Money Can't Buy Us Happiness

I am sure all of you have heard the quote, “money can’t buy happiness”.  Marc Schulz, a professor of psychology, mentions,” Money can’t buy us happiness, but it’s a tool that can give us security and safety and a sense of control over lives”. this means that while the absence of money, poverty, makes us miserable, once our basic needs are met, additional money does not translate to more happiness.

I am sure that many of us here are thinking,” why don’t you put me in that study, shower me with lots of money and I’ll let you know how I feel then, because that’s exactly how I felt when I heard it.

Once i was someone that viewed money as a vital source of happiness. I recall a time when my parents divorced and my mom became our solo breadwinner. We shifted house often because my mom struggled to make ends meet. Whatever we had were shared, one bed for the 4 of us, a cupboard divided equally, sharing ez-link cards for transport even. However, every dog has its’ day, Whenever it was my mom’s payday, we would get all excited because she would treat us all. ON this auspicious day, for a brief moment, all our worries faded awayI could say,it was one for all, all for one!! A family through thick and thin it was.

Fast forward my mom remarried and I had more siblings. Financial struggles became a thing of the past.We no longer struggled financially for my dad could afford to provide for us all. My mom no longer works. School was 10 minutes down the road. We had a house, no more shifting! You may now wonder,” Life should have been perfect, right?”

Well, our house was not a home. Arguments became routine between mom and I. I frequently heard “I don’t know whose womb you came out from”. These words,etched into my soul forever. Oh these words, meant to be denied, yet they cut like a dagger. Suddenly, the house I had longed for felt like a prison. A nobody’s child, that I was.

After being through it all, i start to doubt. Does money really buy us happiness?. I realize that those who are wealthy can also be miserable. They may have dazzling outfits, but no one to appreciate. They may be able to travel, but no one to go with. A  house, food on the table, but a tense family situation! those that are not very well to do may miss out on a luxurious lifestyle and have  harsher living conditions,` however they can have a home filled with unconditional love and warmth. I realized that For one to be happy,they must be contented with what they own!  Those that are wealthy might feel miserable because they are not satisfied with what they own and may want more and more. On the other hand, the needy might feel happy because they are grateful with what they  already have.

All in all,having money,could allow us a more luxurious, comfortable lifestyle. Nonetheless, the happiness is only short term and it will slowly fade away as we get used to it! Long term and true happiness is finding contentment in living, having a house to call home and being healthy! Indeed,money cant buy us happiness. Thank you!

Signing off,

Iniqsha Begum