# Are you happy? **URL:** \ **Category:** In My Humble Opinion\ **Created:** [October 3, 2006, 9:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-you-happy/375161 "2006-10-03T21:48:47Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![cowgirl](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/8c91f0/32.png) [@cowgirl](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/cowgirl)\ **Post date:** [October 3, 2006, 9:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-you-happy/375161/1 "2006-10-03T21:48:47Z")
Over in GD we are debating whether money can buy happiness. So, a simple poll (with commentary, where appropriate, about how the two are related in your case) 1. Are you happy? Why? 2. How would you describe your financial situation? I have a theory about (2) but I’ll wait for a few responses … ---
**Author:** ![RickJay](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/bb73d2/32.png) [@RickJay](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/RickJay)\ **Post date:** [October 3, 2006, 10:06pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-you-happy/375161/2 "2006-10-03T22:06:21Z")
1. Yes. I have a beautiful wife, a cute baby, a decent enough house and the baseball playoffs are on. 2. Could be better. We’re doing OK but have a lot of debt. We can service it but there’s little flexibility. ---
**Author:** ![sandra\_nz](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/eada6e/32.png) [@sandra\_nz](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/sandra_nz)\ **Post date:** [October 3, 2006, 10:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-you-happy/375161/3 "2006-10-03T22:09:28Z")
1. Yes, I am happy. I have a husband who loves me, a good job, good friends and good health. 2. Although my husband and I earn above average incomes, we also have significant debt in the form of student loans, so our overall financial position is negative. ---
**Author:** ![Lissa](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/85f322/32.png) [@Lissa](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lissa)\ **Post date:** [October 3, 2006, 10:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-you-happy/375161/4 "2006-10-03T22:23:16Z")
1. I’m very happy. I have a wonderful relationship with my husband, a nice home, three lovely dogs and all the books I can read. My job is awesome-- it’s the work I want to do and my boss/co-workers are great. 2. Worse than it needs to be. All of our issues stem from discretionary spending. But, in a way, that is part of the “happiness” thing: if we want something, we buy it, or if we want to go somewhere for vacation, we go. I think any person is happier when they’re able to indulge their wants, whatever they may be. ---
**Author:** ![Kalhoun](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/3bc359/32.png) [@Kalhoun](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Kalhoun)\ **Post date:** [October 3, 2006, 10:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-you-happy/375161/5 "2006-10-03T22:32:27Z")
I don’t think I’d use the word “happy.” I think it’s more along the lines of “content.” I want for no necessities, I’m in a position to help those less fortunate than me, and I have my health. Everything’s Jake. ---
**Author:** ![Kuizelemartz](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/e19b73/32.png) [@Kuizelemartz](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Kuizelemartz)\ **Post date:** [October 3, 2006, 10:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-you-happy/375161/6 "2006-10-03T22:35:54Z")
1. Not happy at all. Second marriage didn’t work and it changed my outlook on life. 2. No bills, money in the bank. I’m guessing if I went out and did happy things, I would have less money. ---
**Author:** ![alice\_in\_wonderland](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/alice_in_wonderland/32/176_2.png) [@alice\_in\_wonderland](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/alice_in_wonderland)\ **Post date:** [October 3, 2006, 10:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-you-happy/375161/7 "2006-10-03T22:37:50Z")
1. Very happy, despite current “issues” stressing me out big time. 2. Financially comfortable. ---
**Author:** ![Anaamika](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/5f9b8f/32.png) [@Anaamika](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Anaamika)\ **Post date:** [October 3, 2006, 10:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-you-happy/375161/8 "2006-10-03T22:44:10Z")
1. Lots of issues also, but I’m happy because I’m making my own choices about those issues, and to me that’s more important than anything else. 2. We’re lower middle class economically. But we have enough to buy our entertainments and a few luxuries, so I am just fine. ---
**Author:** ![Cat\_Whisperer](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/cat_whisperer/32/4839_2.png) [@Cat\_Whisperer](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Cat_Whisperer)\ **Post date:** [October 3, 2006, 10:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-you-happy/375161/9 "2006-10-03T22:45:40Z")
Excellent question. 1. Mostly happy. There are a few issues in my life (career-related) that I am working on. They are stubborn, but so am I. 😃 2. Our finances are not good due to large debts other than our mortgage. We are in the process of re-financing our home to consolidate these debts, and that prospect looks very promising (taking advantage of our low mortgage and high equity position in a red-hot real estate market). **Kuizelemartz** , there is an old saying that life is 10% what happens to us and 90% what we make of it. ---
**Author:** ![Cat\_Whisperer](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/cat_whisperer/32/4839_2.png) [@Cat\_Whisperer](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Cat_Whisperer)\ **Post date:** [October 3, 2006, 10:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-you-happy/375161/10 "2006-10-03T22:48:00Z")
As for money buying happiness, I’ve been poor, but I’ve never been rich. I’d be willing to give it a try, and report back to you. ---
**Author:** ![Quasimodal](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/q/57b2e6/32.png) [@Quasimodal](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Quasimodal)\ **Post date:** [October 3, 2006, 10:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-you-happy/375161/11 "2006-10-03T22:48:50Z")
1. I’m young, have a full time teaching job, single, healthy and am a part time musician 2. I am almost debt free and am planning to travel to Europe in summer. I am happy! ---
