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How do you define having "enough" money? There was a Wall Street Journal survey many years ago and the majority who responded said something like "If I made twi

How do you define having "enough" money? There was a Wall Street Journal survey many years ago and the majority who responded said something like "If I made twice as much money as I do now I'd be happy." Never mind the fact that the survey covered enough income levels that people who made $30k were wishing for $60k and those who made $60k were wishing for $120k. I think unfortunately for most people their expenditures rise with their income and they struggle to get ahead. I'm not saying striving to get ahead is wrong, I'm just saying some people end up treading water no matter where they are. WSJ has definitely tried to answer "how much is enough" and googling for that returns things like https://www.wsj.com/articles/can-money-buy-happiness-heres-what-science-has-to-say-1415569538 https://www.wsj.com/articles/can-money-buy-happiness-heres-w... >What matters a lot more than a big income is how people spend it. And https://blogs.wsj.com/wealth/2010/09/07/the-perfect-salary-for-happiness-75000-a-year/ https://blogs.wsj.com/wealth/2010/09/07/the-perfect-salary-f... >The Perfect Salary for Happiness: $75,000 I'm not sure there's really one answer.

jghn 9y ago
Over the last 5 years my salary has doubled, so I suppose I can look at this thought experiment pretty objectively. The short answer is that you're right but so are they. I am happier, but not as happy as I thought I'd be because my expenses have also increased. Also, beyond increased expenses the horizon of what is possible has also improved and those things are more expensive. So yes, there's all of that. But as i started with I am happier due to having more money. There are all sorts of things I'm able to just do without thinking about it now, things where I'd previously need to consider "if I do X I wont be able to do Y next week". I don't have to trade a retirement savings for a comfortable lifestyle. I'm able to afford more and better leisure activities. And then, to tie it back to your side, I go visit my friends who make twice as much as I do and I realize how much better off I could be.
- technofiend 9y ago
  If I can presume to summarize your thoughts which coincidentally line up with mine: "Happiness increases with income, but not linearly."
  - jghn 9y ago
    Yep, that's a better tl;dr than the one I tried to give before I rambled off. That and confirming the aspect the person I was replying to had mentioned where as income increases one tends to change the goalposts.

jghn 9y ago

Over the last 5 years my salary has doubled, so I suppose I can look at this thought experiment pretty objectively. The short answer is that you're right but so are they. I am happier, but not as happy as I thought I'd be because my expenses have also increased. Also, beyond increased expenses the horizon of what is possible has also improved and those things are more expensive. So yes, there's all of that. But as i started with I am happier due to having more money. There are all sorts of things I'm able to just do without thinking about it now, things where I'd previously need to consider "if I do X I wont be able to do Y next week". I don't have to trade a retirement savings for a comfortable lifestyle. I'm able to afford more and better leisure activities. And then, to tie it back to your side, I go visit my friends who make twice as much as I do and I realize how much better off I could be.

technofiend 9y ago
If I can presume to summarize your thoughts which coincidentally line up with mine: "Happiness increases with income, but not linearly."
- jghn 9y ago
  Yep, that's a better tl;dr than the one I tried to give before I rambled off. That and confirming the aspect the person I was replying to had mentioned where as income increases one tends to change the goalposts.