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Money can buy you happiness, says study suggesting more is more (www.theguardian.com)
submitted 4 months ago by jeffw@lemmy.world to c/health@lemmy.world
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[-] henfredemars@infosec.pub 43 points 4 months ago* (last edited 4 months ago)

Data shows happiness gap between wealthy and middle-income people wider than between middle- and low-income ones.

I’ve always thought the most important delineator was to have enough money that you don’t need to worry about money. I’m sure that line is somewhere between the middle income group and the wealthy. Those middle income people are definitely still worried about expenses.

[-] isles@lemmy.world 12 points 4 months ago

A friend and I were talking and they mentioned different levels of "worry about money". First level is that you don't really worry about grocery costs. Second is you don't worry about the price of a meal out. Third is you don't worry about the cost of vacation. Fourth is you don't worry about the cost of luxury.

[-] captainlezbian@lemmy.world 4 points 4 months ago

Yeah I’m middle income. I don’t have to worry about eating out if I keep it remotely under control. But I have to worry about retiring and other serious finances

[-] jeffw@lemmy.world 4 points 4 months ago

I think that’s sort of what the article references at the end. Who knows which is true?

[-] Stern@lemmy.world 36 points 4 months ago

People who don't have to worry about money, one of the biggest stressors in the average persons life, are happier?

😲

[-] HubertManne@moist.catsweat.com 18 points 4 months ago

money can't buy you happiness but it can prevent and alleviate a whole lot of suffering.

[-] Comment105@lemm.ee 5 points 4 months ago

Money can buy you happiness. Full stop.

[-] HubertManne@moist.catsweat.com 1 points 4 months ago

it really can't but personally I will take no suffering over an equal amount of suffering and joy.

[-] Comment105@lemm.ee 0 points 4 months ago

Do you know what thread you're commenting on?

Food can fill your belly. Drink can quench your thirst. Money can buy you happiness. All of these are true.

You are simply indoctrinated by the propaganda of the rich.

[-] HubertManne@moist.catsweat.com 1 points 4 months ago

I mean in the sense that I have a conflicting view and any comments should be in agreement with the post??? I don't really get where you are going with the first question but yes I am aware im commenting on how money can't buy happiness but does avoid a lot of suffering for an article about it buying happiness. The point to me is you can't even begin to be happy till you are not suffering. Not being hungry or thirsty is not happiness its just not suffering. If you are not suffering you can then do things that bring happiness or do them in a state where the happiness can come out. Taking walks makes me happy but not if I am not getting adequate food and drink because that is a suffering that is occupying my mind.

[-] Comment105@lemm.ee 1 points 4 months ago

You can buy entertainment, tools, toys, space, organize your shit in a place you own with heavy furniture because you're not renting and won't have to deal with moving it later, in addition to fancy cars, vacations, all the typical shit.

It's not just not starving. It's actively improving every aspect of your life.

You're completely missing the point, you're deciding to overrule the wording simply because you cannot personally accept that money can directly buy things that just make your life happier. You've been to effectively indoctrinated to think in that direction. You cannot allow yourself to include the word happiness in the list of things money can buy.

[-] HubertManne@moist.catsweat.com 1 points 4 months ago

these things again don't make you happy. They just make it easier. In some cases you will lose the opportunity for happiness like organizing your own shit or if it good shape moving the heavy furniture. I think we have a difference of opinion on happiness vs suffering vs something like indulgence. If you have enough money to prevent suffering like being hungry, thirsty, lacking shelter, worry for the future. More won't bring you happiness. Anything you do with it at that point is likely indulgence. You might utilize it in activities which truly bring you happiness. Like using it to relieve the suffering of others. Or like a friend of mine was really into boating so for him for that particular thing it would help him achieve happiness but it would not do that for me. Its no guarantee of it though. I know im arguing a point which I think is just a philosophical difference on what we each consider happiness but I do get your point. As I said before I would rather avoid suffering than trade off happy and sad type of thing myself. So in some ways not suffering makes me happy. I like just being content.

[-] Comment105@lemm.ee 1 points 4 months ago

You know, at this point I don't even care to know more about your opinion.

You've not shifted mine in the least.

[-] CMDR_Horn@lemmy.world 15 points 4 months ago

Who knew!?

[-] cabbage@piefed.social 13 points 4 months ago

If you can't buy happiness you can certainly buy your way out of a lot of unhappiness.

[-] federino@programming.dev 9 points 4 months ago

Instead of more is more I think that enough is enough.

I make a good income, I could work harder to change jobs and make even more money, but there's no point to it anymore, I'm now focused on my friends and activities that make me happy.

[-] reversedposterior@lemmy.world 8 points 4 months ago

I work in this area of research. The issue is the headline findings from all of these studies will get reported and people will comment on how it's obvious or offer their own explanation. The truth is that it's a very technical / stats heavy field with a lot of the results depending on the assumptions you make and how you treat the data. The results then have to be qualified with 'there is a positive relationship, given x y and z'. But of course that's usually too complicated to report so all of those details get omitted, and all we are left with is a simple statement followed by hot takes from the general public.

[-] federino@programming.dev 3 points 4 months ago

Do you recommend any sources so that we can dive deeper in this topic?

[-] reversedposterior@lemmy.world 2 points 4 months ago* (last edited 4 months ago)

It's tricky to know where to start but I'd recommend searching for papers by Andrew Clark on Google Scholar. Then you can read other referenced studies if interested etc.

What you are looking for here are studies looking at the relationship between income and subjective well-being (sometimes shortened to SWB). This is the general term for self reported measures of well-being, though of course this can be broken down further into more detailed factors such as affective (how are you right now) and cognitive (how satisfied you are with your life overall).

[-] Cryophilia@lemmy.world 5 points 4 months ago

Okay this is a pet peeve of mine.

All you fucking "money can't buy you happiness, but..." people need to FUCKING STOP. STOP WITH THAT SHIT. YES MONEY BUYS HAPPINESS. FULL STOP. NO "BUT"S. IT DOES. THAT'S IT. THAT IS ALL.

[-] Hikermick@lemmy.world 3 points 4 months ago

I thought for sure this was an article from The Onion

[-] ShaggySnacks@lemmy.myserv.one 3 points 3 months ago

My conspiracy theory is that the saying "Money can't buy happiness" was created by the rich to make being poor seem like a good thing.

[-] BeardedGingerWonder@feddit.uk 0 points 4 months ago

News just in, bear does in fact shit in woods.

this post was submitted on 19 Jul 2024
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