\
  The most prestigious law school admissions discussion board in the world.
BackRefresh Options Favorite

Money only buys happiness up to $75K

http://www.inc.com/news/articles/2010/09/study-says-%2475,00...
greedy kitty
  04/22/14
what about having a family
titillating sable new version
  04/22/14
nowags crying in a corner.
Appetizing Cobalt Rehab
  04/22/14
Maybe 75k disposable income
cerise passionate office wrinkle
  04/22/14
seems entirely accurate for wage slaves. wonder about idle ...
fragrant selfie menage
  04/22/14
does RSF seem particularly happy and non-MAF to you?
amber prole
  04/22/14
he seems like a huge asshole but that's not at odds with get...
fragrant selfie menage
  04/22/14
...
Salmon Crusty Piazza
  04/22/14
Eh, it depends on the person. A lot of people with money ...
histrionic bat-shit-crazy address patrolman
  04/22/14
The happiness return on actively earned income requires expo...
Heady Talking Associate Headpube
  04/22/14
Idk about that. Also, people's incomes tend to increase r...
histrionic bat-shit-crazy address patrolman
  04/22/14
Heh, cruel to say that on a law board, where 80% make 200k t...
slap-happy box office
  04/22/14
Given the debt loads, i don't think their disposable income ...
histrionic bat-shit-crazy address patrolman
  04/22/14
Not having to constantly calculate in my head weather I can ...
boyish arrogant water buffalo
  04/22/14
I hate head weather.
greedy kitty
  04/22/14
The whole meme of "you only need $75k" is pure sc...
Soggy flickering shrine
  04/23/14
that's the thing though, salaries don't magically quintuple ...
Autistic Forum Doctorate
  04/22/14
Yes, I agree with that. That's why the thesis shouldn't rea...
histrionic bat-shit-crazy address patrolman
  04/22/14
I think if you read the actually studies that the yahoo head...
Autistic Forum Doctorate
  04/22/14
Didn't read it, but then yes I agree 100%.
histrionic bat-shit-crazy address patrolman
  04/22/14
Not in a high COL area bro
Wonderful toaster cuckold
  04/22/14
I live in a high cost of living area on 75k. I'm happy but I...
Appetizing Cobalt Rehab
  04/22/14
exactly - you'd be happier if you had your own place
Wonderful toaster cuckold
  04/22/14
Damn I'd be mad as fuck if I paid 1300 a month on rent and o...
Soul-stirring party of the first part
  04/22/14
very small amount of debt. my payment is 250 dollars a month...
Appetizing Cobalt Rehab
  04/22/14
I do this and basically my plan is to never have a family. I...
Wine Senate Pervert
  04/22/14
WOW another "happiness" survey. Like this is relev...
Disrespectful Ratface
  04/22/14
You sound happy
Spectacular bossy space crotch
  04/22/14
...
Jet-lagged native community account
  04/22/14
:)
Disrespectful Ratface
  04/22/14
This is exactly right.
Soggy flickering shrine
  04/22/14
This is old. Personally though, My wife and I have gone fro...
Drunken locale
  04/22/14
go on
racy stead
  04/22/14
That's about it, man. Money just doesn't seem to affect my m...
Drunken locale
  04/22/14
This seems credited. Once you have the basics of life (shelt...
alcoholic disgusting gas station friendly grandma
  04/22/14
Basically because there are always people who have more to e...
slap-happy box office
  04/22/14
this almost seems common sense to me almost to the point ...
Autistic Forum Doctorate
  04/22/14
Twentynine the poaster requires $300K, thanks.
Smoky Tripping Hospital
  04/22/14
wife and i went from making about $250k combined to making a...
electric scarlet potus generalized bond
  04/22/14
is this assuming you have to work some horrible fuking job l...
green frozen kitty cat
  04/22/14
,Choi lisped.
Fear-inspiring private investor institution
  04/22/14
thats the thing: there are marginal costs in getting more mo...
bateful sinister bbw
  04/22/14
so, doesn't this show that money does add happiness, it is j...
Supple Plum Yarmulke
  04/23/14
Based on my personal history, I strongly disagree. For me, t...
Soggy flickering shrine
  04/22/14
yeah, no there is a shitload of happiness in watching retir...
cerebral nursing home
  04/22/14
how much money i make does not impact my mood day to day (th...
orchid brethren
  04/22/14
I hate studies with overreaching conclusions like this. 7...
Vermilion anal internal respiration dragon
  04/23/14
So if you have a wife and two kids, you need 300k family inc...
bright striped hyena heaven
  04/23/14


