Comments on: The Be Happy poll …

By: David

David — Thu, 15 Oct 2009 16:18:27 +0000

Wealth doesn’t equate to happiness. Happiness is a state of mind and it is something that you consciously and subconsciously choose. Like the folks before me stated, some of the poorest people on the planet are the happiest and some of the richest/wealthiest are the most miserable. To each, their own. Me personally – wealth will give me the freedom of choice and having my own choice is what makes me most happy. When I have my choice, (to work, to sit on my a$$, to sleep 12 hours) I only have myself to blame if I am not happy.

By: Steve

Steve — Thu, 15 Oct 2009 03:09:33 +0000

Wealth does not create happiness. In fact, I spent time in The Philippines(where these people are some of the poorest people) and I would have to say that ,for the most part, they are the happiest people I Know.

I personally don’t have Great Wealth, and feel the only thing Great Wealth would bring my way is the ability to help those in more need than myself.

By: Adrian

Adrian — Thu, 15 Oct 2009 02:04:24 +0000

@ TraineeInvestor – Thanks. Woody Allen quotes are ALWAYS welcome here

@ Evan – Every day is a holiday – or vacation – for me … or, so everybody would like to think, and I see no reason for discouraging them from thinking so

By: Evan

Evan — Wed, 14 Oct 2009 14:18:17 +0000

For me, it is the fact that money provides the freedom (I think/assume lol), and that freedom is what would provide me with happiness.

I am not exactly sure what “freedom” means but I think it would be both in terms of tangible and intangibles. Freedom to vacation where I want (or holiday as I think AJC would call it), Freedom to miss days at work to be with my future children, etc.

By: traineeinvestor

traineeinvestor — Wed, 14 Oct 2009 09:14:55 +0000

“Wealth is better than poverty, if only for financial reasons.” Woody Allen

I have been/am happy both when I had very little and now when I am comparitively well off.

Wealth does not guarantee anything (other than a bigger tax bill). Even wealthy people have issues. In particular if their expectations are too high or they compare themselves with people who are either wealthier than they are (or any other metric) they may have issues.

That said, the benefits of being wealthy can contribute to happiness. The knowledge that I can stop wearing a suit in a few years, that I will always be able to provide medical care to my family if they need it (among other things) all contribute to my emotional well being.