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No. Because happiness isn't for sale. Many people get tripped up by this one, amassing wealth only to find themselves cycling into a bottomless pit of unsatisfiable yearning. Turns out, joy and misery are not that far apart when it comes to very big wads of cash. Consider the case of a Kentucky couple who won $34 million in 2000.Thrilled to be released from the demands of their boring old jobs, they frittered their fortune away on fancy cars, mansions, all the usual stuff -- losing everything that mattered in the process. They divorced, he died of an alcohol-related illness, and she died alone in her new house just five years after cashing the winning ticket. When it comes to happiness, only people you love, and who love you, can bring it. If you have enough dough to buy yourself a luxurious yacht, but no real friends to sail with,
If I die, I forgive you, if I recover, we shall see
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skyrings wrote:No. Because happiness isn't for sale. Many people get tripped up by this one, amassing wealth only to find themselves cycling into a bottomless pit of unsatisfiable yearning. Turns out, joy and misery are not that far apart when it comes to very big wads of cash. Consider the case of a Kentucky couple who won $34 million in 2000.Thrilled to be released from the demands of their boring old jobs, they frittered their fortune away on fancy cars, mansions, all the usual stuff -- losing everything that mattered in the process. They divorced, he died of an alcohol-related illness, and she died alone in her new house just five years after cashing the winning ticket. When it comes to happiness, only people you love, and who love you, can bring it. If you have enough dough to buy yourself a luxurious yacht, but no real friends to sail with,
The way to happiness lies in minimising wants and, so, minimising need for money.
man's work is from Sun to Sun; woman's work is never done! - INDIRA GANDHI : Erstwhile Prime Minister of INDIA.
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There is no way to happiness. Happiness is the way...
If I die, I forgive you, if I recover, we shall see
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skyrings:
The number of jackpot winners in lotteries and the windfall earners in gambling (businesses included) are so many in the USA that the sad anecdote presented by you pales in front of the success stories.
The woes of the Kentucky couple is equally prevalent with people who have never been bestowed with any windfall.
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Depends on your definition of happiness. One aspect of happiness for me, is enough money to not have to worry about money. Money can buy a degree of freedom - which is another aspect of happiness for me. One should not view money as the answer to everything. The story you tell of the couple winning the lottery just says they were not very mature or wise.
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Isaac: I think the most important message from this lecture is that leading your life the right way is never just about you, it's about you and the people around you.. If you can't control it, it will burn everything around you and destroy you..
If I die, I forgive you, if I recover, we shall see
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I hear stories, like that of the Kentucky couple all the time. I have also heard claims that the majority of lottery winners go bankrupt (not just lose their winnings). I have, however, been unsuccessful in locating hard statistics or even any significant number of anecdotal accounts which provide dates, amounts, and names.
I am left wondering whether one should place any credence in this at all.
As far as happiness, I agree that things are not the route of happiness, but neither is want.
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Happiness depends on one's attitude. And let's face it: food, shelter, and clothing do require money. And sometimes you want to entertain family and/or friends. And buy Christmas gifts for your kids and grand-kids, etc.
"Be the change you wish to see in the world." (M. K. Gandhi)
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People can get used to anything, including wealth. So the joys of being rich tend to fade over time.
If I die, I forgive you, if I recover, we shall see
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Seems like most people would agree that money doesn't buy happiness. But paradoxically, it also seems like all those same people would be a little happier with a little more money.
How does that even work?
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Having money is no gaurantee it will bring you happiness. Not having enough money can cause stress, but you can still be happy. I have experienced times in my life when I had more money than I needed and times when every cent I had counted. My happiness was consistent throughout both times.
So, I guess the answer is no. Happiness cannot be purchased. It comes from something else.
"Always wash your hands and say your prayers for germs and Jesus are everywhere." -Naomi Judd
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NO... but it sure could help take away a lot of my stress...and if I had some, I'd be able to take my vacation....and that would make me happy...so maybe yes??? lol
He who sings scares away his woes. ~Cervantes
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Money doesn't take you to happiness, but it sure leaves you some blocks closer!