Poast new message in this thread



Reply Favorite

Date: April 22nd, 2014 9:36 AM
Author: greedy kitty

http://www.inc.com/news/articles/2010/09/study-says-%2475,000-can-buy-happiness.html

But when asked to assess the happy hours of the previous day – whether people had experienced a lot of enjoyment, laughter, smiling, anger, stress, worry – money mattered only up to about $75,000. After that, money didn't buy more (or less) happiness.

Johnsmeyer crying, losing hope

(http://www.autoadmit.com/thread.php?thread_id=2549068&forum_id=2#25424771)



Reply Favorite

Date: April 22nd, 2014 9:37 AM
Author: titillating sable new version

what about having a family

(http://www.autoadmit.com/thread.php?thread_id=2549068&forum_id=2#25424775)



Reply Favorite

Date: April 22nd, 2014 9:43 AM
Author: Appetizing Cobalt Rehab

nowags crying in a corner.

(http://www.autoadmit.com/thread.php?thread_id=2549068&forum_id=2#25424793)



Reply Favorite

Date: April 22nd, 2014 9:45 AM
Author: cerise passionate office wrinkle

Maybe 75k disposable income

(http://www.autoadmit.com/thread.php?thread_id=2549068&forum_id=2#25424798)



Reply Favorite

Date: April 22nd, 2014 9:45 AM
Author: fragrant selfie menage

seems entirely accurate for wage slaves. wonder about idle rich

(http://www.autoadmit.com/thread.php?thread_id=2549068&forum_id=2#25424801)



Reply Favorite

Date: April 22nd, 2014 9:53 AM
Author: amber prole

does RSF seem particularly happy and non-MAF to you?

(http://www.autoadmit.com/thread.php?thread_id=2549068&forum_id=2#25424817)



Reply Favorite

Date: April 22nd, 2014 9:57 AM
Author: fragrant selfie menage

he seems like a huge asshole but that's not at odds with getting your kicks. now if your point is that he's not living the "good life" in the aristotelian sense, fine, granted, and it's a stereotypical risk. otoh cash to burn doesn't stop you from developing an "affinity for africa" and the like either

(http://www.autoadmit.com/thread.php?thread_id=2549068&forum_id=2#25424825)



Reply Favorite

Date: April 22nd, 2014 7:57 PM
Author: Salmon Crusty Piazza



(http://www.autoadmit.com/thread.php?thread_id=2549068&forum_id=2#25428153)



Reply Favorite

Date: April 22nd, 2014 9:46 AM
Author: histrionic bat-shit-crazy address patrolman

Eh, it depends on the person.

A lot of people with money who are unhappy either have a really stressful job in order to get that money, or they just incessantly create their own problems.

If my salary magically quintupled or something, I'm sure I'd be happier for no other reason than I'd have more options and less worries, but then I tend to generally be pretty happy and optimistic anyway.

(http://www.autoadmit.com/thread.php?thread_id=2549068&forum_id=2#25424807)



Reply Favorite

Date: April 22nd, 2014 9:49 AM
Author: Heady Talking Associate Headpube

The happiness return on actively earned income requires exponential, continuous growth of income for it to be a source of happiness. $75,000 is right about where the curve would take off.

(http://www.autoadmit.com/thread.php?thread_id=2549068&forum_id=2#25424814)



Reply Favorite

Date: April 22nd, 2014 10:01 AM
Author: histrionic bat-shit-crazy address patrolman

Idk about that.

Also, people's incomes tend to increase rather than decrease, so you don't have a huge set of people who make good money and then make a lot less money.

I can't say I'd be UNHAPPY if I were making $75k, but I'd certainly be less happy than I am now, if for no other reason than the fact that my earnings let me worry less about expenditures. I'm not a spendthrift at all, but I never have to worry about a nice dinner once a week, or going to Europe once a year for vacation. Not having to constantly calculate in my head whether I can afford occasional indulgences certainly makes me a lot happier than if I had to do that all the time, particularly after many years of not having to do those types of calculations.

