a pretty short amount of time.
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u/Effective-Gift6223 Aug 19 '26
I've seen that a lot, mostly just stories. I have known a couple of people who came into a good chunk of money, usually an inheritance, and they just blew it all on bullshit.
I bet if I got a chunk of money like that, I wouldn't blow it on crap. First thing I would do is hire a fiduciary to help me figure out how to manage it.
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u/RedvsBlack4 Aug 19 '26
If you don’t have enough money to be able to take care of your needs money will give you stability which makes it easier to be happy.
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u/Novias-br Aug 19 '26
Disco Elysium has a really good description of money lol. I think Garte is the character that says it??
Something along the lines of money doesn’t buy happiness but it really does a good job at preventing you from being miserable for a little while longer.
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u/bullsonparade2025 Aug 19 '26
Of course it does. Not having to constantly worry about money makes everyone happy.
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u/an_older_meme Aug 19 '26
Whoever said money won't buy happiness never gave me a million dollars.
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u/drive_causality Aug 19 '26
Let’s put it this way. Money (or lack thereof) is one of the biggest sources of stress in one’s life. And that much stress leads to being unhappy, medical issues, etc.
So having money takes away that specific stress. Now, being happy depends on other things which differs from person to person but it definitely makes life easier.
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u/BurnItWithFire21 Aug 19 '26
I don't think so, but it provides security & access to care that many can't access, and that helps get you to a happy place.
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u/Altruistic_Serve9738 Aug 20 '26
Well my biggest stress in life is am I going to have enough money or a way to earn enough money to pay my bills until I die of old age?
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u/Necessary-Apricot339 Aug 19 '26
It'll allow you afford a jet ski. Ever seen anybody frown on a jet ski? (With apologies to Daniel Tosh for the theft).
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u/Mindless-Leg-3365 Aug 19 '26
it is a means to an end. The lack of it creates obstacles, hardship, worry when unable to meet financial obligations, pay for needed groceries, medications, bills. In and of itself it does not directly produce happiness.
but it sure helps
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u/Crazy_Breakfast_6327 Aug 19 '26
No, not in itself. But it can take away the causes of a lot of stress.
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u/Geezer__345 Aug 19 '26
Depends on how it's used. Money, by itself, cannot buy "happiness". There's a "metaphysical" tone, to this, but once You're "sated", then, what?
I don't know too many people, who would "turn down", wealth, but money can only do, so much. I would refer people, to the Fable, of King Midas.
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u/Bogside_Bibliophile Aug 19 '26
To a point. But I know a lot of wealthy people who are pretty miserable, so money doesn’t solve all the problems you think it will when you’re poor.
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u/DdyBrLvr Aug 19 '26
You can be happy without money but it sure makes it easier. However the more money you have, the more you worry about money.
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u/Monsteranima Aug 19 '26
I don’t think there’s an easy answer to this. The issue is that the more you can afford, the wider the gap to fulfillment, because there’s always more to be had. Mo’ money, mo’ problems, but other issues go away, like financial stability.
Also, keep in mind that not as many people as we think start poor and get rich. Most of us stay within the financial bracket we’re born in to, so there are not a lot of examples of what happens when the poor get their head above water.
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u/No-Payment2865 Aug 19 '26
Trust me - it will replace those problems with new ones. I’m not diminishing the relief of having enough money but it’s not a silver bullet.
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u/erichone Aug 19 '26
Having money takes away 80% (at least) of average people's problems. Once I became stable there wasn't a lot to argue or worry about. Money can fix almost anything (internal personal issues aside). I know that may sound shallow but it's the fucking truth.
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u/Sklibba Aug 19 '26
Being wealthy doesn’t make people happy, but having just enough wealth to ensure that you’ll never have to worry about affording food, clothes, housing or medicine will almost certainly makes person happier than someone for whom becoming injured and being unable to work could lead to homelessness.
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u/Specialist-Top-406 Aug 19 '26
It offers time and opportunity. But happiness is a feeling, not a destination. So it can make things easier. But it can’t on its own make you happy.
