Money Can't Buy Happiness! Or CAN It? - Page 2

Time-

More play time with ds

More craft time with the girls

More reading time

Money-

A new vehicle I don't have to pray will start every day

Finish the stressful house renovations

Take a vacation

Quote:

Originally Posted by blessed_with_6 

As someone who's average household income went down to a third of what we used to have, with most of the same expenses and expectations, I can say I have DEFINITELY learned that money DOES "buy" happiness as far as it buying the actual TIME.  That money bought the times I spent visiting my parents in Florida.  That money bought the fact that I was a stay at home mom before this.  That money bought the insurance that I took for granted...both health insurance for the NOW...and life insurance for the just in case.  That money bought...well, you have no idea how many things you do that are "quality time" that that money pays for.  Even things you might think of as free actually DO involve money in some way.  A trip to the park...gas, sunscreen, water bottles, whatever.  A day of crafts.  Where did the supplies come from?  And what do you do when they run out for replacements? 

 

I don't miss the big house or the new car or the fancy whatever.  I miss the ability to volunteer MY TIME in my children's classrooms.  I miss the ability to have the TIME to have lunch with my kids at school once in a while.  I miss having the TIME to take a few days to go visit my mom and dad.  I miss TIME with my family more than anything.

 

So while I don't think you have to have lots of money to be happy, I DO think it most DEFINITELY helps in more ways than we ever give it credit.

I totally get this!

I'm having a really hard time thinking of ways to spend money that will improve the enjoyment of my time. So far I have:

1. Take the boys to a movie in the theater.

2. Hire a cleaning lady for once a week/month.

3. Buy some new books. (That was hard b/c I know I can just get them at the library!)

Direction of my time is actually the main problem I have. It's not that I don't have enough time in the day, it's that I spend it poorly. 

1. Spend more time actually doing my homework. (instead of saying I'm doing homework, but also have Twitter and Facebook open or texting on my phone)

2. Spend less time on Twitter and Facebook.

3. Spend more time playing the boys.

4. Spend more time socializing with friends.

5. Spend more time doing yoga/meditation and reflection type things.

I'm not going to get into the whole argument going on here... I think people have different perspectives from our varying experiences and personalities combined.  I have to say that living 2 years in poverty caused me to address some of the unhappiness that I was trying to remedy with money, but was really a deeper issue.  And living 2 years in poverty also caused me to get creative with my time and make happy memories happen without having to spend money.  Now that we are making 2-3 times what our income was in those 2 years, I can see that the money in many ways just adds stress.  I agree (FROM My OWN EXPERIENCE) that money does not make happiness.... sometimes it masks unhappiness temporarily, but it is how you spend your time and how you treat each other that results in a happy home (IMHO).

So here's my list...

TIME                                                                                 MONEY
1. Plan new and creative dates to go on with Hubby.              1. Splurge on one date night OUT each month.       

2. Plan more play dates.                                                      2. Save for a trip to Disneyland.

3. Bake something 1 x a week.                                             3. Take a cake decorating class.

4. Spend 30 minutes creating each day.                                4. Invest in organizers for my craft/sewing supply.

5. Sew for fun more often.                                                    5. Get my overlock machine fixed or buy a new one.

6. Tackle 1 organization job each week.                                 6. Pay down my credit cards.

7. Plan fun activities to do with the girls.                                7. Take the girls on some fun outings (tea house, plays, etc.)

8. Spend mornings I get up early praying or reading.                8. Purchase more books to read.

9. Do something to pamper myself 1 x a week.                       9. Get a spa treatment every few months

10. Exercise 3-5 times a week                                              10. Purchase a gym membership.

I would say that money can buy freedom as long as you use it wisely.

Time:

1.Playing games with my kids more often

2.Finding ways to have date night at home

3.Spend more time baking

4.Spend more time creating and making my home more homey

5.Exercise 3+ times a week

Money:

1.Taking my kids to movies or concerts

2.Getting my hair and nails done

3. Pay off all credit cards

4. Take an annual vacation on cash

5. Finish the basement renovations and get new furniture

Quote:

Originally Posted by musicalmommy 

Time-

More play time with ds

More craft time with the girls

More reading time

 

Money-

A new vehicle I don't have to pray will start every day

Finish the stressful house renovations

Take a vacation

Looking over my last year list I have been better with the time ones. My money list isn't more of a buying happiness directly as more of a reduce stressers that will in turn then help increase happiness. Unfortunately the top money one became more of a priority since my car went from praying it will start to pretty much not start more than it does, plus has terrible tires.

2013

time- at least once a month date night

cook/bake new recipes

make time to workout

money- replace broken down car

build savings

buy actual organizers to help keep the house clean instead of the flimsy makeshift ones I slapped together

Quote:

Originally Posted by ember15 

I really enjoyed this.  I can agree that more money would end the frustration of having to balance healthy choices with what we can afford.  I would love to be able to take a vacation and not have to worry about how much I was spending. I would love to give to the causes I support. While I can agree that money doesn't buy happiness the lack of money can sure curtail doing the activities that bring you joy.

 

 

Time	Money
Walking with a friend	Join a gym or Fitness Class
Teaching someone to knit	Plant and Grow a garden as a family
Volunteer activities with Girl Scouts	Buy organizers for my craft supplies
Planning and Attending playdates	Go out to Coffee with a friend
Knitting more	Drive to visit out of town friends
Sewing more	Buy a Discouver pass or a National Parks pass
Going to Scrapbook crops	New bikes
Family game night	More Organic & Non Processed food
Date Night	Buy a few new books
Cooking new healthy things	Buy a new board game

 

You know looking at my list I have actually done most everything to some degree in this past year. 

Two big focuses are currently getting re-organized and continuing toward healthier living. Working on these is making me happier

Ways MONEY can enhance my favorite activities in 2013

Spending money to re-organize, shelving containers, paint etc

Investing in more fitness equipment. Keep taking the fitness classes I have started.

Ways direction of TIME can enhance my life in 2013:

Spending much time right now at least in re-structuring my home I need to have the space I have function differently and spending the time to do it will enhance my life. Instead of trying to have a guest room/kids room it is just a kids room, Formal living to a Play and rec room, Craft room to a Den/craft room. Much of it is moving or re purposing what I already have.

More family walks and hikes Had some really great ones in 2012 continuing will be fantastic