(http://www.autoadmit.com/thread.php?thread_id=2549068&forum_id=2#25424832)



Reply Favorite

Date: April 22nd, 2014 10:38 AM
Author: slap-happy box office

Heh, cruel to say that on a law board, where 80% make 200k their third year, then never reach that again,

(http://www.autoadmit.com/thread.php?thread_id=2549068&forum_id=2#25424985)



Reply Favorite

Date: April 22nd, 2014 10:41 AM
Author: histrionic bat-shit-crazy address patrolman

Given the debt loads, i don't think their disposable income plummets all that much. I'm not talking about just law though, obviously.

(http://www.autoadmit.com/thread.php?thread_id=2549068&forum_id=2#25425005)



Reply Favorite

Date: April 22nd, 2014 8:34 PM
Author: boyish arrogant water buffalo

Not having to constantly calculate in my head weather I can afford occasional indulgences

^this is scholarship. a reasoned approach to money-getting

(http://www.autoadmit.com/thread.php?thread_id=2549068&forum_id=2#25428433)



Reply Favorite

Date: April 22nd, 2014 8:35 PM
Author: greedy kitty

I hate head weather.

(http://www.autoadmit.com/thread.php?thread_id=2549068&forum_id=2#25428441)



Reply Favorite

Date: April 23rd, 2014 7:08 AM
Author: Soggy flickering shrine

The whole meme of "you only need $75k" is pure scholarship.

(http://www.autoadmit.com/thread.php?thread_id=2549068&forum_id=2#25430924)



Reply Favorite

Date: April 22nd, 2014 10:47 AM
Author: Autistic Forum Doctorate

that's the thing though, salaries don't magically quintuple

you have to stress out more at the office, you have to be more anal retentive about your place in the office heirarchy, you have to take on more responsibility, etc etc

all sorts of things that don't really increase you life satisfaction, and might actively detract from your life satisfaction

(http://www.autoadmit.com/thread.php?thread_id=2549068&forum_id=2#25425023)



Reply Favorite

Date: April 22nd, 2014 10:51 AM
Author: histrionic bat-shit-crazy address patrolman

Yes, I agree with that. That's why the thesis shouldn't really be that "money doesn't buy happiness past $75k", but rather "the marginal costs for most people to earn more than $75k tend to not outweigh the marginal gains from money above $75k".

(http://www.autoadmit.com/thread.php?thread_id=2549068&forum_id=2#25425034)



Reply Favorite

Date: April 22nd, 2014 10:53 AM
Author: Autistic Forum Doctorate

I think if you read the actually studies that the yahoo headlines are based off of, that's exactly the thesis

(http://www.autoadmit.com/thread.php?thread_id=2549068&forum_id=2#25425057)



Reply Favorite

Date: April 22nd, 2014 10:55 AM
Author: histrionic bat-shit-crazy address patrolman

Didn't read it, but then yes I agree 100%.

(http://www.autoadmit.com/thread.php?thread_id=2549068&forum_id=2#25425068)



Reply Favorite

Date: April 22nd, 2014 9:46 AM
Author: Wonderful toaster cuckold

Not in a high COL area bro

(http://www.autoadmit.com/thread.php?thread_id=2549068&forum_id=2#25424808)



Reply Favorite

Date: April 22nd, 2014 9:52 AM
Author: Appetizing Cobalt Rehab

I live in a high cost of living area on 75k. I'm happy but I'm also naturally optimistic. However, I wouldnt be happy if this was my salary in 3 years and I'm still splitting a 2 bedroom for 2600.

(http://www.autoadmit.com/thread.php?thread_id=2549068&forum_id=2#25424815)



Reply Favorite

Date: April 22nd, 2014 9:53 AM
Author: Wonderful toaster cuckold

exactly - you'd be happier if you had your own place

(http://www.autoadmit.com/thread.php?thread_id=2549068&forum_id=2#25424816)



Reply Favorite

Date: April 22nd, 2014 10:09 AM
Author: Soul-stirring party of the first part

Damn I'd be mad as fuck if I paid 1300 a month on rent and only made 75K. Do you just not save any money? Assuming you have some ug and/or graduate school debt.

