Posted on February 27, 2008 - by Justin Hartman
How important is money?
Hey, it looks like you're new here to my blog! You may want to consider subscribing to my RSS feed and you'll automatically get notified when I post a new blog entry. If web feeds aren't your thing then why not join my email list by clicking here. Thanks for stopping by.
I read a very interesting blog post by Paul Buchheit titled Is there more to life than money? which got me thinking about whether money directly relates to happiness.
Paul is an ex-Googler who was the creative genius behind Gmail, AdSense and suggested the company’s now-famous motto Don’t be evil. He left Google in June last year and is now an angel investor and founder of the startup FriendFeed.
The context of Paul’s post stirs up a couple of interesting issues, namely;
- Will you make more money working for a startup?
- Does money make you happy?
- Love what you do – even if you are in a 9-5 job.
There is a lot more to his post but these are the core points of interest I took from it.
Many will argue that money is an object that, while making life a little easier, doesn’t or can’t buy happiness – my view is slightly different and I think I’ve had enough education in this regard.
Here’s my take, in the simplest form:- when I had money life was never better and when I didn’t have it I couldn’t cope with life.
I think it’s very easy to say money isn’t important when you’ve got a lot of it but when you haven’t got it, it’s the most stressful part of living life. Financial burden is the #1 stress in the United States and I would imagine that South Africa is not far off that.
I do subscribe to the notion that money isn’t everything but I also believe that it is a major, critical facet of life today. If we can take the need for money out of our life’s equation then we will be free to live life as it’s meant to be lived but as long as it remains a means for survival nobody can tell me money isn’t important or doesn’t create an immense amount of unhappiness and stress.
Financial freedom = Happiness
I am the MD and co-founder of 
Visit My Website
February 27, 2008
Permalink
Great post dude. I back you 100% on this one. I am probably a bit more outspoken and willing to say that I do think that money can make me happy. Firmly believe that. Money is my passion, I am passionate about business, blogging, writing, journalism and all of these things garner me.. you guessed it… more money.
Good post.
Visit My Website
February 27, 2008
Permalink
Money certainly buys you comfort. Is comfort happiness?
Happiness is not a commodity that can easily be bought; its not available on a store shelf somewhere. Happiness is so intangible. I cant walk up to you and say hey sell me some.
Happiness is also very subjective – is it really all about being fuzzy and warm and smiley?
Happiness is what you make it to be and how you choose to get it.
Visit My Website
February 27, 2008
Permalink
Nice points Garsen.
For me happiness is not warm and fuzzy but rather contentment. Unfortunately if you don’t have money it’s very difficult to be content with life because stress and pressure become the over-riding issues and this impacts on self-worth, relationships and many more.
That’s why, for me, money is directly correlated to happiness.
Visit My Website
February 27, 2008
Permalink
Hi Justin
Great post. For me, the answer is its not important. I took a huge salary drop to move to a startup where I am doing much more interesting work than my previous job. (My wife complains a bit though
As an aside have you read any of Paul Graham’s essays on the subject? He distinguishes between money and wealth. The gist is that nobody really wants money, what they want is wealth and you can make wealth in other ways, although I haven’t found out how yet
Visit My Website
February 27, 2008
Permalink
Hey Neville, good to see you on here
Job satisfaction, and the essence of Paul Buchheit’s post, is in most cases what we all should be striving for. I know from my own experience that this satisfaction far outweighs many of the “benefits” of a higher paid job – including money.
I agree that Money and Wealth are two quite different issues and I’d certainly like to read Paul Graham’s papers on this. I think my objective in life is not to be wealthy but to rather be content. As I’ve said before there are many factors that contribute to this contentment and money is one of them.
I guess that we all have different objectives and priorities in life and while wealth is what I hope for in life I’m just as happy to be able to provide comfortably for my family.
Oh, and a new MacBook Air would be nice to have as well
Visit My Website
February 27, 2008
Permalink
To me, happiness is freedom. And financial security being a major source of freedom, I would agree with Justin 100% that money is a major source of happiness. Unfortunately, being a double-edged sword, money can also bring unhappiness.
