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I never believed that money could buy happiness, until my mother convinced me otherwise. She always said that Benjamin Franklin was her best friend. She was a very moody shopper. When she was mad, she shopped. When she was sad, she shopped. And when she was upset, she shopped. Her motto was “If you aren’t going to make her happy, then Benjamin will.” Since I was a child I questioned whether shopping really changed her mood or if she could find true happiness at a store.
I grew up a very confused kid, sort of like an outcast. I was upset all the time, threw temper tantrums every few minutes, and nothing made me happy. A trip to the candy or toy store would clear everything up. My mom said that buying stuff made me happy ☺ But I never believed it.
But by age 15, I found that pampering myself was more important than stressing over mixed emotions. I turned to Benjamin Franklin every time I needed a tad bit more happiness in my life or a little bit more self-esteem. Ben told me to forget everything else, all I need is him.
By age 16, my mixed emotions were coming together with every trip to the mall. The mall has a happy-go-lucky atmosphere that puts me on Cloud 9. Walking into Hollister, picking up a hoody, and getting it bagged at the cash register brings a certain excitement to my life. Even the food court gives me a bubbly attitude.
I truly believe that money can buy happiness. And whenever I want happiness, I know that I can buy it with Benjamin.
Rachel Arnold • Jan 14, 2011 at 3:21 pm
I love how this shows the positive side of spending money. I feel the same way. Money isn’t always a bad thing, especially when it can make you happy. I thought the Ben Franklin reference was funny too. Good job on this. It really brings a new perspective to the way people look at spending money.
Joseph P. • Nov 7, 2010 at 5:59 pm
I believe that money can buy temporary happiness. I also believe that money can make it much easier to be happy, but it is not always necessary to be happy. For example, you and your friend want to hang out, but you have nothing to do. If you have money, you can go to Swaders and then Chinamens Buffet, and you two are pretty darn happy. At the same time, many friends, people, and couples find things to do without money. Money is not always a prerequisite for happiness, but it does make it a whole lot easier.
Jessica Taylor • Nov 4, 2010 at 3:15 pm
I believe that money can buy happiness, but it is a kind of happiness that is short lived. I get excited everytime I go shopping and everytime i come home with bags full of stuff. But that happiness does not stick around long before I am looking for something else to make me happy or to go shopping again. For example, when I get a new outfit I cannot wait to wear it, but after I do, it just becomes another outfit in my closet, nothing special about it.
Joshua Kent • Nov 3, 2010 at 4:20 pm
I was surpirsed by this article. I’m not saying its bad I just didn’t really understnad the whole concept until the very end. I have to disagree with your statement. If buying things make you happy, then don’t you have to keep buying things to stay happy? The way I see it is not being happy but sad and covering that up with something that eventually has to be replaced or followed by another purchased item.
Joi Hamm • Oct 28, 2010 at 5:42 pm
I definitely believe that money cant buy happiness. There are emotional and personal values that everyone wishes to have and those values consist of love, family, and a dream. Internal happiness is the most important aspect in the world. You can have all the money in the world but if you have no one to enjoy it with, whether that be a significant other, friend, or family member it does not make the experience worth wild.
Devan Andrews • Oct 28, 2010 at 5:27 pm
I completely understand that feeling, the feeling of having your wallet full one moment, and the next, flat and empty. It feels nice to spend money, and even better when it’s on someone else, because the smile on their face when they get a gift makes it worth all the money in the world. I try to be frugal on myself, but on others I waste no extravagance, for a smile for them is a smile for me.
Raya Girard • Oct 25, 2010 at 4:13 pm
I laughed so hard when I read this. I keep reading, waiting for the quote or advice from Benjamin Franklin that you chose to live by, your mantra that you told yourself when the going gets tough. I kept thinking,” I didn’t realize Ben Franklin was in to self help issues”. I didn’t realize you meant spending money until the last paragraph. So not only does spending money make me happy, but reading about other people spending money makes me happy as well.