Money Sure Doesn't Buy Happiness - But It Does Help!

One thing I've consistently noticed is that whenever my savings or retirement accounts increase in value, I am transiently, slightly happier. When they drop, I'm typically not concerned, and when trades go awry, I'm slightly negatively affected. In other words, my emotions are very loosely attached to my finances. Even though I'm living on a very tight budget and stringently saving, and certainly not living what one what consider a particularly comfortable lifestyle, I'm confident in my ability to improve my financial situation over time. That's a mental load that a lot of people carry, but is not as significant for me, even though I haven't reached that point of financial comfort just yet.

Everything in my life directly affects my emotions far more than finances. It's a testament to the fact that money certainly doesn't buy happiness. However, it's excellent to not have the additional load of financial struggles hovering over you.

I do intend to continue stringently improving my financial situation. This is the time to do it - it gives time for growth so that I can, indeed, be comfortable later in life. Not having to spend my retirement years worrying about living day to day, or whether my future family will be able to afford basic needs, and instead focusing on doing what makes me happy.

In that very indirect sense, money buys happiness - but only through actions that I take with the comfort of knowing that I have it in case life takes a left turn. No matter how much money I have, it's still ultimately up to me to create my own happiness.

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