Every heart sings a song, incomplete, until another heart whispers back. Those who wish to sing always find a song. At the touch of a lover, everyone becomes a poet. - Plato
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Bugs Bunny to Leo the Lion after taunting the caged beast:
"Iron bars do not a prison make....BUT THEY SURE HELP, EH DOC!!"
Sums up my take on money buying happiness. It sure helps!!!
"Be without fear in the face of your enemies. Be brave and upright that God may love thee. Speak the truth always, even if it leads to your death. Safeguard the helpless, and do no wrong". (Knight's Oath, Kingdom of Heaven)
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John Rockafeller went mad with money. The more he tried to get rid of it the more he attained. He was very sad from so many people begging for money. He received many letters per day of a sad misfortunate child, or family that desperatly needed money to save their lives. He was always afraid that someone would kidnap his kids, so he kept them home as much as possible (even home schooled I believe). He was one of the world's richest men at one time and was one of the saddest as well. So I would say having a comfortable amount of money (bills paid, food to eat, paid for shelter, a vehicle to get around, type) and a little extra for leisure is happiness. Too much and it's not good, too little and it could be worse.
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 HAPPINESS IS AS HAPPINESS DOES............. Happiness has no price tag on it! Happiness is a God given right! Money can be the root of all EVIL! (HIGH-mindedness, lack of caring for others, not having any sensitivity for others needs or situations.(THIS LIST CAN GO ON AND ON) The almighty dollar can lead to a life OF REGRET,SORROW, PAIN, LONELINESS (we all know what $$$$ can do) IF, it is not used or handled well or (correctly).  WE MUST LEARN HOW TO USE $$$$$$$$$$$ IN A PRODUCTFUL AND USEFUL MANNER WITH THE CARING AND GIVING TO and FOR THE NEEDS OF OTHERS THAT ARE LESS FORTUNATE THAN WE ARE!(these are only my belief's that I mutter here with written words) GOD MULTIPLIES WITH A HEART OF GIVING! WE MUST PUT ALL THINGS IN THEIR PROPER PERSPECTIVE! $$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$ IS ONE THING THAT WE SHOULD PUT LESS ENERGY ON!
"Yvonne, Be true to thine Own-self" Respectfully,Yvonne Rickman,Phd
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 AND THAT MY BROTHER IS A GAMBLE!  AnthA1G wrote:Money doesn't take you to happiness, but it sure leaves you some blocks closer!
"Yvonne, Be true to thine Own-self" Respectfully,Yvonne Rickman,Phd
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Agreed, money has nothing to do with happiness. Happiness is something within.
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Seeker wrote:Depends on your definition of happiness. One aspect of happiness for me, is enough money to not have to worry about money. Money can buy a degree of freedom - which is another aspect of happiness for me. One should not view money as the answer to everything. The story you tell of the couple winning the lottery just says they were not very mature or wise. Spot on Seeker.
It is no measure of health to be well adjusted to a profoundly sick society. Jiddu Krishnamurti
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Money may not bring you happiness but without money there is no happiness.
Ask any mother who lost her child because she could not afford medical expenditure or any prostitute the reason for her miserable living.
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Of course, all will not come to same platform. But I feel, money can not buy happiness. It can, although, buy means of plaeasure.
I feel happy when I see a baby smiling. :) I dont think any amount of money can buy that smile (and my associated happiness). I feel happy when I see my family sleeping in peace. I feel happy when my wife hugs me when I mischievously tickle her.
...
The list can grow. I can never calculate whether money can buy that happiness.
Lack of money can cause stress. As TL said. But you still can be happy.
We are responsible for what we are, and whatever we wish ourselves to be, we have the power to make ourselves. ~ Swami Vivekanand
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problem is... that if you don't have some sort of money in this world...you have no home..no have no food..and that baby of yours won't be smiling... he'll be crying because he's hungry...which in turn will stress you both out so that your wife won't be smiling of happy.... more upset and scared... yes... there are basic things that money can't buy... but without it... they don't come easy... just look at any homeless family or the starving children...
