Money Can Buy happiness (Revision)

Money Can Buy Happiness

Some thinkers believe that money does not make one happy; others consider that money can be used to purchase almost everything even happiness. While many people disagree with the former, in the current economic-driven society, money can bring happiness to people because it satisfies human beings’ needs, solves most people’s problems, protects one’s life, and even helps one aid another with itself.

Everyone needs money to satisfy their necessity. Foods, clothing, accommodation are among human’s basic needs that people hardly afford them without money. People spend a large proportion of their money on eating and drinking, clothing, and housing. Besides material needs, men and women need money to satisfy their mental needs such as knowledge learning, recreation, and entertainment. Based on the data of the Bureau of Labor Statistics in 2014, it is shown that an American spent an average of about 4 thousands US dollars for education, entertainment, and recreation (cnbc.com). From material to mental needs, money plays a significant role in helping consumers acquire them.

Money maybe is not an almighty thing, but it is an effective solution for most of humankind’s troubles and issues. Nowadays, many groups and companies use the incentive money to encourage their employees to work harder; the more employees work enthusiastically, the more profits the companies make. What’s more, money is also used to promote health care and improve living standards. 6.5 trillion USD was spent on health care worldwide according to WHO, based the 2010 data. In the last 20 years, the living conditions of people in the world have been improved positively: the extremely poor population has been reduced to a half; a half of child death under the age of five has been cut off; life expectancy has increased 5.2 years around the world estimated in 2014; more children, especially girls have had the chance to go to school (unfpa.org). Without or less money, those achievements are barely to succeed. By utilizing money reasonably, human beings may solve their problems quickly and effectively.

Having strong financial support shall guarantee ones’ life and keep them safe from external and sudden impacts. Life is unpredictable that one never knows what will happen; it is the reason why people coming up with the precautions against the worst situation which can occur anytime. In fact, the life insurance program is invented with the money that people save in case of an emergency relating to health or even life and death. According to the Swiss Re Institution’s research, people paid USD 4892 billion for the life insurance premium worldwide (swissre.com). Furthermore, possessing enough money makes ones do not worry about it. Indeed, the awareness of the money gives a person the assurance and the feeling of safety not only for himself or herself but also toward their loved ones. As a result, they shall be content and felicitous.

Giving away makes people happy. The feeling of aiding the disadvantaged ones satisfies the givers’ conscience and moral. Morally speaking, providing financial support is the obligatory act of human beings. Many philanthropists such as Bill Gates, Warren Buffett and Jack Ma have been donating part of their wealth to help people in need because they are aware of the responsibility of redistribution. In addition, the joy of giving away money tends to be more powerful than spending it for personal purposes. Liz Dunn, a social psychologist, and her partners had conducted a survey involved over 600 Americans and had found out that people were apt to feel happier when they gave away their money to the others than spending for themselves (psychologytoday.com). The main point here, generally speaking, is how humankind cultivates and nurtures happiness through money’s values.

In conclusion, money can create or “buy” such an abstract thing as happiness. It ensures a comfortable life for human beings, fixes problems, keeps people safe from unexpected harms, and can be used to help the ones in need. It is irreplaceable.   

Works Cited

Kathleen Elkins, “Here’s how much Americans are spending on housing, food, and alcohol every year.” cnbc.com. May 31, 2017.

Rebecca Zerzan, “How Has the World Changed in the Last 20 years?” unfpa.org. 7 April 2014.

Swiss Re Institute. Sigma No 3/2018 “the global insurance sector.” Swissre.com.

Allen R McConnell Ph.D. “Giving really is better than receiving.” Psychologytoday.com. Dec 25, 1010