A cool $161,000 makes us happy
A new global survey finds that people do need quite a bit of cash to feel content.
What does it take to make Earthlings happy? An average salary of $161,000 is a good place to start.A new study by Skandia International asked people in 13 countries about what level of income they would need to feel "really happy." The responses varied by country, but averaged out at about 15 times the global individual income average of $10,700. Yeah, I'd say $161,000 would be enough to put a smile on most faces.
Skandia skipped the U.S. in its survey, so we don't know what level of money brings happiness here. But of the countries surveyed, those hard-working, stoic Germans had the most modest needs, saying that only $85,781 would be necessary. Everyone else zipped up past the $100,000 mark, with France coming in at $114,344 and the United Kingdom at $133,010.
Residents of Hong Kong, Singapore and Dubai had the highest totals, with Dubai coming in first with an average of $276,150 for pure happiness.
And money does in fact equate to happiness for most respondents. About 80% said that money would make them happy, the researchers said. That percentage rose to 93% percent in Brazil, while Europeans didn't see as much correlation between money and happiness. In Germany, only 68% of people equated money with happiness.
The survey also asked about debt levels, and -- perhaps not coincidentally -- the countries that required the most money for happiness also had some of the highest average debts. Residents of Dubai said they would need about $19,000 to pay off all their debts, excluding mortgages. Germans only needed about $5,800 to pay their debts -- the lowest of all countries surveyed.
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With $250,000 a year, I would do even better.
They say money can't buy happiness, but it can buy security and peace of mind.
How many middle class people would love to get rid of the debt cloud over their head and be able to pay for everything they need outright rather than on credit? Count me in.
Let's see; a good fishing pole: $ 280.00, bait: $ 5.00.
a great surfboard: $ 800-900 (tri fin)
full set of quality diving gear: $ 1000.00
So that totals at $ 2185.00. Oh-wait: 60 foot Donzi with extended cabin: $375,000.00 base price.
So............... just goes to show you that people tend to go cheep when they don't have the slightest idea on happiness.
So just start with the fishing pole and work from there !
We just had a man run for president who has tens of millions in foreign banks. He looks totally insecure and unhappy to me. If we were sane enough to control the population we have the means for a secure and reasonable material life for all. Work weeks could be shorter and education ongoing. We have the means but not the will for a great life. When a man has 100 million and exploits people for more he is borderline insane.
When the CEO of Disney made 600 million in salary and God knows what in bonuses he had children in Haiti working for 12 cents an hour. This is cold bloodied evil and it will destroy America if the people don't stand against it.
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