MONEY CAN'T BUY HAPPINESS

Introduction

Money refers to a medium of exchange that can be used to purchase different items. Money helps us in acquiring things that we deserve in life including the basic necessities. It is everyone’s dream to be happy in life. People have different views about what money can actual acquire and what it cannot. Money brings some level of happiness which is not entirely brought by money. Money increases the quality of life that every human aims at (Fresco, Fresco & Meadows, 2002). However, it is important to live within the means that the individual can be able to provide for with the increase in modest lift style of leaving. Therefore I believe that money can buy a lot of things but happiness is not amongst them because it is priceless.

Argument 1

Time is precious. Despite the fact that money can be able to all the good an individual want the constraint of time is with everyone. Time is priceless. Time well used can result in happiness despite not having enough money. This is because making time is the important aspect of generating happiness with friends and family (Fresco, Fresco & Meadows, 2002). From what I have observed the extremely busy people who do not have time for themselves, family and friend end up being lonelier. People who have a lot of money are most busy chasing more money forgetting that they need some break from their busy schedule in order to meet with other members that result in satisfaction thus generating happiness. People are happier when they meet in person which they consider important rather than having the money and creating a vacuum as the only means of communicating with the person is through mobile phones and other means. Money does not offer a shortcut to happiness as it is not a counterproductive means of generating happiness (Fresco, Fresco & Meadows, 2002).

Arguably money saves a lot of time. It is able to buy the autonomy that molds one’s image of an ideal life. This can be equated in short time used in travelling as the rich people uses the quickest and safest means of transport  compared to the other people who may take longer to travel the same distance. It nourishes happiness as it helps the person achieve their values which happiness can be considered to be made of. Just like many things, money can be as well as be put into poor use yet it can be put in great uses that include experiencing the great joy in living (Strobel, 2012). As a fact, people do embrace money unapologetically in order to obtain significant control over their lives so that they can recognize their ends and achieve their dreams.

Argument 2

Money does not relieve pain. Whether an individual is rich or poor money cannot be used to eliminate the pain. When individuals are sick the pain they experience can only be eliminated through treatment procedures. Poor people in a community are happier as they live like one family. They care for one another and offer support amongst themselves and share the joy that arises to celebrations (Fresco, Fresco & Meadows, 2002). From an observation a region of the not so wealthy are seen to join in dances in wedding functions and children play together as they share their toys compared to the rich one who is always secluded thus missing the happiness of living as a community and sharing what they have. This proves that it is not a most to have money as happiness is an inside job that cannot be purchased (Fresco, Fresco & Meadows, 2002).

However, it is argued that money can buy happiness as it can relieve poverty and pain. It is argued that in the case of sickness and an individual has money they will seek the best medical facility that offers quality health care in order to be better again and soon. The type of treatment offered is considered to be friendly and the family of the patient has fewer worries about the medical payment considered to the other poor family which may force them to seek help resulting to stressful moments that are less happy (Strobel, 2012). Poverty is not the type of life an individual would be happy about. For example, an average person need is just to be able to eat enough amount of food and live in a comfortable house. However, it is considered much easier to be able to pay for fine dining than trying to barter. Generosity by the rich to relieve misery to the poor allows them to be happy again as they were sad (Strobel, 2012).

Argument 3

As happiness is priceless so is value. True happiness cannot be purchased results to great value for item and respect for people. Money makes everything materialistic thus eroding the moral values in people. This is because money suggests a degree of self-centered behavior as well as in differencing the poor. It results in attitude and arrogance as the individuals with money feel that they can attach a price on everything they come across (Fresco, Fresco & Meadows, 2002). This can be proven by observations from the social platform as most of them upload pictures of themselves in exclusive places indicating that they are happy and in reality that is not the case. An average person shows respect to all people of which they don’t have to look miserably. They are happy with what they can afford as it reflects their true picture of life without necessarily hiding behind what they can afford. They are grateful for what they have made them happy (Fresco, Fresco & Meadows, 2002).

Money is power. The average people are seen to be humble and happy with what they have because they do not have power. They are intimidated by what the rich can do as they can acquire what they average person dreams of. It is argued that money is as a result of being successful in life which translates into happiness. This is because money gives people hope in life (Strobel, 2012).

Argument 4

Economists use utility to measure happiness that individuals get from consuming various good and services. In support that money cannot buy happiness they economists argue that utility increases with income as it allows one to consume goods and services they may want there is an optimal point where despite high levels of income no more happiness can be realized (Fresco, Fresco & Meadows, 2002). This is because as the income increases the consumer's taste and preference changes diminishing happiness. Moreover, happiness amongst employees can be generated through other means rather than the huge salary as a reward because employees will more than the money reducing their happiness that results to inefficiency and low productivity (Fresco, Fresco & Meadows, 2002).

Conclusion

Money might be used to make a person happy at a point in their life, but it cannot buy happiness. Money motivates but it has no power to buy happiness. An increase in income does not translate to an increase in happiness despite that fact that people race to make more money. Happiness relates to an emotion as it is something felt rather than bought. Therefore happiness is priceless, thus, I agree that money cannot buy happiness.

 

Reference

Fresco, J., Fresco, J., & Meadows, R. (2002). The best that money can't buy: Beyond politics, poverty, & war. Venus, Fla: Global Cyber-Visions.

Strobel, T. (2012). You can buy happiness (and it's cheap): How one woman radically simplified her life and how you can too. Novato, Calif: New World Library.