I found this post via this reply on Bubbles. Both are interesting takes, for different reasons.

For me, money doesn't buy happiness - it buys the removal of financial stress. What actually makes you happy is the people around you and the decisions you make with whatever you have. I've kinda talked about this before in my when was I happiest post.

I grew up in a very poor home. After my mum and dad split up, our house was repossessed and we ended up living in a rough area surrounded by gangs, drug addicts, and prostitutes. My mum worked every hour god sends as a cleaner just to make ends meet, while I looked after the younger kids. We didn't know if the bills would be paid and were stuck in a cycle of weekly payday loans for years.

On paper, that doesn't sound like a happy existence, right?

But we were happy. As we settled in, we became part of the community, and watching all the street drama - like the regular fights and arrests that are common in rough areas - just became part of the entertainment, like watching a live episode of Jerry Springer.

It wasn't all sunshine and roses, though. I remember one time when the addict that lived opposite us came busting into our flat screaming that her baby had died and she needed to call an ambulance. Back then there were no mobile phones, and our landline was in mum's bedroom. So mum obviously let her go call an ambulance.

Turns out her baby was fine, but she knew our phone was in mum's bedroom and she took the opportunity to steal all mum's jewellery for drug money.

Still, most of my memories from back then are good ones. I fondly remember sitting with my mum on a Friday night watching a stream of comedy shows like Cheers and Frasier. Once in a blue moon she'd say, "do you fancy a pizza?" Obviously I did! I'd jump on my bike, cycle to the local takeaway, and get us a 10" pizza to share because that's all we could afford. My god, were we happy. We were together, money be damned.

Fast forward 35 years

Today, my life is the polar opposite of how I grew up. We live in a lovely quaint village in the Welsh countryside and I earn a very good living. Having money solves certain problems - like not having to worry about paying the bills or putting food on the table - which certainly makes life easier, even if it doesn't automatically make you happy.

It still comes down to the choices you make along the way. Four years ago, we bought our dream home in the country. It's an old place that needs a ton of renovation work, which comes with big bills of its own. Had we stayed in our old house, we could have been mortgage-free by now.

Would having no mortgage have made us happier? Probably not. That house was too small for us, right in the middle of a large town, and it felt claustrophobic. Taking on the bigger financial commitment gave us the lifestyle we actually wanted.

It's a balancing act

I am happy today, but not because of what I earn. I'm happy because I'm surrounded by the people I love, living the life we want to live.

On the other end of the scale from my childhood, you could have a millionaire who's completely alone and tries to fill that void with things - nice watches, nice cars, a nice home. With no-one to share it with, it's all just meaningless stuff.

I think of it like a see-saw. The sweet spot is somewhere in the middle: having enough money that you don't have to worry about the basics, without spending your whole life climbing the ladder and missing out on time with the people who matter. That's a big part of why I stepped down last year.

Money doesn't necessarily mean happiness. It can certainly help, though.

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