Money buys happiness (but so does sensible financial optimization)

I think a lot of people think that money trumps all. That whoever says money doesn’t buy happiness is a liar. That if you’re not making enough to afford the lifestyle you want (or pay your bills), you need a new, higher-paying job, even if it means giving up time, sleep, peace of mind, or (even) cheerfulness as a result.

So we sacrifice our in-the-moment happiness for an increased salary, more stress and a less than ideal job, believing that more money (at the expense of all else) will make us more happy. Pay now, play later, repeat.

Of course, as Peter Adeney consistently points out, that’s not the only way to make a rewarding life.

You have a huge amount of freedom in how you choose to look at money (the tool, the story, the figures), and how you apply it to obtain value.

Certainly, you can have a more desirable lifestyle if you’re willing to go into a little debt. You can sacrifice financial freedom in exchange for a ever-larger monthly interest expense. And most of all, you can buy into the idea that the need for a higher-paying job (and all the overhead cost that comes with it) is worth the ability to pay for all the things you think you want.

But you can also choose to assess your current lifestyle (where your money goes, where your time goes, and the opportunity cost— and value — of both) and take steps to eliminate debt and reduce the need for more cash.

My point isn’t to say you don’t need more money or a better job (I certainly do). It’s to point out that maybe (possibly) you don’t need more money at the expense of contentment or joy. Maybe you don’t even need (or want) half the things you think you do. Maybe you simply need a better strategy for getting more of what you want out of life.