A study reveals that a limited amount of money improves satisfaction, but beyond that, it does not guarantee more joy. Delve into the complex relationship between income and happiness and learn why true value can be found in the simple moments of life.
Have you ever stopped to think if happiness can really be bought?
Or rather: is there an exact value that turns life into a fairy tale?
The answers to these intriguing questions may be more complex than you might think.
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Um revolutionary study suggests that there is a magic amount that seems to mark the line between complete satisfaction and emotional stagnation.
But after all, how much money is needed to achieve this state of happiness?
This is a question that challenges minds and hearts, and the answers may surprise you.
According to a survey conducted by Daniel kahneman e Angus Deaton, this number is around R$35 thousand monthly.
Up to this point, each salary increase seems to bring a freshness to life, as if each new Real were a spark of joy.
However, when this amount is exceeded, the feeling of well-being seems to plateau.
In short, more money does not necessarily mean more happiness.
Kahneman and Deaton's study, entitled “High income improves evaluation of life but not emotional well-being”, was published in 2010 and caused a true revolution by demystifying the relationship between income and happiness.
Researchers found that while income improves overall life assessment, its impact on daily emotional well-being has a limit.
Earning more can increase overall satisfaction, but it does not guarantee happy moments every day.
New research released last year brought more nuance 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 those in the “happiest” group, income can still increase happiness even beyond the “happy” line. R$35 thousand monthly.
On the other hand, those who find themselves in the “dark zone”, that is, in the group that faces more unhappiness, realized that money has a positive impact only up to a certain point.
After that, emotions tend to stabilize.
Killingsworth stressed that money does not affect everyone in the same way.
For many, higher income continues to improve quality of life, but it does not eliminate emotional problems.
Money can ease worries, but it is not the solution to everything.
Given this, an intriguing question arises: if money is not the answer to all our questions, why do we continue to chase it?
Perhaps the reason lies in the fact that, even if it doesn't directly increase happiness, money can offer us a buffer against life's challenges.
This idea is commonly referred to as “safety buying.”
Kahneman and Deaton made it clear that, to a certain extent, money provides more life satisfaction.
However, it is crucial not to delude yourself into thinking that simply increasing your income will bring happiness.
The secret is finding a balance.
Search for a life Financial stability 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 no longer be able to add more happiness to everyday life.
As we strive to build a solid financial foundation, we must also focus on what really matters: the simple, often intangible moments that make life worth living.
How do you assess the relationship between money and happiness? Do you believe there is an ideal amount to achieve complete satisfaction?
I believe that money brings happiness when it is enough to pay bills and daily expenses, eat well, have a good home, take care of your health, go on trips and outings, help some people and pay for certain unforeseen events that may arise. This amount of R$35 thousand is enough, but to live without excesses and too many luxuries.