$pent Millennial

We have all heard it- the adage, “Money can’t buy you happiness”. Lately, that has been taken into question, and rightfully so. The new argument against the old saying speaks to the fact that while rolling around in gold bars might not solve ALL your problems or bring about the same type of rich pleasure and delight that comes from treasured relationships, warm sunshine, or dancing until you are dizzy, the sense of contentment and ease that comes with peace of mind that you have, at the very least, enough cannot be denied. 

And I agree. 

As someone who genuinely believes you can live more while spending less and that simple joys bring deeper happiness and wellness than large financial gains, I acknowledge that this is only true once basic needs are met – see the first two base levels of Maslow’s Hierarchy of Needs. So, here I will share 8 ways money did buy me happiness this past week. 

1. My rent for the coming month was paid- worry-free. 

2. When an emergency came up, I had the money in a dedicated account to cover it without stressing about when it would be returned or what other things would be sacrificed to pay for it. 

3. When the end of the month came, and we hadn’t used our “treat” budget, we were able to bring in pizza for dinner allowing me an extra few hours to work on grant research for a nonprofit I volunteer on the board for and straighten up my home office a bit instead of prepping a meal. 

4. Realizing I didn’t have cash for my laundry card, was easily solved with a cashback purchase at Target. 

5. The items bought for the cashback were delicious brownies and an inspiring mug to celebrate a job well done at work that day. 

6. When my boyfriend chose a more expensive dish detergent over a cheaper one for some reason I didn’t understand, I could say, “You made the right choice” (which was all he wanted to hear) instead of stressing out about it or causing a silly fight over a $2 price difference in detergent. 

7. Even though it isn’t a pay week, we have money in our accounts to buy groceries to start the month- something I could never say when I lived paycheck to paycheck. 

8. I get to enjoy a Saturday coffee date with my sister while I write this. (That’s right, the $7 latte). 

While none of this is the sexy, flashy excitement of drinking White Claws on a pontoon boat or jet setting on a trip to Europe, which I am sure brings their own kind of joy (I wouldn’t know. I’m not in that tax bracket), I think it is important to acknowledge the privilege of having enough and the modest and humble happiness it brings. 

What do you think? Has money bought you happiness in the past week?