Some people say that money can’t buy you happiness. I think they are wrong…sort of. While I don’t truly think that money can “buy” you happiness, literally, I do believe that having money affords you certain securities and comforts that people with less money may not have.
When I was growing up we didn’t have a lot of money. We were rich in love, but that was probably the only way we were rich 
Don’t get me wrong, I had a very happy and loving childhood growing up on the coast of Maine, but we didn’t have a lot of money and it wasn’t always easy for my mom and step-dad. I now know as an adult, that there were many nights that they stayed up late, worrying about how they were going to make it all work financially.
Growing up in a solidly working class family, I’m well aware of the opportunities I now have as an adult, to do things, go places and have experiences that my parents never had. I know the comforts that money can, “buy” and I know the feeling of security I feel when I look at my bank statements and see my emergency fund.
I also feel an immense gratitude for the ways I’m able to give to my family and my community. I’m thankful that I can make my grandparents’ life a little more comfortable, put money in my nephews and niece’s college funds and donate to our favorite charities. I’m certainly not rich by any means, but I don’t have to worry about money the way my parents did when I was growing up and growing up that way makes me even more appreciative of the money I do have.
Gratitude for money:
Last weekend Eric and I drove out to the burbs to have the dog groomed. When I was paying down my student debt, I couldn’t afford to have the dog groomed professionally, so I bought some clippers online and tried to do it myself. I mangled poor boo boo and accidentally cut off off part of his “beard” (he’s a shih tzu so imagine how weird he looked-almost like he didn’t have a bottom lip). The poor dog was so embarrassed he didn’t even want to go outside for walks. I cried, I felt so bad for him. Now that I’m debt-free, I can have him professionally groomed every few months and we’re both very thankful. He looks and feels good and I sold the clippers, thank goodness!
While Brooklyn was getting his spiffy, new, “do” Eric and I went to lunch at Outback. Eric had a steak and I had a sandwich and we had a few drinks and an appetizer. The total bill was about $65 (I used a coupon of course). Not a gourmet meal, by any means, but it was yummy and we had a good time. As we were walking out to our (paid for–Gratitude!) car, I couldn’t help but smile to myself and be thankful that we can afford to go out for lunch. Gratitude! When I was paying off my student loans, I couldn’t justify any sort of extravagance, including dining out.
This past winter, I paid for my grandparents to go to Cancun with us. It was a beautiful trip that I’ll remember for many reasons. First of all, my grandparents had never been on a “vacation”, second of all, my grandmother had never left the country, third of all, I paid for the trip in cash. What a wonderful feeling to be able to do something so
special for the people that I love so much. To see them sitting under that umbrella with their toes in the sand, soaking in the warm Mexican sun without a care in the world, Gratitude!
Two years ago, Eric and I bought our first home together. After months of saving a down payment and searching for the perfect place, Eric saw a, “for sale” sign 2-blocks from our apartment. I checked the place out online and fell in love with it’s charm. I suspected that we’d get outbid and didn’t want to get my hopes up, but was silently praying that things would work out in our favor and we’d be able to buy the place for the list price. We put in our bid and despite the fact that the other interested buyer offered much more than we offered, the seller accepted our offer because her realtor had had bad experiences with the other buyer (he was an investor). Luck? Karma? I’m not sure, but I do know that I love our little condo and I’m incredibly thankful that we live where we live. The neighborhood is so vibrant and fun and there are lots of dog-friendly restaurants and shops. To live in a place were we feel so safe and comfortable, Gratitude!
Has money ever, “bought” you happiness?