Comments on: You only need $40,000 to be happy http://blog.penelopetrunk.com/2004/08/01/you-only-need-40000-to-be-happy/ Advice at the intersection of work and life Wed, 17 Mar 2010 21:34:34 -0600 http://wordpress.org/?v=abc hourly 1 By: A blog worth your time. « http://blog.penelopetrunk.com/2004/08/01/you-only-need-40000-to-be-happy/comment-page-1/#comment-221214 A blog worth your time. « Fri, 19 Feb 2010 15:23:46 +0000 http://lolindrath.dyndns.org/lolindrath/wordpress/2004/08/01/you-only-need-40000-to-be-happy/#comment-221214 [...] “The Wall Street Journal tries to guilt women into giving up maternity leave“, “You only need $40,000 to be happy“, “How to wait: Don’t” and “6 most violated resume writing [...] [...] "The Wall Street Journal tries to guilt women into giving up maternity leave", "You only need $40,000 to be happy", "How to wait: Don't" and "6 most violated resume writing [...]

]]> By: TwistedByKnaves http://blog.penelopetrunk.com/2004/08/01/you-only-need-40000-to-be-happy/comment-page-1/#comment-216725 TwistedByKnaves Tue, 22 Dec 2009 10:28:43 +0000 http://lolindrath.dyndns.org/lolindrath/wordpress/2004/08/01/you-only-need-40000-to-be-happy/#comment-216725 How very true. My daughter (an impoverished student working from 10pm to 4 am three nights a week to pay her way through university) told me of some research indicating that actually, EVERYONE secretly believes that if only they had 25% more income they would be comfortable. She is a naturally happy person and was happy to put my mind at rest. She believes she has everything she really needs and is not one of the foolish herd who wants more. Though it would be nice to be able to heat the flat she shares in the winter. Which would cost... Oh my! there really are no exceptions! How very true.

My daughter (an impoverished student working from 10pm to 4 am three nights a week to pay her way through university) told me of some research indicating that actually, EVERYONE secretly believes that if only they had 25% more income they would be comfortable. She is a naturally happy person and was happy to put my mind at rest. She believes she has everything she really needs and is not one of the foolish herd who wants more.

Though it would be nice to be able to heat the flat she shares in the winter. Which would cost… Oh my! there really are no exceptions!

]]> By: River http://blog.penelopetrunk.com/2004/08/01/you-only-need-40000-to-be-happy/comment-page-1/#comment-216003 River Thu, 10 Dec 2009 01:34:49 +0000 http://lolindrath.dyndns.org/lolindrath/wordpress/2004/08/01/you-only-need-40000-to-be-happy/#comment-216003 Penelope, it's a great post, but the second half deserves to be an additional post in itself, perhaps entitled "Ten-Second Test to Figure out How Optimistic You Are". It was of more interest to me than the beginning topic of the article. Penelope, it's a great post, but the second half deserves to be an additional post in itself, perhaps entitled "Ten-Second Test to Figure out How Optimistic You Are". It was of more interest to me than the beginning topic of the article.

]]> By: Tools For Your Mind, Soul and Spirit » Blog Archive » “How to Be Happy” by wikihow http://blog.penelopetrunk.com/2004/08/01/you-only-need-40000-to-be-happy/comment-page-1/#comment-214298 Tools For Your Mind, Soul and Spirit » Blog Archive » “How to Be Happy” by wikihow Tue, 17 Nov 2009 22:30:37 +0000 http://lolindrath.dyndns.org/lolindrath/wordpress/2004/08/01/you-only-need-40000-to-be-happy/#comment-214298 [...] http://blog.penelopetrunk.com/2004/08/01/you-only-need-40000-to-be-happy/ [...] [...] http://blog.penelopetrunk.com/2004/08/01/you-only-need-40000-to-be-happy/ [...]

]]> By: Loy96 http://blog.penelopetrunk.com/2004/08/01/you-only-need-40000-to-be-happy/comment-page-1/#comment-212366 Loy96 Thu, 22 Oct 2009 21:48:18 +0000 http://lolindrath.dyndns.org/lolindrath/wordpress/2004/08/01/you-only-need-40000-to-be-happy/#comment-212366 TwelpForce Do you have a MacBook? , TwelpForce Do you have a MacBook? ,

]]> By: How to Be Happy | Career Fortune.Org http://blog.penelopetrunk.com/2004/08/01/you-only-need-40000-to-be-happy/comment-page-1/#comment-198739 How to Be Happy | Career Fortune.Org Thu, 10 Sep 2009 04:49:50 +0000 http://lolindrath.dyndns.org/lolindrath/wordpress/2004/08/01/you-only-need-40000-to-be-happy/#comment-198739 [...] ↑ http://blog.penelopetrunk.com/2004/08/01/you-only-need-40000-to-be-happy/ [...] [...] ↑ http://blog.penelopetrunk.com/2004/08/01/you-only-need-40000-to-be-happy/ [...]