It’s that personal “enough” margin that needs to be found and balanced. And that, unfortunately, is the trick that most people don’t get. The world media constantly blasts us with “more … More … MORE!”, and people go for it. I believe it’s called “advertising”, lol.
For once, a sensible blog post about money. Quite amazing. Well done
~ Wogan
Visit My Website
February 27, 2008
Permalink
Great post dude. I back you 100% on this one. I am probably a bit more outspoken and willing to say that I do think that money can make me happy. Firmly believe that. Money is my passion, I am passionate about business, blogging, writing, journalism and all of these things garner me.. you guessed it… more money.
Good post.
Visit My Website
February 27, 2008
Permalink
A movie called the Boiler Room about stock marketers. If memory serves me they were con artists. I think Vin Diesel starred in the movie. He was motivating his team and his words were ” People who say money is not everything, don’t have any” I subscribe to that philosophy as well.
Visit My Website
February 27, 2008
Permalink
Money certainly buys you comfort. Is comfort happiness?
Happiness is not a commodity that can easily be bought; its not available on a store shelf somewhere. Happiness is so intangible. I cant walk up to you and say hey sell me some.
Happiness is also very subjective – is it really all about being fuzzy and warm and smiley?
Happiness is what you make it to be and how you choose to get it.
Visit My Website
February 27, 2008
Permalink
Nice points Garsen.
For me happiness is not warm and fuzzy but rather contentment. Unfortunately if you don't have money it's very difficult to be content with life because stress and pressure become the over-riding issues and this impacts on self-worth, relationships and many more.
That's why, for me, money is directly correlated to happiness.
Visit My Website
February 27, 2008
Permalink
Hi Justin
Great post. For me, the answer is its not important. I took a huge salary drop to move to a startup where I am doing much more interesting work than my previous job. (My wife complains a bit though
As an aside have you read any of Paul Graham's essays on the subject? He distinguishes between money and wealth. The gist is that nobody really wants money, what they want is wealth and you can make wealth in other ways, although I haven't found out how yet
Visit My Website
February 27, 2008
Permalink
Hey Neville, good to see you on here
Job satisfaction, and the essence of Paul Buchheit's post, is in most cases what we all should be striving for. I know from my own experience that this satisfaction far outweighs many of the “benefits” of a higher paid job – including money.
I agree that Money and Wealth are two quite different issues and I'd certainly like to read Paul Graham's papers on this. I think my objective in life is not to be wealthy but to rather be content. As I've said before there are many factors that contribute to this contentment and money is one of them.
I guess that we all have different objectives and priorities in life and while wealth is what I hope for in life I'm just as happy to be able to provide comfortably for my family.
Oh, and a new MacBook Air would be nice to have as well
Visit My Website
February 27, 2008
Permalink
To me, happiness is freedom. And financial security being a major source of freedom, I would agree with Justin 100% that money is a major source of happiness. Unfortunately, being a double-edged sword, money can also bring unhappiness.
It's that personal “enough” margin that needs to be found and balanced. And that, unfortunately, is the trick that most people don't get. The world media constantly blasts us with “more … More … MORE!”, and people go for it. I believe it's called “advertising”, lol.
For once, a sensible blog post about money. Quite amazing. Well done
~ Wogan
Visit My Website
February 28, 2008
Permalink
Wogan – I think media/advertising are perpetuating the issues significantly and i also believe that the information age has made life a whole lot more difficult. If you look at cost of living alone and how much that has changed in the last 15 years it becomes clearer as to why money has become a major factor in our lives.
Wade – I couldn’t have put it better
It was also a very good movie about this exact issue and the sad part is most of those guys either ended up in jail or lost everything. I think this ties in with what Wogan was saying about how money can be a very negative thing as well.
Visit My Website
February 28, 2008
Permalink
Funny you should say that, Wade. I know a particularly wealthy investment banker who buys and sells companies as a hobby. He actually told me once – money isn’t everything. It’s what you do with it that counts. And how lucky you are – that plays a role too.
