One of the best feelings in the world is seeing money flow into your bank account after working hard for it. You feel that rush of positivity, thinking, “Now I can spend on things that will make me happy.” At least, that’s how we imagine it works, right?
I used to believe that, too. Growing up, I thought a high-paying job, a nice house, and luxury items would bring stability and happiness. But when I finally achieved those things, I realized something was missing. The joy of buying new things was fleeting, and no matter how much I spent, I still felt unfulfilled.
It wasn’t until I embraced minimalism that I discovered happiness isn’t found in things – it’s found within. Joy comes from meaningful experiences, time with loved ones, and appreciating what we already have. But remember, your self-worth is not your net worth.
Sure, money can provide comfort, but it doesn’t create fulfillment. Keep reading to see why money can’t buy happiness.
What Does “Money Can’t Buy Happiness” Really Mean?
The saying “money can’t buy happiness” dates back to 1750 when Rousseau wrote, “Money buys everything, except for morality and citizens.” In other words, wealth may provide comfort, but it can’t fill an emotional void or create a true sense of happiness.
Over time, this idea has taken different forms, but the core message remains the same. Money is not going to lead to your happiness for a variety of reasons. While having enough money can help in difficult times and provide security, it doesn’t guarantee more happiness.
Wealthy people may have more material goods, but studies suggest that joy comes from relationships, community, and meaningful experiences, not from simply spending money.
So, why doesn’t much money buy happiness? Here’s why…
14 Reasons Why Money Doesn’t Buy Happiness
Finding what brings you happiness is essential, especially if you’re feeling down or lacking compassion. The idea that money can’t buy happiness comes from the belief that material goods only bring temporary joy. Being around happy people can boost your mood unless you’re not fond of people.
Happiness is a personal journey. Everyone finds more happiness in their own way. Gratitude, kindness, and positive emotions help improve your sense of well-being.
Removing unhappy people, focusing on what makes you feel good, and appreciating what you have can help you enjoy life. Even wealthy people with enough money still face stress and difficult times. True happiness comes from relationships, community, and meaningful experiences, not just spending money.
1. The More You Own, the More You Clean
No one likes having to clean up stuff. It’s time-consuming, and if you’re a perfectionist, you’ll find yourself looking for every stray hair to get rid of. Wealthy people with big houses may have even more to clean, spending hours maintaining their space. Your whole Saturday, just gone. Of course, you could always try to spend money to make life easier by hiring help, but that doesn’t always mean more happiness.
The more material goods you have, the more things need cleaning. So, when considering spending money on that new side table, remember it’s another thing to clean. One extra piece isn’t a big deal, but some furniture can get intense. Money can buy convenience, but it won’t eliminate every hassle in life.
2. Less Time to Enjoy What You Have
If you have tons of books, video games, Blu-rays/DVDs, or other material goods with significant net worth, you might struggle to decide what to enjoy. With so many options, it becomes challenging to choose, leading to stress rather than more happiness. This is a real human psychology phenomenon: the more choices someone has, the less likely they are to use any of them.
Having more things in the house can mean spending money on storage instead of experiences, leading to a sense of wasted wealth. Wealthy people with multiple cars also deal with more maintenance and cleaning, which takes time away from what truly brings joy. Finding a balance is essential because while more money can provide comfort, too much excess can make life feel overwhelming rather than fulfilling.
Check out our article on living stingy so you can weigh the pros and cons.
3. The More You Have to Pay In Maintenance
Like cleaning more items, when things break down, you’ll need to spend more money on repairs on top of what you’ve already invested. With houses, especially larger ones, there’s more to maintain and pay attention to. Moving from an apartment to a spacious house might introduce multiple bathrooms that could overflow, light fixtures that could break, and other costly issues. All these elements in the expanded square footage of your home require careful consideration.
This also steals your precious free time. It’s great to have a beautiful home, but that doesn’t always mean it has to be huge. Sometimes, it does, but not necessarily! To live a fulfilling life, focus on what truly brings lasting happiness rather than just material goods. Prioritize experiences and relationships over physical possessions to find more happiness and a deeper sense of fulfillment.
