We have all felt the weight of money in our current climate, and not in a good way. Personally, money has been the most significant stressor in my life for the past few months. The thought of money has made me sad, angry and ready to pull my hair out. 

That being said, I realized that while I’m content with my relationships, motivation and progress — I still couldn’t find myself being happy, which made me think that maybe money does buy happiness. 

Inflation has been a killer to everyone’s pockets. From groceries to gas to increased rent, it’s hard to escape the worry of having enough money to pay for basic necessities. 

This summer, I found myself working six days a week. On three of those days, I was at an unpaid internship. For the other three, I worked at European Wax Center. Losing out on making money three days out of the week made a big dent in my paycheck and my happiness. 

Not only did I notice this for myself, but I also noticed this in my friends. One of my friends had been looking for a job for two months but couldn’t find any place that would hire her. She was running out of money fast, and I saw a decline in her mental health throughout her job search. There was a correlation between the amount of money she had and her satisfaction with life.

Throughout the summer, it was becoming more and more evident that money does buy a certain level of happiness. In the past, I’ve been the type to say happiness comes from within, from fulfilling relationships and doing what you love. But how can you have those things without being financially stable and not worrying about money?

I know everyone’s situation is different, and I know that individuals without the worry of money have ailments, too. However, I also believe that financial freedom would make millions of people significantly happier.

It allows you to indulge more in the hobbies you love, spend more time with the people you love and love life just a little bit more. Not everyone recognizes having a significant amount of money is a level of freedom. 

With that freedom comes the opportunity to live beyond restraint. The ability to generate wealth and live beyond the fear of not having enough money creates a sense of security, fueling that happiness in your life. This also tends to seep into other areas of your life.

For example, if you’re financially secure, you aren’t affecting your kids and those around you with your stress. It allows everyone to feel free and happy to enjoy whatever they want. 

In a perfect world, money wouldn’t be an influencer of happiness, but in a world where many people are living paycheck to paycheck and worrying about how they will afford basic necessities — money becomes a significant factor in their overall happiness and mental health.