How Much Money Do You Need To Make To Be Happy?
 

Using today's cost of living of course.

Some of us live in areas that are inexpensive, and some of us live in expensive areas.

Some of us have mortgages, and some of us rent, or maybe even live at home.

Some of us have kids and/or pets and some of us are single.

The list of variables is endless, I know, but as it's an anonymous poll you can be honest.

"Happy" does not necessarily require a private jet and a fleet of sports cars, but for some, maybe it does... so let's see how the cards fall.

I know the poll is in US dollars but don't let that dissuade you, just convert it to your own currency.

Here's an interesting take on this...

A study by researchers at the University of Warwick and Cardiff University has found that money only makes people happier if it improves their social rank. The researchers found that simply being highly paid wasn't enough - to be happy, people must perceive themselves as being more highly paid than their friends and work colleagues.

http://www.physorg.com/news188476624.html

Money doesn't buy happiness. :)

you are right but a little more $$ always helps..

I don't think I need any money to be happy.

:) Your avatar makes me happy! :)

usually people who don't have money say that...

200k a year is fine for me. :)

$100,000,000 :]

That is about middle class and about right if you want a house, a couple of cars, send your kids to college and have a nice life. If you want an exotic car or want to travel, you need to kick it up a notch...or not have kids.

You think an individual annual income of $200K is middle class?

I always wonder where the dividing class lines are drawn.

Anyone?

If you need money to be happy then you aren't really happy.

Now... if you need money to do the things that you really enjoy (which most of us do) that is a completely different game. A truly happy person will be happy rich or poor.

Yeah, there were times I made very little to no money. All things considered, I was pretty happy.

I used to make just enough money to cover the rent on my little 2 bedroom apartment, pay my bills and go out a few times a week. I think I was a lot happier back then than I am now that I make considerably more.

Enough to cover the monthly bills makes me happy. Everything else is just financial security for the future.

Enough to cover my bar tab every week

No...a family income. 200K is an individual porn income.

What is the average cost living in USA at this moment?

Including only these items:

_Rent or Expenses (living on your own)
_Food, and all services (phone, cell phone, internet, electricity, etc)
_Gym and other activities.
_Health care (in case you don't go the free way)

It will be interesting to know the same for other countries like U.K., Holland or Germany.

.

Around 85k a year

New York City in da house - and WOW is it expensive! If I lived in Georgia, or Indiana, or ANYwhere else where it's less than $2200 a month for a one-bedroom apartment in Spanish Harlem and I'd be livin' like a friggin' king.

Then again, I would be living in _____ and not The Greatest Shitty in the World. So there's always that.

Oh, how much? In NYC: $200,000-$300,000. ANYwhere else (mostly): $100,000 - $199,000.

Because of were I am at in my life I would need at least $300,000

where is your life at and why do you need 300K?

lol..:winkwink:

But seriously, money is great but it won't make you happy. The people who think money will make them happy are usually miserable, because nothing ever really makes them happy. They're always thinking, "well when this happens I will be happy" or "when I have this, then I will be happy".

Where do I begin? I don't even want to talk about it.

Health, family, relationships, friends. I am ashamed at my lack of accomplishments in life.

Well as a single guy I would be happy with 100,000 after taxes :tongue:

and just as importantly, NOT working full time!!!!! 20 hours a week sounds about right lol

I would rather make less and have plenty of free time to do things I like and spend time with family and friends.

oh its annualy ...

With 300k I would be giving %10 of it back every year in the form of my cancer contest. %50 would be invested in mutual funds and the rest would be spent experiencing life.

Same here. in 1998 I think I got my first pornchecks and it was little more than my job
Suddenly, I had the money to buy new computer, go to the restaurant every day, buying computer magazines, go to the movies when I wanted, etc.. Now I earn more, but I am out less, buy fewer magazines and going to the movies less often. Nah more money will not get me be more happy I think.

I think you guys have already succeeded though. Based on what I have earned so far this year I will barely top 30k by the end of 2010.

They say money can't buy happiness? Look at the fucking smile on my face. Ear to ear, baby. - Jim Young, Boiler Room

Oh hahahahahahahahahahahaha !!

it's always going to be a little more than what you're currently making.

Money doesn't buy happiness. It buys things that in turn make you happy.

$250k-$300k a year :thumbsup

$3000-$5000 per month will make my life less stressful

i always wish for more .

Money means freedom, freedom surely makes people happier than stress of not beeing able to pay bills. I think money makes people happy, because they can concentrate on other things in life. But not too much of it...when you don't even know what to buy anymore, you always need some goals to achieve, when you have it all, it sucks.

I'm paying off a mortage, when its paid off and kids will be adults, I won't care how much I make, when I have enough to pay bills and travel.

$20k/month after taxes and im a pretty happy chap

:2 cents:

Money doesn't make me happy...

20k a year) will do, most of all must swallow one's pride and understand that $ not make you happy but little free ...

Money doesn't buy happiness, but I know where you can rent it!

a lot!!!

I need just enough to keep me from working in an office full of assholes, which in turn allows me to maintain my slender grip on sanity.

Money does not motivate me one bit -- its the ability to make my own hours. As long as I have that, I'm happy -- although I wouldn't turn down an opportunity to make a lot of money, unless it involved working in an office with a bunch of assholes.

If I'm going to work for an asshole, it's going to be me.

With the economy the way it is today I agree as long as i cover my bills i am pretty happy about that!

People will always have problems to solve. When you have enough money, you will find other problems and when you are 70 years old and you have your life solved, you will ask yourself, did I ever live my life to the fullest or I worked like a slave to make a lot of money and forgot to live ?

Ask Maddoff.

But you make way more than that, no?

About 5 times what I make now. And if I ever make that much, I'll need to multiply that by 10 to feel happy. And so on...

but it does buy pretty much everything else

sooo true