Nov 19th, 2008
Does Buying Stuff Make You Happy?
It’s often said that money won’t buy happiness, which I agree with 100%. Let’s look at that a bit more.
It’s nice to have nice stuff, and many of us have goals that are very much around having such things. For instance, I would love to get a new 24 inch iMac. But will that make me happy?
It might make me more productive, it might reduce my frustration, it might even let me do some things that were difficult or just not possible before, but I seriously doubt it would actually make me happy to get something like that. Just as getting a new bicycle wouldn’t make me a better cyclist, there’s nothing that a new computer would do that would automatically make me a better programmer or blogger or podcaster. It even might make me feel better for awhile.
But happy? No.
Happiness isn’t about what we buy. It’s about who we are and what do. I’m happier out on a bike ride or finishing off a blog post or computer program–or even paying off bills, knowing I won’t have to owe a cent of interest. I’m happier being at service at the temple on Sunday or learning about a new bicycle training schedule. And I’m happier at the end of one of my goals–say the Honolulu Marathon next month–then buying something new.
So let’s be clear: finances are not important because of what they buy for us–they’re important because of who they let us be and what they let us do. Those things could make you happy–infinitely happier than what you buy.
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I agree completely that money doesn’t buy happiness. I’ve learned a lot of lessons in my 44 years and that’s one of the big ones.
But as the owner of a fairly new 24″ iMac, I’ve gotta say, I do enjoy it tremendously.
I’m of the mindset that it’s not how much we have or how much it costs, but how much pleasure and/or satisfaction do we derive from it? How often is it used? I wouldn’t for a second consider going into debt for an iMac (or any other possession, for that matter) but I’d also never suggest that a person refrain from buying an iMac simply because it costs money.
I think you’re very wise at this point to choose your “goal” instead of another “thing.”
Very true. We get way too caught up in having the latest gadget, and wearing the latest clothes. I find that the more stuff I buy, the worse I feel. I know I don’t need the stuff, I don’t really have the money to be buying the stuff. Impulse buys. They make me sad.
But, then again, we do need to buy stuff to live, and to live in the manner that makes us happy.
I suppose you could call it a love-hate relationship?