Job Discussion Forums

[leeroy]

"Money doesn't bring you happiness" - it must be one of the most over-used cliches out there.

The thing is, though, is that for the most part it's true.

While a lack of money will almost inevitably lead to unhappiness, the correlation does not follow all the way to "the richer you are the happier you are".

While The West is often blamed (and blames itself) with being overly materialistic I would be tempted to say that it is not as bad as is thought. "Fight club" and films like it all espouse a similar message - "you are not the clothes that you wear", in a way I think most of us realise this. Your identity is comprised of more than the material goods that you own.

Somewhere along the line you reach a point where you have "enough" - you have sufficient funds to be able to meet your basic needs. After this, no matter how much more you amass in the bank, there will be no instantaneous improvement in "happiness", if such a thing can be quantified.

Have you reached that point? If you earned more (but every other aspect of your life remained the same) would you be happier?

[Mark-O]

[dmb]

I would definitely be happier when I buy my second home in some tropical paradise. Still need to get the first house though.

[Mark-O]

Money is definitely integral to my happiness at this point in my life. With it I could pay off the debts I owe and then move into the career I want to pursue (TEFL). That would make me happy ... at least temporarily!

I'd say �15k would do it! Happiness for �15k - bargain!

I believe that money could buy happiness for many, many people. Ultimately it might not be the single factor in making you as happy as you could possibly ever be, but it would enhance the lives of most people, and in doing so, accompanies happiness.

[johnslat]

Dear leeroy,
The possible flaw that I see in your reasoning is that, for many people, there's no such thing as "enough money". And that doesn't have to apply only to materialistic, greedy people; even those who don't care all that much about wealth often look to the future with trepidation, wondering if what they have will be "enough" to see them through. After all, what might seem like "enough" today, could well turn out to be "not enough" tomorrow - or next year.
Regards,
John

[foster]

"You can never be too rich or too thin"

Well, I am certainly NOT too thin...but for the first time since I started teaching, I am comfortable with my financial situation. I have *enough* money now...I can invest, travel, save and pay my bills, all without worrying that the wolf will knock at the door and demand money (nice feeling!!)

I don't believe that money can buy happiness...admittedly, knowing that I am financially free is a burden lifted and therefore one less worry, making me a happier person. But if I was all paid up and making less money, I would still be as happy.

"Money is the root of all evil"
"A fool and his money are soon parted"

So many over-wrought cliches to choose from!!

[sidjameson]

Well I feel that money doesn't bring happiness but the lack of it certainly brings pain.
I have always been considered a fairly happy kind of guy. Unemployed or a student for most of my twenties it never really bothered me. In fact I would say that I loved the lifestyle. The money was terrible but the hours were great. That was until I came back from a couple of years in Indonesia. I was nearly 29, unemployable and penniless. To say I sank like a brick is probably a bit unfair to bricks. I ended up clinically depressed. I had never known anything like it. It wasn't so much that I was poor. I had always been poor. I don't care for material wealth as such or status, but the truth was others around me were getting on and I WAS NOT. The future looked bleak. Awful time. Lucky to get out.
Came to Japan and my depression went away the second I got off the plane. Started earning and saving some real money and have never looked back. 5 years later and I had saved a fantastic amount, $200,000. I bought a house back in the UK, but the thing is this. Sure I feel very proud with what I did. I did work my ass off after all, but I would say that my general well being is about the same as in my early twenties. The money has taken away the worry and for that I feel great but it isn't bringing me any extra happiness.
I now realize that any future wealth wont increase my happiness but I guess it will bring some of life's luxury. I again, as I did before my depression, find joy in the simple things. Reading, walking, chatting, music, dare I say it, thinking. I have always known that these, for me, were the real sources of happiness. My experience just confirmed it.
Of course in order to enjoy these things one must get past the fear of living in poverty. But I really do feel lucky that I do know what "enough" is for me.
Well must go, time is money after all.

[johnslat]

Dear foster,
A small correction, if I may:

" 'The love of money is the root of all evil'. Often misquoted as 'money is the root of all evil'. Timothy 6:10. 'For the love of money is the root of all evil: which while some coveted after, they have erred from the faith, and pierced themselves through with many sorrows.' "

And the ironic thing about seeking "security" for the future is that no such animal exits. Security is a chimera. Another quote:

"Call no man (or woman) happy until he/she is dead."
Solon
Regards,
John
P.S. Content is good enough for me on a day-to-dy basis. Those peaks of happiness wouldn't be so enjoyable if they weren't relatively rare.

[scot47]

I think the quote from Scripture is "The love of money is the root of all evil".

Problem is with the question, "How much is enough ?" We all have to answer that as best we can, but striving after money as an end in itself is a barren and fruitless exercise.

And remember that money has an expiry date.

[denise]

I don't crave money, although I am guided almost exclusively by the pursuit of it right now. I will be happy when a) my debts are paid off, b) I have enough saved up to be able to live where I want to live and not where the money's good (i.e., I'd like to be able to choose a teaching job based on something other than salary), and c) I have enough savings to be able to live for a few months between jobs.

d

[dmb]

Sid, you saved $40,000 a year. How many hours a day did you work?

[sidjameson]

At the height I was teaching 35 hours a week. But all around town so there was 25 hours of travel. But a lot of the time it was about 28 to 30. teaching.

[Wolf]

[scot47]

US$200,000 in 5 years ? In EFL ?

Hmm, let me check to see if one of my legas hasbells attached.

[foster]

>>To Wolf...No offence meant I am sure you are the nice wolf..and if you ever cross into HK, I will gladly buy you a beer/coffee!

>>To johnslat - Thanks for the correction. I knew it was not a complete quote, but was too slack to google it!