Scientists, scholars and great minds alike have been searching for the connection between money and happiness for years and it’s no secret that the majority of studies conclude that experiences provide more happiness than objects. However, money does in fact correlate to happiness, but not in the way you think it does.
Happiness has an effect on the way money is spent and vise versa. The question of whether or not money can buy happiness is debateable, because it depends on what you chose to do with your money that defines your happiness. Real happiness, life long, unforgettable, identity altering happiness, comes from experiences which last forever. Happiness that comes from objects instead of experience has an expiry date, stemming from adaption of this specific object. Meaning as soon as the initial sparks of curiosity of the unfamiliar and enthusiasm for something “new” has worn off it quickly blends into the rest of our collection and becomes no more important than every other object we own. Which is why we feel the need to continuously buy new things and are always chasing that feeling. This idea that we need to out-do our peers stems from jealousy of the seemingly blissful happiness they felt after buying something new, encouraging us to do the same. It is a never ending cycle to try and buy happiness, but what happens when you spend on short term happiness, instead of long term happiness? It needs to be replenished constantly.
Think about what makes you happy, and whether or not time passed has an effect on those feelings of happiness. That trip you took with your family to New York three years ago, does it still make you happy when you think about it? Graduating from college and having your grandmother attend the ceremony and tell you how proud she is, does that still make you happy when you think about it? Now think about the sneakers you bought a few weeks ago, do they still make you happy? Going to that upscale steakhouse, does that meal still make you happy when you think about it? What are the differences between those four scenarios: the first two were life changing experiences, that forced you to learn and grow emotionally, mentally and physically. The second gave you momentary satisfaction and entertainment.
Each person is the sum total of their personal experiences. The amount of money you have does not determine the amount of happiness you have, but the ways in which you spend your money does. Money can buy you happiness, if you spend it in the right ways. Thinking long-term about the effects of your spending habits will create opportunities for lifelong happiness.
Fast Access Finance offers loans for those struggling over the consequences of bad spending habits. We want to give you the opportunity to plan ahead, to change your spending patterns and to achieve lifelong happiness by thinking long term. A loan should be used to get you out of a tough situation and into a better one. It should not be abused and mismanaged to further your debt. Visit www.fastaccess.ca to find out if our services are right for you.