Korean Job Discussion Forums

Dev · Joined: 18 Apr 2006

I read an interesting study on this topic. It said that people making up to $75,000 a year were happy and that making more than this amount did not make people happier.

I can kinda see that. With 75K a year, you can do most things the millionaires can do like travel the world and own a good car. Maybe you're not in the 5 star hotels, but you're still alright.

Skipperoo · Joined: 05 Jul 2010

If money isn't buying you happiness then you either don't have enough of it, are spending it in the wrong places or you simply lack imagination.

I think a lot of the naysayers are confusing 'buys happiness' with 'is necessary for happiness'. The first is true, the latter is not.

Steelrails · Joined: 12 Mar 2009 Location: Earth, Solar System

'Happiness' can be found for 6,000 won at the Local Family Mart.

laguna · Joined: 27 Jun 2010

As someone who grew up extremely poor, I can tell you that it does indeed buy you happiness.

When you don't have to worry about medical bills, eating, living in a neighborhood with gang wars, etc. life is pretty dandy.

Of course the returns are diminishing after $60k USD as studies have indicated.

I had the pleasure of living in a car my first year of college, a warm shower and a bed to sleep in would have made me plenty happy.

Mariella713 · Joined: 22 May 2010

I've visited rich countries like Japan and America and poor countries like Mexico and Thailand and have seen a lot more stress and less smiles in richer locales.

Exactly, you have VISITED. You do not know the reality. My parents saved up years just so they could ship me out of the country and move to a better one, to get an education, to earn money and make a better life for myself...all so I wouldn't end up like them. Poor and and unable to afford medical bills when they're sick, school books, food, electricity, etc....money is a god-send.

djsmnc · Joined: 20 Jan 2003 Location: Dave's ESL Cafe

I don't need money, but it sure is nice to have.

Spoken by a former self-made millionaire employer of mine who retired at 35. Couldn't agree more. I consider myself to be intrinsically happy regardless of my financial condition, but having enough money to NEVER worry about whether I can pay for something or not would sure be nice. Hats off to the poster who said "money is freedom" earlier. So true.

Rae · Joined: 10 Oct 2007

I live in Sweden. I've been here for a little over a year now (I moved here immediately after finishing my contract in Korea) and I have to say that this place is filled with seemingly happy people because they're not purely motivated by money.

There's a word called "lagom" that people seem to be instilled with. The meaning isn't exactly conveyed by Wiki - because to them, the perfect amount is just enough, not too much, not too little. So their "lagom" is like our "ample".

Why am I going on about this? It's because people don't expect to live like moviestars here. People live within their means and are happy with it. They like simple things and enjoy a quiet existence. Now some might say that life here is a little boring (understatement), but being overly concerned with money isn't at all part of the equation (unless you're a teenage club-goer, but they're like that everywhere).

Globutron · Joined: 13 Feb 2010 Location: England/Anyang

Louis VI · Joined: 05 Jul 2010 Location: In my Kingdom

bucheon bum · Joined: 16 Jan 2003

bucheon bum · Joined: 16 Jan 2003

Well I googled it myself and yes, I don't know where that website got Nigeria #1 because a variety of sites didn't mention it whatsoever. I guess you're right about the Latin countries though.

From the horse's mouth

Denmark is #1.

Globutron · Joined: 13 Feb 2010 Location: England/Anyang

http://www.amazon.com/Happiness-Jane-Adams-II/dp/B00000IC7G/ref=sr_1_1?s=dvd&ie=UTF8&qid=1279727978&sr=1-1

hagwonnewbie · Joined: 09 Feb 2007 Location: Asia

Everything's relative. If you are getting wealthier, you're probably feeling happier than you were before. If you're rich and your wealth is declining, you may feel less affluent or less happy.

Of course the income divide is growing, so some wealthy people are getting richer and some people are getting poorer.

I also suspect that countries outside of South America for example tie the notion of happiness to wealth, where South Americans are more likely to tie it to health and family.

Does having a lot of money make some people happy? Sure it makes people who want to buy stuff and spend money happy. For people who don't need all that crap, happiness is defined differently.