Money v/s Happiness

Yesterday night, while accessing Quora; a Question-Answer website on my Smartphone, as I am addicted to it, I came past to a question in which the questioner asked “Is Money important for Happiness??” The question pushed me to mull over it. I was quiet for a while.

In today’s world, people are trapped in rat-race because of money.  Is money so important? Yes, it is. What can I get without money? Without money, how can I have food to eat, a shelter to live in and clothes to wear which are the main factors for living a life?  Money has become most important thing in our lives. On the other hand, it has also replaced Barter System which was actually harder to follow in trades for exchange; as used in ancient times. Money represents the standardized currency as it is basis of our economy.

If we examine happiness out of money, I see that it is quite subjective and controversial. Money can make us happy but only to an extent.  It can buy me food, shelter, clothes, cell phone and fulfil all my needs and luxuries. And last but not the least, it provides me education. Money does buy me happiness but temporarily.  Besides that, humans are greedy creatures, the more one gets, the more he wants. When I buy something, my mind tells me to buy the other and the wish list goes on. If someone gets car with money, he thinks to get a house soon and the bungalow enters the list soon. From nothing to having everything with the help of money, at the end he feels so insecure about all those. At the end, money more than required, brings insecurity.

Despite all these things, money can’t buy me my parents, my relatives and my close friends without whom I can’t survive, who are the true sources of happiness for me.  Would you prioritize money over your parents? My answer is strict no. If someone has money all around but no one to talk or share feelings, and spend time with, then what’s the advantage of money?

The concept of money is rational while that of happiness is somewhat philosophical. It depends on what happiness means to us. Everyone has his/her own definition of happiness. For some, it’s just two loaves of bread while to others; it is to relish all the dishes.  For some, money is everything and it does define their happiness; they are always in greed of money. While I have seen some people who are happily living their lives in less money. So for me, Money isn’t mandatory for happiness.

What I have felt is the usage of money is also an important factor. How do we spend our money is a remarkable key feature to determine happiness. No matter,  how much dollars we have,  if we keep on spending on us, it will never end our desires, but will keep expanding our wish list, what’s the next. But spending money on others and needy is always a good idea. Going to MacDonald’s and having a burger wouldn’t satisfy your hunger, but serving a burger to a poor child at the roadside will surely satisfy your heart. It will be also the productive use of money. Or how about, donating money to the NGOs, providing medical treatment to the injured, availing free books to the ones who can’t afford. These are the best ways to utilize a share of money as well as for our self content.  Because, eventually it is the self content that matters. If you buy something for your mom, you’ll see wide smiles on her face; that glorifying smiles will make your heart happy.

Well, I am not getting impractical. If someone offers me dollars, I’ll accept the amount for sure. But I believe that it’s not money that is important for our overall happiness as well as self content. Money isn’t mandatory for happiness. My question is,  would you sacrifice your happiness for money?

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