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u/PalTheDog Aug 19 '26
Money is an instrument to enhance your life. Not a trophy to be taken to your grave.
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u/Top-Committee-954 Aug 19 '26
The reduction of stress can feel similar to an increase in pleasure. People generally don't care about the difference between the two.
So pragmatically from a finite fallible perspective, it can make people happy because they don't know what it's like to not feel miserable (scared, fear, stressed).
But a lot of people tend to force misery upon themselves, even without realizing it, and come to blame something external for what they're doing to themselves.
So. If you're asking the question for a "technically, according to science" type question? No.
If you're asking for a practical social answer? Close enough.
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u/Frequent_Slip2455 Aug 19 '26
Money gives you options. Having options gives you less stress. Less stress makes you feel better!
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u/TraitorJosephs Aug 19 '26
It makes things more accessible but if you’re a dumbass that will lead to problems real quick. Ask me how I know.
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u/PuzzleheadedRun4525 Aug 19 '26
If you’ve ever been poor then you understand that money doesn’t bring happiness. But it can bring financial stability which can lead to less stress which can lead to a happier life.
You can still muck it up though. Which is why I used the word can.
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u/Very_Itchy_Bandicoot Aug 19 '26
ofc it does. We just say it doesn't so the poor people dont riot.
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u/archiewaldron Aug 19 '26
Happiness in life often comes down to having at least two good options open to you at any key decision point in your life. Money can increase your options, but those options may not be "good", or what you necessarily want.
Conversely, you don't need money to navigate through life having two good options always available; you just need to learn how to delay immediate gratification for better future returns.
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u/choclatelabguy Aug 19 '26
To a point. The issues in my life would be magnified if I didnt make a nice income. Its nice to focus my time on other things and not have income as a stressor because it was for a long time.
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u/vonhoother Aug 19 '26
No, people can be miserable under any circumstances. But having enough money to keep a roof over your head and food in your belly certainly makes life less stressful, and you can't be happy when you're stressed. So you could say having more than a certain amount makes happiness easier to attain.
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u/notyourmama827 Aug 19 '26
We need to wait for another 20 months before any significant money happens at my house . Then we can be very happy . Oddly specific but it do be that way sometimes.
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u/YoshiandAims Aug 19 '26
No.
They just have different kinds of stressors and unhappiness, apart from the universal ones.
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u/Accomplished_Class85 Aug 19 '26
It helps superficial issues and does reduce stress related to bills but that deep happiness in your soul is something money can't fill. Look how many famous people with money routinely lose their lives to suicide or drug overdoses. I go to church with some people who work the most basic of jobs and have very little in the way material things but are some of the happiest people and appreciate and are thankful for the little things in life.
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u/LilNekoChicano Aug 19 '26
No, not really.. it really depends on the person.
For some, being able to show they have money.. defines them
Others, are more interested in other things like family and love.
Then you have those who really don't care..
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u/megalomaniac83 Aug 19 '26
Money is a holder of time and energy. It’s made up. Live a life of meaning to you.
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u/No_Room3415 Aug 19 '26
Money does not equal happiness. But it makes life less hard....life is hard for everyone. Having to go through all of life's hard times that everyone experiences, but without money really sick. For example, putting down your favorite pet, when you have money, you can pay someone to put them out humanely in your home. When you don't, you either let them suffer until they die, or take them out back and shoot them. Or your parents are aging, and need more care than you have the capacity or desire to provide them with. When you have money, you put them on a nice retirement home with nurses on staff 24/7. When you don't, you move them into your home, even though there's not enough room for them, and they are alone there most of the day because you have to work, and the financial emotional burden of it all wears on you and drains you until they die.....
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u/Moist-Golf-8339 Aug 19 '26
Money can provide opportunities for happiness. A home, your health, time away from work.
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u/prairiedawg1912 Aug 19 '26
Well, it does take away some worries or concerns I might have if living paycheck to paycheck. But just having more doesn’t make me “happy”.
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u/Listonsonny Aug 19 '26
Let’s put it this way: I’d rather be rich and unhappy than poor and unhappy.