~ Wogan
Visit My Website
February 27, 2008
Permalink
A movie called the Boiler Room about stock marketers. If memory serves me they were con artists. I think Vin Diesel starred in the movie. He was motivating his team and his words were ” People who say money is not everything, don't have any” I subscribe to that philosophy as well.
Visit My Website
February 28, 2008
Permalink
Wogan – I think media/advertising are perpetuating the issues significantly and i also believe that the information age has made life a whole lot more difficult. If you look at cost of living alone and how much that has changed in the last 15 years it becomes clearer as to why money has become a major factor in our lives.
Wade – I couldn't have put it better
It was also a very good movie about this exact issue and the sad part is most of those guys either ended up in jail or lost everything. I think this ties in with what Wogan was saying about how money can be a very negative thing as well.
Visit My Website
February 28, 2008
Permalink
Funny you should say that, Wade. I know a particularly wealthy investment banker who buys and sells companies as a hobby. He actually told me once – money isn't everything. It's what you do with it that counts. And how lucky you are – that plays a role too.
~ Wogan
Visit My Website
February 28, 2008
Permalink
Great thoughts and I agree. Of course money buys happiness! That said, I don’t think money is the only source of happiness. Similarly, I don’t think it can buy everything. ( Like it cannot buy back a life or time spent / wasted. )
Visit My Website
February 28, 2008
Permalink
I was on Financial Aid and worked after-hours to get myself through university, after my schoolteacher dad went bankrupt trying to start a restaurant, so you could rightly say we’ve been through some tough times!
Although money doesn’t drive me, I am definitely more content now that I have decent medical aid and a small stock portfolio!
The problem with associating money and happiness is that one tends to get confused about what money actually is! Money is simply an additional REWARD for doing something good!
Personally, I like to think I am driven by Impact. I like to see that I’m making the world a better place… so that I (and me and myself) can live in a better world!
See my related post: http://www.yeahfi.com/2008/02/power-wealth-or-impact-what-drives-you.html
Visit My Website
February 28, 2008
Permalink
Geez Henk I think you hit the nail on the head there!
Money is a byproduct of success and it’s more important to focus on making your idea/business/startup successful than worrying about whether you will make money or not.
I’m yet to prove this theory right but I think it’s the right attitude to have.
Visit My Website
February 28, 2008
Permalink
Great thoughts and I agree. Of course money buys happiness! That said, I don't think money is the only source of happiness. Similarly, I don't think it can buy everything. ( Like it cannot buy back a life or time spent / wasted. )
Visit My Website
February 28, 2008
Permalink
I was on Financial Aid and worked after-hours to get myself through university, after my schoolteacher dad went bankrupt trying to start a restaurant, so you could rightly say we've been through some tough times!
Although money doesn't drive me, I am definitely more content now that I have decent medical aid and a small stock portfolio!
The problem with associating money and happiness is that one tends to get confused about what money actually is! Money is simply an additional REWARD for doing something good!
Personally, I like to think I am driven by Impact. I like to see that I'm making the world a better place… so that I (and me and myself) can live in a better world!
See my related post: http://www.yeahfi.com/2008/02/power-wealth-or-i...
Visit My Website
February 28, 2008
Permalink
Geez Henk I think you hit the nail on the head there!
Money is a byproduct of success and it's more important to focus on making your idea/business/startup successful than worrying about whether you will make money or not.
I'm yet to prove this theory right but I think it's the right attitude to have.
Visit My Website
March 1, 2008
Permalink
Its nice to see everyones opinion. I think that money can “buy” you happiness but it definitely will not give it to you forever. Take this for an example – you get a few bucks by a big house, few cars, “toys” etc which keeps you happy but you will someday realise that it is not all about that.
So i think the right thing to ask is “Does money make you content with life?” I would say no. Like many others here I think that creating something that afterwards you (even better if other people) sit back and say wow, thats amazing would work towards true happiness no matter what money is involved.
Visit My Website
March 1, 2008
Permalink
Its nice to see everyones opinion. I think that money can “buy” you happiness but it definitely will not give it to you forever. Take this for an example – you get a few bucks by a big house, few cars, “toys” etc which keeps you happy but you will someday realise that it is not all about that.
