Can Money Buy You Happiness?

Newsflash. The critics are divided. The adage is under debate, attack, scrutiny. Money as a harbinger of happiness has been debated for generations, and its not about to go away anytime soon. One thing is for sure. Money may or may not bring happiness, but the lack of it can sure bring a good dose of melancholy.

Recent surveys in America discovered that money does indeed account for a share of happiness- one percent of it to be exact. If you’re very poor or very sick, then an increase in money has a greater impact to your happiness and I don’t need to research half of Michigan to work out why that is.

Then again, if you get sudden windfalls of money, psychologically, things get pretty hunky dory. A study in England found windfalls had an effect on happiness, the larger the windfall the better (seriously, people research these things? I could have saved them the time). However, they had nowhere near as much of an impact as a good relationship and good health.

Another happiness factor is size comparisons. Actual income tends to have little effect on happiness as long as you feel you earn more than the people around you. It’s nice to think we never really get beyond that schoolyard attitude towards our peers.

Can Money Buy You Happiness?

While money is important, here’s a couple of things that’ll make you happy for free:

Will exercise bring you happiness?

Exercise. Exercise? Free? You have to be joking. There’s the outfits, the joggers, the new sports drinks, the fashionable dog as accessory, the equipment, the classes, the counseling session because everyone gapes at your red face. But all jokes aside, ignore the propaganda and getting out there and going for a walk or a jog will release endorphins and make you happy as a lark. Team sports are a great way to meet people, and get the heartbeat racing (in an exercise way, not a romantic way!) all at the same time. Though in many ways it is the evil twin of exercise, chocolate has endorphins too, for a cheap buzz.

A bit of Vitamin D never hurts

Getting some sun: Vitamin D is crucial to getting the smile on the dial, and everybody needs to get out there and get some rays. Not much is needed, but give it a whirl and you’ll find yourself feeling better after five minutes. Coming into the Australian summer, it’s a good time to start appreciating the gifts the sun has to give.

Snuggle up

Find the ones you love and snuggle up close Being healthy and having good relationships will make you happier than anything else the world has to offer. All the $$$ in the world can’t buy you that.

A visit to the old school: Mixtapes!

Mix Tapes: Music has a noticeable effect on our mood. Work out what songs make you feel cheerful, and put them on a CD to play when you’re feeling a bit lethargic in the morning or are washing up at night

Is it in your genes?

Research also shows that at least half of your happiness is due to your genes. Why didn’t someone tell me that earlier? I could have just chilled out about being bubbly all the time and done what I usually do when I encounter a problem; blamed my parents.

What makes you happy?

Do you have certain activities that keep you perky?

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