He who sings scares away his woes. ~Cervantes
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I'm a scientist so I judge on real experiments. So please give me some money and I'll let you know the results.
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Money doesn't buy happiness directly, no. money can ease a lot of the discomfort of life. Money doesn't necessarily lead to more satisfaction. It is an oft repeated axiom that money cannot buy happiness. While this is certainly true, POVERTY will not buy happiness either.
If I die, I forgive you, if I recover, we shall see
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skyrings wrote:People can get used to anything, including wealth. So the joys of being rich tend to fade over time. How very true. It appears that each brain has an innate "set point" for happiness and that transitory episodes of more money or love or whatever will have an effect for a limited time before the neurochemicals re-balance and you're left in the state you started in.
}- Mark -{ ASPARAGUS Asparagus in a lean in a lean to hot. This makes it art and it is wet wet weather wet weather wet. —Gertrude Stein, Tender Buttons
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Money cannot buy real happiness. Yes, I do agree that having more money brings some temporary happiness, but then you only start thinking that you can spend more. As you spend more you get used to a higher standard of living, but will most likely eventually run out of the extra money and end up no better than where you started (perhaps worse if you try to keep up the richer standard of living).
"What if you have a permanent supply of extra money?" I hear you ask. Well, how many happy millionares do you know? I would bet anything that they would tell you that they constantly worry about their share prices - 'If they bomb out I will be left with nothing!' It also seems that those who already have much are still focused on getting more. Why? Because humans are inherently greedy (When we are young we always want the best for ourselves, and we certainly don't like sharing. It is only as we grow older and begin to mature that we learn to let others have a share.).
Money can never be the key to real happiness. Wealth cannot get you real love, contentment, peace, and security. But above all, it cannot get you purpose in life. What we want above all is purpose. Purpose, therefore, is what will bring true happiness. And I don't know about you, but earning money is certainly not my idea of purpose in life.
A candle loses nothing if it is used to light another candle.
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Is this topic intentionally placed in Business and Finance?
In this world there is no literate population that is poor and no illiterate population that is other than poor. - J.K.Galbraith
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Money is not everything; but in this world money can buy almost everything.
Augustine Rodriguez
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Money it's a gas - Pink Floyd
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Money doesn't buy happiness but you cannot be happy without a certain amount of money. Ask the really poor.
Gotcha, bud, again
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All you really need is one dollar more than you can spend. N'est pas?
"Always wash your hands and say your prayers for germs and Jesus are everywhere." -Naomi Judd
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In my opinion, money CAN buy happiness. And in my case, whenever I've had spare money, it did.
This is not a novel to be tossed aside lightly. It should be thrown with great force. --Dorothy Parker
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It depends on the person.
An ascetic would find money to be a barrier to purification.
A shallow person who lives by the idea that "he who dies with the most toys wins" might find it to be the key to nirvana.
Most people know it is no guarantee, but, they'd take the cash anyway.
"Be without fear in the face of your enemies. Be brave and upright that God may love thee. Speak the truth always, even if it leads to your death. Safeguard the helpless, and do no wrong". (Knight's Oath, Kingdom of Heaven)
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Ouch! So I'm shallow for enjoying money? Oh, well, so be it. I do.
This is not a novel to be tossed aside lightly. It should be thrown with great force. --Dorothy Parker
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HWNN1961 wrote:It depends on the person.
An ascetic would find money to be a barrier to purification.
A shallow person who lives by the idea that "he who dies with the most toys wins" might find it to be the key to nirvana.
Most people know it is no guarantee, but, they'd take the cash anyway. Excellent point. It's an individual thing. Just because one is VERY poor does not mean he/she doesn't have 'happiness' that exceeds that of some who live in penthouses.
"The nearest thing to eternal life we will ever see on this earth is a government program." - Ronald Reagan
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