**Author:** ![Cisco](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/ccd318/32.png) [@Cisco](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Cisco)\ **Post date:** [October 3, 2006, 10:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-you-happy/375161/12 "2006-10-03T22:51:34Z")
1. No. I love my wife, own a nice little house with a pool, two new cars, etc., but I really, really hate my job. I hate my whole industry, and even the _type_ of work I do (office work), but it’s all I know how to do, and I can’t afford to start at the bottom in another career what with my nice little house with a pool, two new cars, etc. It’s quite frustrating and a little depressing to boot. 2. We’re not bursting at the seems with money or anything, but we’re both paying into our 401k’s and we have several months’ reserves in savings. I’d say we’re very slightly ahead of the game for our age group. ---
**Author:** ![Quasimodal](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/q/57b2e6/32.png) [@Quasimodal](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Quasimodal)\ **Post date:** [October 3, 2006, 10:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-you-happy/375161/13 "2006-10-03T22:51:40Z")
PS: I think it’s cool that this thread at this point has exactly 11 posts out of 12 views! Thats a killer batting average right now! ---
**Author:** ![Freddy\_the\_Pig](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/a587f6/32.png) [@Freddy\_the\_Pig](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Freddy_the_Pig)\ **Post date:** [October 3, 2006, 10:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-you-happy/375161/14 "2006-10-03T22:52:06Z")
1. No. 2. No worries at all. ---
**Author:** ![brendon\_small](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/brendon_small/32/17101_2.png) [@brendon\_small](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/brendon_small)\ **Post date:** [October 3, 2006, 10:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-you-happy/375161/15 "2006-10-03T22:56:34Z")
1. Are you happy? Why? Pretty much always. I’m a lot happier recently… 2. How would you describe your financial situation? Not too bad. We make enough to pay the bills and have a little to play with - my debt is almost completely gone (the 11th of this month is my last payment!) and my gf’s is being handled without problem to us (as in she pays the bills every month on it and it’s getting taken care of, but we don’t suffer because of it). I will say that once I left my job and started being a tutor part time, my income has been a little less but my happiness has went way up! Brendon ---
**Author:** ![kelly5078](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/6f9a4e/32.png) [@kelly5078](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kelly5078)\ **Post date:** [October 3, 2006, 10:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-you-happy/375161/16 "2006-10-03T22:58:58Z")
1. Overall, yes. I’m in kind of a whiny mood at the moment, brought on by nagging insomnia, but really, life is good. 2. Doing quite well, as long as no one gets canned. Could get by, albeit with significant belt tightening, if one of us were. ---
**Author:** ![Baron\_Greenback](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/baron_greenback/32/48_2.png) [@Baron\_Greenback](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Baron_Greenback)\ **Post date:** [October 3, 2006, 11:01pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-you-happy/375161/17 "2006-10-03T23:01:53Z")
1. Yes, I’m quite content just now. I lead a much simpler life than I did, and I prefer it that way. I’m solvent, I own my place, and I’ve got another one in the country that I’ve almost paid for. 2. I was lucky with IT companies flinging cash around. ---
**Author:** ![Sonia\_Montdore](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/90ced4/32.png) [@Sonia\_Montdore](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sonia_Montdore)\ **Post date:** [October 3, 2006, 11:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-you-happy/375161/18 "2006-10-03T23:56:43Z")
1. Yes. I want to stay right here 'cause these are the good old days. I have a good husband, a child who’s doing well in college, friends, a nice house, a vacation place, and health. I travel. I am very active in my community. Also, I’ve just lost 65 pounds. Life is good. 2. Comfortable. Not rolling in gold coins like Zazu Pitts in _Greed_, but with little debt. The cars are paid for and I could pay off the mortgage tomorrow if I had to. Got a nice little retirement fund. ---
**Author:** ![the\_chicken\_of\_exeter](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/ac8455/32.png) [@the\_chicken\_of\_exeter](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/the_chicken_of_exeter)\ **Post date:** [October 4, 2006, 12:11am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-you-happy/375161/19 "2006-10-04T00:11:32Z")
1. Sort of. I am manic depressive but I have finally got my dosage right, university is better than school by a factor of about 8 million, and I don’t have to live at home any more. 2. I have student debts of about £2000 right now, but uni is a LOT cheaper in the UK and I should have my total debt paid within a few years of graduating. I’m not that worried about it. ---
**Author:** ![dangermom](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/e274bd/32.png) [@dangermom](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/dangermom)\ **Post date:** [October 4, 2006, 12:26am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-you-happy/375161/20 "2006-10-04T00:26:07Z")
Yep. I have a great family, a loving husband and two adorable (and intelligent) daughters, I get to do pretty much what I want to do, and I have a cheerful disposition anyway. Fine. Husband is currently looking for a new job, and it may entail a salary cut, which would be kind of a bummer but survivable. We are trapped in our house, because we live in an insane market and if we moved, our taxes would quadruple and the mortgage payment would double, so I’m not thrilled about that. I want to save more. So: I can’t really complain, but things could always get better. [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-you-happy/375161.md?page=2)