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This Awesome Science Vid Asks: Can Money Buy You Happiness?

Jan. 21, 2013 4:00pm Becket Adams

Yeah, yeah, we know it’s an old question, but haven’t you ever wondered? Can money buy you happiness?

It depends.

In achieving personal happiness, the folks at AsapSCIENCE say it’s not so much that amount of cash that matters — it’s how it’s spent.

“Humans are very sensitive to change: When we get a raise or commission, we really enjoy it — but we adapt at incredible speeds to our new wealth,” a new video from the group explains. “Some studies have shown that in North America additional income beyond $75,000 a year ceases to impact day-to-day happiness.”

What impacts day-to-day happiness? Experiencing new things (and sharing those experiences) and voluntarily giving to others (as opposed to being coerced into doing it [i.e. taxation]). Basically, exercising the virtue of charity.

If that’s true, and day-to-day happiness is impacted by being charitable, then we can say the following: Monetary wealth allows us to be (financially) generous, generosity allows us to exercise a form of charity, being charitable makes us happy, therefore money can buy happiness — “if spent the right way.”

“[I]f you think money and happiness are exclusive, you simply aren’t spending it right,” the AsapSCIENCE video claims:

Pretty cool, right? Let us know what you think in the comments section.

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(H/T: brainpickings.org). Featured images courtesy Getty Images.

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Comments (25)

U87
Posted on January 22, 2013 at 8:10am
What a load of crap……I think I am stupider now!

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- Wolf
  Posted on January 22, 2013 at 9:40am
  People who tell you, ‘money won’t make you happy’ have never had money, so they’re inexperienced and ignorant.
  
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- ranepowel
  Posted on January 22, 2013 at 1:55pm
  Actually, look at all of the numerous studies that have been done. Someone making 50k a year will be just as happy or unhappy, statistically speaking, as someone who is making 100k. There is no correlation that can be found between excessive wealth and excessive happiness. Go on. Try and find one. It doesn’t exist.
  
  I make just over six figures and I’m just as happy on a daily basis as I was when I was just starting out and making 40k. I can buy more stuff, but more stuff doesn’t make me happy. I give 10% of all my income to charities, save 10% for myself and another 10% for my children’s future college tuition. I live comfortably in a very expensive part of the country (L.A.). I can tell you though, that on a daily basis I’m no more happy than when I was living in a smaller apartment with less things and an older, used car.
  
  Once your basic needs and bills are met there is no correlation between wealth and happiness. Money can (and does) buy you happiness up until that point, though. If you can’t pay your bills or are in massive debt then you are more likely to be less happy. Again, though, once those bills and basic needs are met, the drop-off between wealth and happiness is staggering.
  
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steve-in-pa
Posted on January 22, 2013 at 8:10am
Money might not make your life happier, but it sure makes life easier.

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loneindividual
Posted on January 22, 2013 at 5:22am
I feel dumber for watching this.

Happiness = Be Free + In Good Company

Don’t let this video change the way you spend you spend your money.

The Poor don’t need handouts. They need employment. Every individual needs to work for themselves instead of for some corporation.

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tj1961
Posted on January 21, 2013 at 11:52pm
Money is a good thing to have….because not having any can really suck!!

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media-bias-steals-elections
Posted on January 21, 2013 at 7:00pm
Yeah, the thought of running out of money terrifies some people, boy this kid is on to something?

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Flag-Man
Posted on January 21, 2013 at 6:11pm
ok here it is 4 choices
You can be rich & happy
You can be rich & miserable
You can be broke & happy
You can be broke & miserable
Your Choice

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Southernsoul
Posted on January 21, 2013 at 5:59pm
Yes, money can buy you happiness. If you have enough money to support your family, maintain an a decent life style free from daily worries, and have time to share with those you choose and you are happy, then you are too damn greedy.

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Beachbaby
Posted on January 21, 2013 at 5:58pm
Money buys everything, even people. Whew!

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GJPinks
Posted on January 21, 2013 at 5:46pm
Money can’t buy you love, but it can rent it.

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Moseyspeed
Posted on January 21, 2013 at 5:09pm
Happiness or not, I’d rather cry in my Bentley than my bicycle.

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RANGER1965
Posted on January 21, 2013 at 5:06pm
Money may not buy happiness, but a significant LACK of money will certainly buy alot of pain.

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searcher619
Posted on January 21, 2013 at 5:06pm
Money can buy peace of mind which can lead to happiness…

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woodyee
Posted on January 21, 2013 at 4:55pm
Some studies have shown that in North America additional income beyond $75,000 a year ceases to impact day-to-day happiness.”

Just another worthless, senseless and quite refutable study for the Left to use, in order to justify confiscation of wealth.

This is no better than conducting a study whereby a family of 4 doesn’t need a V8 powered Cadillac SUV when a 4-hamster Toyota Corolla is actually more efficient and “greener”. That a family of four was found to be just as accommodated in a 700sqft home than in their current 2500sqft home; A study that indicates that you can do just as well in Public School as in private, blah, blah, blah…

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- CafeConservative
  Posted on January 21, 2013 at 6:18pm
  Not if you watch it closely. Notice that satisfaction in an organization came not when the organization did things (gave to charity) on behalf of the people but when people gave it themselves to the charities they chose themselves.
  
  That is small government.
  
  Report this comment
rswapp
Posted on January 21, 2013 at 4:46pm
IT’S NOT AWESOME!!!!!
It’s pretty cool but not what I would call Awe Inspiring.
I wish people would just QUIT using Awesome.

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Corneo
Posted on January 21, 2013 at 4:30pm
The results are not shocking. All humans wish to be prosperous and helpful. The common mistake is people associate prosperity to money. Prosperity to a person can be anything. Knowledge, family, a button collection. Whatever you gain will make you happy. So saying money can buy happiness is very true. Just watch what you spend it on. LOL

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- sillyfreshness
  Posted on January 21, 2013 at 4:47pm
  Money can’t buy happiness, but it can buy the things that make you happy. I know I feel happier if I have a stack of cash vs not having any money. Anybody in their right mind would be happier having money vs not having money all things being equal.
  
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RDYSTGO
Posted on January 21, 2013 at 4:27pm
Well lets go baby! Shell it out then.

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TSUNAMI_22
Posted on January 21, 2013 at 4:14pm
They say ‘money can’t buy happiness’….but having plenty of it is just one less thing to worry about.

If happiness is freedom from worry, then money can buy happiness.

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- RabidPatriot
  Posted on January 21, 2013 at 4:24pm
  I’m not sure if I could buy happiness, but I know for certain that I can rent it.
  
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- naughtycal
  Posted on January 21, 2013 at 4:27pm
  Exactly,
  Who ever said money can’t buy happiness has never had to mail their power bill to the phone company and the phone bill to the power company just buy enough time to have enough to pay both.
  And sure it would make me extremely happy to be able to help other financially knowing I can still take care of my family. But to be forced to give when I can’t afford to(federal government)makes me even more miserible. Or to see those feeding on my charity(taxes) living better than I can afford to keep my family when they could be doing on their own makes me hateful,spiteful,and yes vengeful.
  
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DeVain
Posted on January 21, 2013 at 4:12pm
Someone give me $75K so we can measure your happiness with mine.

lol

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- Enuff Zenuff
  Posted on January 22, 2013 at 4:16am
  I wouldn’t dream of depriving You of the JOY of giving me $75,000!
  
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