I often if not always felt that if I had more money, as in, if my parents were continuosly rich from the time I was born, and we always had a big house, garden, lots of cars or at least several ones and technology, I would be a happy and happier man.
But is that just an illusion (read - rich people also suffer and cry)?
But does more money make at least SOME people more happy?
Yes, more money makes some people more happy. Generic answer to a generic question.
But going deeper, it not only depends on the individual, but it also depends on how you come by the money and the consequences of that. For example, if you win a huge million-dollar sum via the lottery, then you will most likely be in the news and on TV and people will know who you are. That's not great for everyone. People treat you differently once you have money, with those you know well often treating you worse. For people with addictions, more money just means more money for drugs, with little to no change or effect elsewhere in their lives. If you're on a reality tv show and gain wealth as a result...there's just too many variables to consider so it has to be a person by person basis when it comes to answering this question.
Personally, I believe that, no matter the sum, had my family had more money growing up, my parents still would have lived outside their means and it would have been like they received the same amount of money. I as an adult, on the other hand, have learned a lot about frugality and wastefulness, so I think I as an individual would be plenty happy with a strings-free serving of cold hard cash. Not true of everyone, but definitely of some people.
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