I’ve had the phrase “money can’t buy happiness” on the brain a lot lately with things going on in my life. My first instinct when I hear that quote is to make the quip “whoever said that surely never had financial anxiety in their life”. I think over the years, that sentiment has been rather misinterpreted, and by extension, ingrained into us incorrectly.
Money Can Buy Happiness
I fully believe money can buy happiness. But I also believe there’s certain types of happiness. As I write this, we need to make some not insignificant repairs to the trailer I’ve lived in since the first grade. I was talking to someone about this who suggested we look into getting a new trailer and putting it onto the land. While I love that idea, the cost of these “modular homes” has gone up significantly in the last several decades. The repairs will probably cost us around 20k while a new trailer would be somewhere in the range of about 70-120k in my area. For context, my father paid around 27k for our trailer.
What does happiness look like in this situation? Resolving those issues. Waking up in the morning and not having the first things I see be about problems we can’t solve right now. While fixing the trailer is the more economical choice, it’s not out of line to say both options feel equally unattainable at this time. Our environments have an impact on our mental health.
Right now, I live with my mother. Dad’s no longer with us. Whenever I didn’t live at home, I’d be a lot happier, probably from the sheer fact of waking up somewhere that wasn’t like it was at home. Whether it’s fixing or or buying new, this is a problem that would be solved by money. This is an unhappiness that gets resolved by something else.
There’s Some Things Money Can’t Buy
My last name is Stransky, not Scrooge, so I can fully admit there’s some happiness that money can’t buy and can only be found through living life: the feeling of someone you love in your arms, the goofy little smile you get when they do something so innocuous but so cute, seeing your kids graduate college, trips and laughter with your friends, and so much more.
But even these things can be affected by those “money happiness” problems. I can finally put names to my mental health issues and can finally see where those connections can exist.
Imagine battling depression and every day waking up to reminders of those issues. And then being embarrassed about them, meaning you don’t have your friends over. Now you’re home and depressed about the issues and lonely because you can’t just chill with your friend an watch a movie. Then the other issues pile up and it spirals. But then I think about how many ways I’d be different in the darkness even with those little changes. That’s why I think maybe we should be reframing how we teach this.;
Money Can’t Buy All Happiness
I see nothing wrong with teaching children to value people and relationships and the wealth that provides. But too often, that saying and the effects of its continued teaching, invalidate a huge portion of problems that can only be solved by money.
By all means, teach your kids that even if you can afford to live on a private island, by all means do so, but remember you’ll be lonely if you don’t have folks to share it with. But don’t sugar coat the world to them. Be honest with them, sometimes there are problems that only money can solve. It’s 2025 and we really need to stop pretending that “as long as you’re rich in friends you have everything you need”. That’s simply. not true. The reality that they should be being taught is that money can’t buy all happiness, but it should never be a replacement for connection, love, and living.
Before you click away, take a moment to think about the two types of happiness I mentioned. What’s one “money happiness” problem that’s taking up space in your mind, and what’s one “life happiness” moment you’re grateful for today? Acknowledging both is part of the balance. If you feel comfortable, feel free to share in the comments so others can offer support and encouragement.
Featured Image: Photo by Count Chris on Unsplash
Dan Stransky 