4. Material Things Only Provide Temporary Happiness
When you spend money on a new gaming console, a picture, or any other material goods, you are buying something with an expiration date. It will eventually break, lose value, or no longer bring joy. The excitement of hitting “buy now” might feel satisfying, but that feeling is temporary.
If you believe money buys happiness, we might agree with that if you are spending it on experiences that create lasting memories. In that case, money can contribute to more happiness, but wealth alone will not provide true fulfillment the way meaningful experiences, relationships, and time with loved ones can.
5. You’ll Always Want More
When we spend money, we get a little high and feel the urge to buy more. There’s always that craving for more money; the next best thing is just around the corner. When wealthy people say they wish they had more money, it’s a sign they just want more than they have.
Having enough money is nice, but it won’t bring more happiness if your goal is to keep buying material goods. New cars and clothes feel exciting, but that excitement fades when the urge to buy something even fancier takes over. This cycle can leave people feeling empty instead of fulfilled.
6. You Won’t Make True Friends or Have a Happy Family With Money
In life, the things that should bring you true happiness are a strong relationship with family and meaningful friendships with your closest confidants. These loved ones make you feel special and bring genuine joy. Being truly happy is something deeper.
What you can’t buy with money is a real friend or close family member. That doesn’t mean you won’t have people reaching out; in many cases, you’ll gain more “friends” when your wealth or social status increases.
However, many wealthy people feel more isolated when they make more money. They’ll never know if new relationships are based on authentic support or financial security. It can be a lonely feeling, even when you’re on top of the world.
7. You Won’t Fall in Love with Money
If money bought happiness, why are so many wealthy people still unhappy? They have lavish lifestyles, yet that doesn’t guarantee joy or peace of mind.
A higher salary and luxury goods won’t shield you from stress, health issues, or difficult times. Research shows that money won’t make your problems go away; it might even create new ones. Even CEOs and actors face pressure, long hours, and mental health struggles. Lottery winners may seem lucky, but many end up losing everything.
Relationships become uncertain, too. When you have more money, it’s hard to tell if people care about you or just what you can offer. That doubt can be overwhelming.
At the end of the day, money is a tool, not the key to true happiness.
8. Buying Stuff Won’t Make us Feel Better Mentally
When you are getting over a break-up, you might purchase some ice cream and enjoy your favorite movies with friends. That will give you temporary satisfaction, and it might help you cope, but you won’t feel better mentally with that ice cream.
Suffering from the hedonic treadmill could mean that your pursuit of happiness will be miserable and lead you to be unhappy. Your ability to find happiness will come up short. You’ll lack the ability to find contentment with your life.
If you are purchasing something based on the presumption that it will make you feel better, then you will be sorely mistaken after that initial purchasing high. However, experiences will make you feel better. Buying a ticket to a sporting event or concert will give you a new experience, a chance to make new friends, and opportunities to talk with family you haven’t talked with in a long time.
9. Happiness Comes From Doing Things We Love
That old proverb about what money can’t buy – morality and people – rings true. Happiness isn’t found in material goods but in experiences, like playing sports or battling family in a lively game of Monopoly. Spending money may bring temporary excitement, but lasting joy comes from meaningful moments shared with loved ones.
Your heart feels full when you realize relationships are the key to life satisfaction. If you were stuck at home alone with no human connection, you’d struggle because humans are wired for companionship. Even wealthy people can feel empty without deep relationships and a strong support system. Money may provide comfort, but it can’t replace love, friendship, or a sense of belonging.
10. Money Does Not Relieve Stress
Money doesn’t relieve stress – it creates it. The more money you have, the higher your expectations, trapping you in a vicious cycle that makes it harder to relax. Wealthy people often struggle to maintain their lifestyle, and in many cases, their worries only increase.
If you want more happiness and less stress, focus on relationships, self-care, and balance. Try meditation, yoga, sleep, or spending time with family and friends. When you constantly spend money to chase satisfaction, you’ll find it harder to keep up. Instead of always wanting more, aim for security, live within your means, and let go of the rest.