So i think the right thing to ask is “Does money make you content with life?” I would say no. Like many others here I think that creating something that afterwards you (even better if other people) sit back and say wow, thats amazing would work towards true happiness no matter what money is involved.
Visit My Website
March 8, 2008
Permalink
I agree with Henk …
Money was never and hopefully will never be the reason why i get out of bed in the morning.
I live by the dream that one day, on my dying bed i will look back and smile at how i made this world a better place, how i’ve changed people lives for the better. I look around me all the time, it fills me with sadness, how so many people are too much money oriented, how they miss the fact that money is only material, it comes and goes and that what stays behind is our good deeds. I personally feel happier when i make others happy, and i don’t mind spending my own money in order to do that …
I was never rich, neither i am now, nor do i think i will be, but i am happy the way i am … i am thankful for the simplest things in life, health, love and family …. things you might not appreciate when you are spending your time chosing which dimond ring will look nicer around your manicured fingers, or which sports car will impress your friends the most …
Visit My Website
March 8, 2008
Permalink
I agree with Henk …
Money was never and hopefully will never be the reason why i get out of bed in the morning.
I live by the dream that one day, on my dying bed i will look back and smile at how i made this world a better place, how i've changed people lives for the better. I look around me all the time, it fills me with sadness, how so many people are too much money oriented, how they miss the fact that money is only material, it comes and goes and that what stays behind is our good deeds. I personally feel happier when i make others happy, and i don't mind spending my own money in order to do that …
I was never rich, neither i am now, nor do i think i will be, but i am happy the way i am … i am thankful for the simplest things in life, health, love and family …. things you might not appreciate when you are spending your time chosing which dimond ring will look nicer around your manicured fingers, or which sports car will impress your friends the most …
Visit My Website
March 22, 2008
Permalink
$$$$$ every where you go, you need $$.. you can’t live without that…
Without money we are not able to live… If we would be able to live without the money – why do we work, what for? I don’t belive that some people work for their pleasure only… We work, we spent 8 hours or more in a work, we don’t like our bosses, our boring offices – but we go there every day to earn money! of course money is not a thing that can make us happy, but we feel secure, safe and calm when we know that our bank account isn’t empty…
I think money not everything but that is most important other thing we need for our lives.
If you think about that a little , you know that when you havent health in your live what will happen?
I think money is necessary for me but not all of my purpose in my live.
“With money you can buy a house but not a home;With money you can buy a clock but not time; With money you can buy a bed but not sleep; With money you can buy a book but not knowledge; With money you can buy a doctor but not health; With money you can buy a position but not respect; With money you can buy blood but not life; With money you can buy sex but not love.”
Money isn’t everything but… there are many but’s… A simple example: witout money you can’t have an internet, so you can’t develop your language, what reduces to your unknown, and so on…
It should be enough money to study, to develop abilities and not to worry about the future.
Thanks
Visit My Website
March 22, 2008
Permalink
$$$$$ every where you go, you need $$.. you can't live without that…
Without money we are not able to live… If we would be able to live without the money – why do we work, what for? I don't belive that some people work for their pleasure only… We work, we spent 8 hours or more in a work, we don't like our bosses, our boring offices – but we go there every day to earn money! of course money is not a thing that can make us happy, but we feel secure, safe and calm when we know that our bank account isn't empty…
I think money not everything but that is most important other thing we need for our lives.
If you think about that a little , you know that when you havent health in your live what will happen?
I think money is necessary for me but not all of my purpose in my live.
“With money you can buy a house but not a home;With money you can buy a clock but not time; With money you can buy a bed but not sleep; With money you can buy a book but not knowledge; With money you can buy a doctor but not health; With money you can buy a position but not respect; With money you can buy blood but not life; With money you can buy sex but not love.”
Money isn't everything but… there are many but's… A simple example: witout money you can't have an internet, so you can't develop your language, what reduces to your unknown, and so on…
It should be enough money to study, to develop abilities and not to worry about the future.
Thanks