(http://www.autoadmit.com/thread.php?thread_id=2549068&forum_id=2#25424858)



Reply Favorite

Date: April 22nd, 2014 10:36 AM
Author: Appetizing Cobalt Rehab

very small amount of debt. my payment is 250 dollars a month. I save about 800 -1000 a month.

(http://www.autoadmit.com/thread.php?thread_id=2549068&forum_id=2#25424980)



Reply Favorite

Date: April 22nd, 2014 8:24 PM
Author: Wine Senate Pervert

I do this and basically my plan is to never have a family. I don't really give a fuck at all. I pay 1400 in rent and don't have debt. 25K in savings. I'll get several hundo K from parents eventually. No family = no problems.

(http://www.autoadmit.com/thread.php?thread_id=2549068&forum_id=2#25428355)



Reply Favorite

Date: April 22nd, 2014 9:54 AM
Author: Disrespectful Ratface

WOW another "happiness" survey. Like this is relevant to anything whatsoever.

What kind of fucking moron takes broad social surveys, that are based on squishy concepts like happiness no less, and then tries to imagine that they have some applicability to any individual life?

(http://www.autoadmit.com/thread.php?thread_id=2549068&forum_id=2#25424819)



Reply Favorite

Date: April 22nd, 2014 7:03 PM
Author: Spectacular bossy space crotch

You sound happy

(http://www.autoadmit.com/thread.php?thread_id=2549068&forum_id=2#25427861)



Reply Favorite

Date: April 22nd, 2014 7:16 PM
Author: Jet-lagged native community account



(http://www.autoadmit.com/thread.php?thread_id=2549068&forum_id=2#25427922)



Reply Favorite

Date: April 22nd, 2014 7:21 PM
Author: Disrespectful Ratface

:)

(http://www.autoadmit.com/thread.php?thread_id=2549068&forum_id=2#25427942)



Reply Favorite

Date: April 22nd, 2014 8:21 PM
Author: Soggy flickering shrine

This is exactly right.

(http://www.autoadmit.com/thread.php?thread_id=2549068&forum_id=2#25428330)



Reply Favorite

Date: April 22nd, 2014 10:21 AM
Author: Drunken locale

This is old. Personally though, My wife and I have gone from making ~30k to about 475k over the last ten years and my happiness level has remained pretty constant.

(http://www.autoadmit.com/thread.php?thread_id=2549068&forum_id=2#25424918)



Reply Favorite

Date: April 22nd, 2014 10:31 AM
Author: racy stead

go on

(http://www.autoadmit.com/thread.php?thread_id=2549068&forum_id=2#25424963)



Reply Favorite

Date: April 22nd, 2014 10:34 AM
Author: Drunken locale

That's about it, man. Money just doesn't seem to affect my mood/happiness/enjoyment of life. Even when I wasn't making much we never overspent so we were never really under a bunch of money related stress. I could see how being cash strapped would fuck with happiness but beyond that, it doesn't do much for me.

(http://www.autoadmit.com/thread.php?thread_id=2549068&forum_id=2#25424970)



Reply Favorite

Date: April 22nd, 2014 10:28 AM
Author: alcoholic disgusting gas station friendly grandma

This seems credited. Once you have the basics of life (shelter, food, tv etc), other material things probably don't add that much to your happiness.

Will having additional rooms in your house make you *that* much happier? Or having a Mercedes rather than a honda? Perhaps, but the additional time you spend working to afford those rooms and cars means less leisure time for things like family and exercise. A meal at a regular restaurant tastes almost as good as one at a top flight restaurant. There are significant diminishing returns.

(http://www.autoadmit.com/thread.php?thread_id=2549068&forum_id=2#25424951)



Reply Favorite

Date: April 22nd, 2014 10:39 AM
Author: slap-happy box office

Basically because there are always people who have more to envy - people's happiness from wealth doesn't come from how much they have, but from having more than other people.