]]> By: How to Be Happy | Your Empowered Workplace http://blog.penelopetrunk.com/2004/08/01/you-only-need-40000-to-be-happy/comment-page-1/#comment-198229 How to Be Happy | Your Empowered Workplace Tue, 08 Sep 2009 13:08:02 +0000 http://lolindrath.dyndns.org/lolindrath/wordpress/2004/08/01/you-only-need-40000-to-be-happy/#comment-198229 [...] ↑ http://blog.penelopetrunk.com/2004/08/01/you-only-need-40000-to-be-happy/ [...] [...] ↑ http://blog.penelopetrunk.com/2004/08/01/you-only-need-40000-to-be-happy/ [...]

]]> By: DodaPedia » Blog Archive » How to decide where to live http://blog.penelopetrunk.com/2004/08/01/you-only-need-40000-to-be-happy/comment-page-1/#comment-188000 DodaPedia » Blog Archive » How to decide where to live Sun, 21 Jun 2009 14:18:36 +0000 http://lolindrath.dyndns.org/lolindrath/wordpress/2004/08/01/you-only-need-40000-to-be-happy/#comment-188000 [...] But, then, you should probably not be looking at that research because being a millionaire won’t impact your happiness so it should not impact where you choose to [...] [...] But, then, you should probably not be looking at that research because being a millionaire won’t impact your happiness so it should not impact where you choose to [...]

]]> By: Suzanne http://blog.penelopetrunk.com/2004/08/01/you-only-need-40000-to-be-happy/comment-page-1/#comment-187059 Suzanne Wed, 10 Jun 2009 02:32:16 +0000 http://lolindrath.dyndns.org/lolindrath/wordpress/2004/08/01/you-only-need-40000-to-be-happy/#comment-187059 I've commonly heard $50k as the happiness figure, but it probably varies a bit based on location. The concept that not having to worry about money- pinching every penny to meet basic expenses- is really the key. Everything else is gravy. One thing though is that it is not as necessary to spend huge amounts of money on clothes. You could shop at higher-end resale or consignment shops and look just as sharp for the fraction of the cost. But yes, happiness is a daily decision- both making choices that lead to happiness, and also deciding to be happy, or at least satisfied. I've commonly heard $50k as the happiness figure, but it probably varies a bit based on location. The concept that not having to worry about money- pinching every penny to meet basic expenses- is really the key. Everything else is gravy.
One thing though is that it is not as necessary to spend huge amounts of money on clothes. You could shop at higher-end resale or consignment shops and look just as sharp for the fraction of the cost.
But yes, happiness is a daily decision- both making choices that lead to happiness, and also deciding to be happy, or at least satisfied.

]]> By: Tim http://blog.penelopetrunk.com/2004/08/01/you-only-need-40000-to-be-happy/comment-page-1/#comment-186992 Tim Mon, 08 Jun 2009 21:26:55 +0000 http://lolindrath.dyndns.org/lolindrath/wordpress/2004/08/01/you-only-need-40000-to-be-happy/#comment-186992 So true that money does not make happiness. I make about $500K a year. I am miserable at work. The more I make, the more I spend on things that have not made me happy (expensive cars, expensive women). I have gotten to the point that I am seriously considering semi-retiring. The only reason that this is even a possibility is that an inheritance from my dad has allowed enough to retire (assuming I let is sit and grow), since I do waste alot on money since I have not been forced to budget. Let me say in my own defense that I had to work an unbelievable long time (32 years formal education; including two doctorates) and many many sleepless nights to get to the position I am in. I actually like the work I do, it is just the environment and people that I work with that has made me miserable. The last place I worked (same work) was a paradise. If I semi-retire, I can decide where (and thus who) I work with; I can choose not to work in the same place again if I don't like it. Of course with part-time work comes part-time income. Lastly, and most importantly, I can be closer to my 10 year old son, who happens to live in the city I was born and love (San Diego). I go back and forth in my mind about this choice. So true that money does not make happiness. I make about $500K a year. I am miserable at work. The more I make, the more I spend on things that have not made me happy (expensive cars, expensive women). I have gotten to the point that I am seriously considering semi-retiring. The only reason that this is even a possibility is that an inheritance from my dad has allowed enough to retire (assuming I let is sit and grow), since I do waste alot on money since I have not been forced to budget. Let me say in my own defense that I had to work an unbelievable long time (32 years formal education; including two doctorates) and many many sleepless nights to get to the position I am in.

I actually like the work I do, it is just the environment and people that I work with that has made me miserable. The last place I worked (same work) was a paradise. If I semi-retire, I can decide where (and thus who) I work with; I can choose not to work in the same place again if I don't like it. Of course with part-time work comes part-time income. Lastly, and most importantly, I can be closer to my 10 year old son, who happens to live in the city I was born and love (San Diego). I go back and forth in my mind about this choice.

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