A Study Reveals That A Limited Amount Of Money Improves Satisfaction, But More Over Does Not Guarantee More Joy. Dive Into The Complex Relationship Between Income And Happiness And Learn Why True Value May Lie In Simple Moments Of Life.
Have you ever stopped to think if happiness can really be bought?
Or better: Is there an exact value that turns life into a fairy tale?
The answers to these intriguing questions may be more complex than one might think.
-
While the world rushes to mine lithium from Congo and Chile, Brazil sits on one of the largest reserves and has barely begun to explore.
-
Heir worked at thirteen in an ice cream factory without revealing he was the owner’s son; today, at twenty-five, he leads the best-selling ice cream brand for home consumption in the Northeast, grosses almost R$ 300 million, has 145 stores, and competes with multinationals with regional flavors.
-
Lock manufacturer from Rio Grande do Sul invests R$ 150 million to surpass R$ 1 billion in revenue, create 200 jobs, and double storage capacity, while choosing Santa Catarina to set up a new logistics center and speed up deliveries in Southern Brazil.
-
Neymar elevates the status of the Northeast with a billion-dollar megaproject of 28 luxury developments, 100 km of turquoise-blue beaches, 10 residential projects already under construction, multimillion-dollar beachfront mansions, an exclusive sports arena, and an expected impressive movement of R$ 7.5 billion in Pernambuco and Alagoas.
A revolutionary study suggests that there is a magic amount that seems to mark the line between full satisfaction and emotional stagnation.
But after all, how much money is needed to reach this state of happiness?
This is a question that challenges minds and hearts, and the answers may surprise.
According to research conducted by Daniel Kahneman and Angus Deaton, this number hovers around R$ 35 thousand monthly.
Up to that amount, each salary increase seems to bring a freshness to life, as if each new Real were a spark of joy.
However, beyond this amount, the sense of well-being seems to stall.
In summary, more money does not necessarily mean more happiness.
The study by Kahneman and Deaton, titled “High Income Improves Evaluation Of Life But Not Emotional Well-Being”, was published in 2010 and sparked a true revolution by demystifying the relationship between income and happiness.
The researchers found that while income improves the overall evaluation of life, the impact on daily emotional well-being has a limit.
Earning more can elevate overall satisfaction, but it does not guarantee happy moments every day.
A new study released last year added more nuances to this debate.
In 2023, Matthew Killingsworth, in collaboration with Kahneman and Barbara Mellers, explored the connection between income and happiness in the article “Income And Emotional Well-Being: A Conflict Resolved”.
This new approach revealed that for members of the “happiest” group, income can still increase happiness even beyond the threshold of R$ 35 thousand monthly.
On the other hand, those who find themselves in the “dark area”, that is, in the group that faces more unhappiness, found that money has a positive impact only up to a certain point.
After that, emotions tend to stabilize.
Killingsworth emphasized that money does not affect everyone in the same way.
For many, a higher income continues to improve quality of life, but it does not eliminate emotional problems.
Money can alleviate concerns, but it is not the solution to everything.
In light of this, an intriguing question arises: if money is not the answer to all our problems, why do we keep chasing it?
Perhaps the reason lies in the fact that even if it does not directly increase happiness, money can offer us protection against life’s challenges.
This idea is commonly referred to as “buying security”.
Kahneman and Deaton made it clear that up to a certain point, money provides more life satisfaction.
However, it is crucial not to be deluded into thinking that simply increasing income will bring happiness.
The secret lies in finding a balance.
Pursuing a stable financial life is important, but it is equally essential to value the small achievements and the moments that truly enrich our lives.
The research makes it clear: after a certain limit, money will not be able to add more happiness to daily life.
As we strive to build a solid financial foundation, we must also dedicate ourselves to what really matters: the simple, often intangible moments that make life worthwhile.
How do you assess the relationship between money and happiness? Do you believe there is an ideal value to achieve full satisfaction?

Acredito que o dinheiro traz felicidade quando é suficiente para pagar as contas e despesas do cotidiano, uma boa alimentação, boa moradia, cuidar da saúde, passeios e viagens, ajudar algumas pessoas e certos imprevistos q possam surgir. Esse valor de R$ 35 mil é suficiente, mas para viver sem exageros e muito luxo