(http://www.autoadmit.com/thread.php?thread_id=2549068&forum_id=2#25424994)



Reply Favorite

Date: April 22nd, 2014 10:44 AM
Author: Autistic Forum Doctorate

this almost seems common sense to me

almost to the point where I wonder about the people who disagree with it

whether they've never had a serious reflexion about which life circumstance correlate with their own life satisfaction

(http://www.autoadmit.com/thread.php?thread_id=2549068&forum_id=2#25425017)



Reply Favorite

Date: April 22nd, 2014 7:04 PM
Author: Smoky Tripping Hospital

Twentynine the poaster requires $300K, thanks.

(http://www.autoadmit.com/thread.php?thread_id=2549068&forum_id=2#25427869)



Reply Favorite

Date: April 22nd, 2014 7:12 PM
Author: electric scarlet potus generalized bond

wife and i went from making about $250k combined to making around $100k while adding two kids and we are happier now. we are poors and live like it.

only thing that sucks is when we get invited out by our doctor friends who make 8x what we bring in. we can't really afford to eat at a nice restaurant very often and they always end up offering to pay and i feel like a cuck. what's happened is that we've just started hanging out with younger couples or other poors (students, bartenders, shitlawyers, etc.).

(http://www.autoadmit.com/thread.php?thread_id=2549068&forum_id=2#25427910)



Reply Favorite

Date: April 22nd, 2014 7:16 PM
Author: green frozen kitty cat

is this assuming you have to work some horrible fuking job like biglaw to earn the money? as opposed to a normal job? i don't get it. why would you not be happier with more money past 75k?

(http://www.autoadmit.com/thread.php?thread_id=2549068&forum_id=2#25427921)



Reply Favorite

Date: April 22nd, 2014 8:21 PM
Author: Fear-inspiring private investor institution

,Choi lisped.

(http://www.autoadmit.com/thread.php?thread_id=2549068&forum_id=2#25428329)



Reply Favorite

Date: April 22nd, 2014 8:41 PM
Author: bateful sinister bbw

thats the thing: there are marginal costs in getting more money

(http://www.autoadmit.com/thread.php?thread_id=2549068&forum_id=2#25428478)



Reply Favorite

Date: April 23rd, 2014 7:43 AM
Author: Supple Plum Yarmulke

so, doesn't this show that money does add happiness, it is just offset by those marginal costs. If someone making $450k is not Unhappier than a $75k person, then there must be some bump in happiness to compensate for all the late nights and weekends that the $450k person works over the $75k person.

Another thought: if we look at how people act (as opposed to what they say about themselves), many, many people are motivated by more money. This study seems to be saying that all those people are delusional. Isn't it more likely that people on average are rational, and that the study methodology is flawed?

(http://www.autoadmit.com/thread.php?thread_id=2549068&forum_id=2#25430967)



Reply Favorite

Date: April 22nd, 2014 8:23 PM
Author: Soggy flickering shrine

Based on my personal history, I strongly disagree. For me, that number is somewhere between $250k-$300k.

(http://www.autoadmit.com/thread.php?thread_id=2549068&forum_id=2#25428345)



Reply Favorite

Date: April 22nd, 2014 8:27 PM
Author: cerebral nursing home

yeah, no

there is a shitload of happiness in watching retirement savings grow

(http://www.autoadmit.com/thread.php?thread_id=2549068&forum_id=2#25428375)



Reply Favorite

Date: April 22nd, 2014 8:49 PM
Author: orchid brethren

how much money i make does not impact my mood day to day (the number of days i am in a good or crappy mood prob doesn't fluctuate whether i make $100k or $300k), but it definitely impacts my overall level of stress and happiness w/r/t life as a whole.

(http://www.autoadmit.com/thread.php?thread_id=2549068&forum_id=2#25428524)



Reply Favorite

Date: April 23rd, 2014 8:11 AM
Author: Vermilion anal internal respiration dragon

I hate studies with overreaching conclusions like this.

75k disposable income in nyc =/= 75k disposable income in omaha, nebraska

(http://www.autoadmit.com/thread.php?thread_id=2549068&forum_id=2#25431002)



Reply Favorite

Date: April 23rd, 2014 8:31 AM
Author: bright striped hyena heaven

So if you have a wife and two kids, you need 300k family income to maximize happiness?

(http://www.autoadmit.com/thread.php?thread_id=2549068&forum_id=2#25431015)