You’re Not Rich Until You Have Something Money Can’t Buy

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You’re not rich until you have something money can’t buy.

Although people in wealthy countries are happier, economist and researcher Justin Wolfer maintains that “correlation isn’t causation.” Instead of attributing wealth to happiness, he argues that there are several other factors that cause happiness in developed countries.

There have been conflicting views surrounding the money-happiness connection, but studies and surveys suggest that money is neither important nor unimportant. The United States may be the wealthiest country in the whole world but it only ranked 11th highest, according to the survey by the Gallup Organization. Nonetheless, it doesn’t make happiness totally independent from money. Without financial security and access to basic needs, one could hardly find happiness. The most unhappy people live in poor African nations beset by hunger, corruption, crime and violence.

A study in psychology says that happiness acquired from wealth disappears at the certain amount. When a person experiences reaches an annual income increase of $75,000, money becomes ordinary. Rather, individual personality factors and life circumstances play the major parts in determining happiness.

David Geller, author of “Wealth & Happiness” says, “We equate money with security and freedom, which inevitably leaves us feeling insecure and constricted.” In his book, he emphasized that money is simply a tool people can use to find happiness, and should not be placed on top of one’s priority. “The purpose of having wealth is to use it to create the life you desire, enhance the lives of the people you care about and leave a legacy that represents your passions and values.”