Indeed, money may be more effective in making us unhappy rather than the other way around. Receiving an increase in salary may only produce temporary happiness, but getting a decrease in salary can
Sociological researcher Glenn Firebaugh claims that it is not just a question of having or not having a lot of money. The key factor is whether or not you have a lot of money compared to those around you. People can be quite satisfied with their salaries for example, until they find out that their peers make more. This pursuit to maintain equal or higher levels of income and purchasing habits as others around us (or "keeping up with the Joneses", as the common expression goes) turns life into a never- ending competition. Says Firebaugh, "Rather than promoting overall happiness, continued income growth could promote an ongoing consumption race where individuals consume more and more just to maintain a constant level of happiness."
sociologists further point out that to earn a large amount of money we often have to sacrifice the things that truly make us happy. Strong relationships such as a loving family, a strong marriage, and good friends are among the most powerful predictors of happiness and satisfaction with life. Simply finding what you love to do and having time to do it is also a key factor. In most cases, the amount of money you make has little effect on these things and quite often requires us to actually spend less time doing what really makes us happy. High-paying jobs tend to be very demanding, and can leave people with little energy left over for their loved ones and hobbies
So what place should money have in your life? This is entirely up to you, but consider what you would like to say when you look back on your life in your golden years. My marriage fell apart my children are strangers to me, and generally Ewas always quite miserable and stressed from my high-paying job, but l drove the best car in my neighborhood! ts that really wha life is all about?