Does Money Buy Happiness?

We all know that money can’t buy happiness.
Some people realize this early in life, others not until they are on their death bed.
So, this being true, why do we live in a society that replaces feelings and spirituality with material objects?
Most of us have had this talk before with our friends or at least thought about it.
We understand that it is the commercials and magazines that put such strong a emphasis on materialism to sell products to improve outer beauty instead of emphasis on improving inner beauty, but people still go out shopping when they are feeling blue to boost their self image anyway.

According to ShopaholicsAnonymous, we all shop for many reasons but the addict buys to relieve anxiety and unfortunately over time creates a dysfunctional lifestyle and more and more of their focus is on shopping.
The causes of these so-called shopaholics are emotional deprivation in childhood, inability to tolerate negative feelings, need to gain control and perfectionism.
What about when you buy something for someone else?
After treating a friend to a nice meal or coffee they usually say thank you but some people take it a bit further and go on and on about how generous and nice you are.

This topic has been on my brain since I was a little girl.
Being an only child, I remember thinking that I would rather have attention than a new dress.
But I always got the new dress and never complained. But when you’re out with friends and someone offers to pay for everyone like, “First round on me guys!”, it makes them seem like they are a nicer or better person.
I guess a better example would be someone who donates a lot of money to important charities but then go home and hits his wife.
Does money make you a nicer person?
If you are poor and can’t treat all your friends to their first beer of the night then does that make you less of a friend?
If you aren’t a good friend but just have a lot of money then it will surface eventually.

Most people work pretty hard for their money and, especially in the recent financial crisis our country is going through, we should appreciate a friend who is buying us a cup of joe but not necessarily praise them for it.
Otherwise, they will spend more money than they have just to gain that acceptance from a friend when they say, "that was so sweet! You didn't have to do that!"
This issue is an important one because there is a growing trend that material possessions can replace inner happiness.
People don’t wake up and think to themselves, “Hey, I will go shopping today instead of catching up with an old friend or meditate because I don't want to deal with my problems.”

But this is exactly what people do.
Next time you are feeling down in the dumps grab a friend and go hiking, play a game or picnic in the park and remind yourself that there are better things out there than just fancy purses and shoes.(Although, I can’t lie, I do love me a new hot pair of heels<3)