11. Money Can’t Buy Health
No matter how much money you have, it can’t guarantee better health. While wealthy people can spend money on top doctors, that alone won’t bring more happiness or ensure a long life. True well-being comes from eating nutritious food, exercising, and managing stress.
If you’re not in good health, money can’t always fix it. In many cases, it may even make things worse, adding pressure and affecting your psychology and overall sense of well-being. Therefore, a lot of focus should be on maintaining a balanced lifestyle, not just financial gain.
12. Money Can’t Buy Time
Time is limited for everyone, whether you’re wealthy or not. No matter how much money you have, money can’t buy happiness, and it certainly can’t buy more time once it’s gone.
Rather than fixating on wealth, make the most of your life by cherishing relationships, creating meaningful experiences, and enjoying moments with family and friends. Money can buy material goods, but it can’t replace the joy of lasting memories or the sense of fulfillment that comes from truly living.
13. Money Can’t Buy an Education
Money can pay for a school education, but it can’t do the learning for you. True knowledge and power come from your effort, experiences, and how you apply what you’ve learned. The most intelligent person won’t necessarily become wealthy if they don’t use their skills wisely.
The key is to never stop learning, not just through formal education but through real-life experiences. Many cases show that continuous learning leads to more happiness, better decision-making, and a greater sense of fulfillment in life.
14. Money Won’t Create Purpose
Everyone has a purpose, and money isn’t the key to discovering it. You could have all the wealth in the world and still feel empty. Your purpose doesn’t come from more money; it’s about recognizing your skills, passions, and what drives you. Focus on what motivates and helps you create meaning, not on chasing material goods or financial gain.
Tips to Finding Happiness Without Money
1. Don’t Make Comparisons to Others
Don’t try to keep up with others. Money isn’t a measure of how well you’re doing in life. Instead, live for what brings you joy and focus on your own sense of success, not anyone else’s.
For example, if your neighbor drives a BMW and you drive a Kia, so what? Owning a fancier car won’t make you a better person. It could leave you in a worse financial position and hurt your self-esteem.
Prioritize yourself and your family. In many cases, chasing wealth just to impress others creates stress and takes away from what really matters. Your relationships, loved ones, and personal freedom are far more valuable.
2. Find Happiness In the Moment
Money can take care of the basics, but it won’t bring true happiness. Instead of always thinking about what you can buy, focus on the little moments that give life meaning.
When you wake up, take a moment to feel the sun on your face or enjoy the warmth of your robe. Throughout the day, notice those small, good moments. They are the ones money can’t buy. True joy comes from experiences, relationships, and a sense of fulfillment, not just material goods.
3. Community Service
Giving back to the community and not thinking of yourself can bring more happiness than all the money in the world. Think about what matters to you and find ways to help with those causes. Common practices include volunteering, donating, creating programs, or starting a fundraising campaign.
Money Matters, But True Happiness Comes From Within
At the end of the day, money will still contribute to life satisfaction somewhat to a happier you. While we are saying that money is not everything and truly is not, you must realize that the world is full of things money cannot buy. And you probably do realize this!
True happiness comes from building meaningful relationships with loved ones, following passions that bring you joy, and developing a strong sense of self-worth.
While money can certainly help facilitate these things – whether through experiences or supporting your health – it’s not the core of happiness. Ultimately, being happy isn’t about how much you have but what you find within yourself and those around you.
What other “money” sayings do you love? Tell us in the comments!
Samantha Hawrylack is a personal finance expert and full-time entrepreneur with a passion for writing and SEO. She holds a Bachelor’s in Finance and Master’s in Business Administration and previously worked for Vanguard, where she held Series 7 and 63 licenses. Her work has been featured in publications like Grow, MSN, CNBC, Ladders, Rocket Mortgage, Quicken Loans, Clever Girl Finance, Credit Donkey, Crediful, Investing Answers, Well Kept Wallet, AllCards, Mama and Money, and Concreit, among others. She writes in personal finance, real estate, credit, entrepreneurship, credit card, student loan, mortgage, personal loan, insurance, debt management, business, productivity, and career niches.
