© 2025 Rachel L. Shumate | All rights reserved.
You know that old adage that says money can’t buy happiness? Yeah, that’s a blatant lie. Money can buy books and coffee, and that’s basically the same thing. Ever been sad sipping a latte, or picking out your next favorite read at the bookstore? Not me!
All jokes aside, I do understand that you can’t actually buy the things that are truly important in life, and that’s a fact. However, it’s also my personal opinion that money can certainly do a hell of a lot to contribute to your overall happiness. And if you just cringed a bit, hear me out…
Society tends to send the message to women that we’re terrible at managing our money, and that we shouldn’t want more of it anyway. (Hello, patriarchy…) And if it was instilled in you at a young age that money doesn’t grow on trees, that it’s the root of all evil, that it will turn you into a bad person, or any number of other negative things, chances are you have a love-hate relationship with the green stuff. Probably you would like to have more of it (I mean, who wouldn’t?!), but feel guilty about this desire because you’re not supposed to care about such things. And just for fun, let’s add to the mix that the media says your “frivolous spending” on things like lattes and other little commodities is keeping you from being in your dream tax bracket. I’m all about some responsible spending, but please let me reassure you that all of the above is a bunch of B.S. – And by the way, St. Paul is misquoted all the time. It’s the LOVE of money that’s the root of all evil, not money itself. (1 Timothy 6:10)
Money is simply a tool and resource – one that controls nearly every aspect of our lives. What matters is how you use it. Think of it like a car. Two people can have the same exact car, but the first person exhibits terrible road rage, is a total menace and reckless driver, doesn’t take good care of the vehicle, and so forth. While the second person is a model citizen, cautious driver, does all the proper maintenance, and even carpools. If the first person deliberately commits a hit and run (I know; yikes), is the car to blame? I don’t think money changes people. I think if anything, it only magnifies someone’s true character. And frankly, I’d rather be a Dolly Parton than an Elon Musk any day. I have to say, I look forward to becoming rich and famous (yeah, I’m putting that out in the universe…), so that I can both advance my financial wellbeing AND continue to donate to causes that resonate with me – just on a much larger scale! (I can’t wait to be a badass philanthropist who also travels the world in luxury.)
Let’s get back to the happiness aspect, now that we’ve cleared up that having money isn’t a bad thing. While I have been blessed to not know true poverty, I have experienced what it’s like to be broke as well as financially comfortable, and all the stages in between. And I can personally attest to the fact that money can improve your quality of living, and thus increase your happiness in a multitude of ways. Keep in mind that purchasing material items can only give you temporary feelings of euphoria, so that’s not where I’m going with this. Though of course, occasionally treating yourself to something you really want and will enjoy is quite nice. (See coffee and book reference above.) However, it’s things such as a cozy home, education, health appointments, vacations, even food delivery that can truly bring joy and contentment. (You get the idea.) Heck, just not stressing over bills is a big dang deal. If you’ve had the privilege of never having had to worry about such things, I invite you to please take a moment to let that sink in… Or, if you know firsthand what I’m talking about, I feel ya… There are so many ways that being financially stable and independent can help your overall happiness if you look at it from this perspective.
And possibly one of the best ways that money can boost your happiness is when you use it to buy back your time (when affordable). Time is our greatest currency, and it’s rather limited. So obviously, it’s best to cherish it and use it wisely. When we hire out services for things we don’t enjoy, and that take up our precious time, that my friend, is the real (and next level) flex. This is why uberwealthy people have managers, personal assistants, house cleaners, personal chefs, etc. They have teams of people working for them, and then they use the time they’ve bought back to enjoy life, as well as earn additional revenue. For me, this realization was a bit of an ah-ha moment; and shortly thereafter I gleefully hired someone to clean our house. We can call it a catalyst, or simply a great excuse, because I seriously loathe cleaning bathrooms… Your pick. Either way, I don’t have to scrub my shower, and I can use the time gained to do other things. We also pay a company to do our lawncare for this same reason. We don’t have a personal chef yet (Hey, I can dream…), but the day that happens, you’ll know because I’ll be happy-dancing all over the internet.
So, what do you think…? Do you see how money can improve your happiness? I personally feel that it’s a very helpful tool in creating a life you love, and I don’t think wanting more of it is such a terrible thing. So, don’t let guilt hold you back from your earning potential. Know your worth and negotiate your salary accordingly (ALWAYS; never take the first offer). If you’ve been at your position for a while, perhaps ask for a raise… Or maybe start a side hustle. Definitely budget, live below your means, and create an emergency fund. If you haven’t already, start saving for retirement. Think about getting a financial planner. I also highly recommend setting up a high-yield savings account. Heck, you could simply have a garage sale for some quick cash. There are a lot of ways to build your bank account. When you have more money at your disposal, use it to better your life. And when you can, consider contributing to charities close to your heart. Money, in the right hands, can do amazing things.
PS: You might also like this article.
PPS: These books are good reads along this topic:
- We Should All Be Millionaires: A Woman’s Guide to Earning More, Building Wealth, and Gaining Economic Power by Rachel Rodgers
- You Are a Badass at Making Money: Master the Mindset of Wealth by Jen Sincero
- Professional Troublemaker: The Fear-Fighter Manual by Luvvie Ajayi Jones
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