Can money buy happiness

Kherz’den Humphrey
Editor-In-Chief

Can money buy happiness? A timeless question that never seems to have one solid answer. Depending on who you ask, they may say yes, no or even sometimes. In order to know what the real answer is, another question that needs to be asked is, what makes people happy?

Another question that doesn’t have just one answer. Everyone has their own thing that stimulates happiness for them, and it’s typically small everyday things that spark joy. Happiness is different for everyone, and it can come from nearly anything. 

Dr. Sarah Gervais, a psychologist, believes “money is important to happiness”. However, she also believes “doing makes us happier than having”. In terms of short and long term happiness, doing something and having that experience will last a lot longer than buying something like the newest phone or new clothing. 

While money may not be able to physically buy happiness, it can buy things that make people happy, at least for a little while. It can also be used to buy an experience, but it’s up to the person to make that experience a positive one that will result in happiness. 

Money can’t make memories or cause positive experiences, but it can be the funding to those experiences. Which circles back around to what stimulates happiness in different people. For some, buying something like a new phone or buying a new couch may bring happiness, but how long does it last?

Say that you buy the latest iPhone, you love it and are excited about all the new updates and camera quality. It makes you happy. Then a couple months down the road, you see a commercial for an even newer version. How happy are you with that phone now?

Now think about if you bought a plane ticket to somewhere you’ve always dreamed of going, for instance a tropical island. You go and have an amazing experience, making tons of memories that will stick with you for as long as you can remember them. How happy are you with those memories?

The difference between these instances is that while using money to buy something to have can make you happy, it’s generally only going to be a short term happiness. However, using money to buy something that you can do or experience can give you memories and happiness that can last in the long term.

Let’s circle back to another answer to the question, no. Money can’t buy happiness because happiness is a psychological construct. It is a balance of positive emotions and life contentment. Which many believe only comes from things that money can’t buy. 

Money can’t buy spending time with your family, and it can’t give you the happiness of coming home and smelling your favorite cookies being baked. Being with friends, or family, or even just having alone time can be the source for many people. Which are things that money can’t buy.

There are just some sources of happiness that money can’t buy. Something major that money can’t buy is love. You can’t use money to buy love because it is a feeling, much like happiness. However, love truly is one of the top sources of happiness.

Happiness by definition is the state of well-being and contentment. Money can buy the house you live in, pay for your groceries, pay for your clothing and healthcare. All of these compile into your well-being. It can also pay for vacations where you make memories with your family, for years to come. 

You might not be able to buy happiness in itself, but you can buy things that make you happy. Whether the happiness is short term or long term, in the end money can be the root to almost all sources of happiness.