Self Improvement Articles

Do You Need Money to Be Happy?

As the saying goes, “Money can’t buy you happiness.” Or can it? Having a sufficient amount of money can certainly lower stress, but having an excess of it will not make you more happy than anyone else. So can money buy you happiness or not? Here are a few thoughts to ponder on the subject.

Money Can Buy You a Limited Amount of Happiness

Studies have shown that yes, having enough money to meet your needs and those of your family does bring happiness. People living in poverty are generally less happy than those whose needs are met. Being able to pay for your bills and having enough to get by financially will help you succeed in feeling happy.

Excess Money Doesn’t Equal Excess Happiness

Having more money than you need, however, will not bring you extra happiness. Money and happiness are not proportional. Someone with enough money to buy a large house and several cars will not necessarily have more happiness than another individual with exactly what they need.

Money Brings Stresses of Its Own

There is stress that goes along with having money. Whether you have a little or a lot, you likely know about this stress. There is the stress of knowing you need to spend what you have wisely, as well as the fact that people with ulterior motives are drawn to those who are financially wealthy.

Not About What Comes in But What Goes Out

It is not so much the amount of money that you make that ensures your happiness, but about what you are spending it on and where it is going on the way out. There are some principles for using money that can help you to feel more satisfied. Where you put your money and who receives it can make a difference as to whether you gained something by having had it.

Spend on Experiences, Not Things

Buying more things is not proven to make a person happy. Although investing in items that will last seems like a wise move, studies show that we tend to adjust to what we obtain. Having these things doesn’t continue bringing unlimited happiness.

We are more likely to have long-term happiness when money is spent on experiences which will give us lasting memories. Whether this means going on vacation by yourself or with your family, or making time to do something fun every now and then… be sure to create experiences rather than purchasing something that will simply fade away over time.

Give It Away

Giving is one of the most satisfying things you can do with your money. Whether it is to charity or a friend in need, find a way to give back and share what you have. This is a way to spend that will bring long-term personal rewards.

The short answer is no; you do not need money to be happy. Money can be useful, however, to prevent stress that can diminish the happiness that you do have. No matter what amount of money you have, use these tips to help achieve the level of happiness you desire, and live a life filled with joy.

Why Plastic Straws Are a Problem

Many people take plastic straws for granted as a part of daily life if they are having a soda, smoothie, or other chilled beverage. But as more and more people are starting to look at the dangers of plastic pollution, straws are coming under their scrutiny as being harmful to the environment.

Recent moves by certain fast food restaurants and other eateries to ban plastic straws has been met with approval by those who want to cut back on plastic waste as quickly as possible.

The Problem with Plastic Straws

Plastic straws are not recycled. Estimates show that Americans throw away half a billion every single day, including drinking straws, plastic coffee stirrers, cocktail straws, and so on. That is enough to circle the Earth twice, or fill 125 school buses. Just think how many straws that is in one year. They may be small, but they are part of the eight million tons of plastic dumped into the oceans every year.

While it is true that a small number of people need to drink with a straw for medical reasons such as having trouble chewing and swallowing, it is also true there are alternatives to plastic. Paper straws are the most obvious example. But now there are also glass, stainless steel and bamboo reusable straws. The only downside is remembering to take your straw with you everywhere when you dine out, and to not leave it behind at the end of your meal.

The Effect of Plastic on the Environment

Plastics can sit in landfills for more than 70 years. In the ocean, they have become a floating obstacle course that kills millions of marine animals every year. The plastic debris also washes up on the beaches, leading to unsanitary conditions and an unsuitable environment for marine life who nest, live or find food on the beach.

Plastic increases the temperature of the water and makes it more acidic, therefore killing off many sensitive microorganisms upon which the balance of ocean life depends. Marine animals can get entangled in plastic and drown, or eat it and die of poisoning.

What You Can Do to Save the Planet

There are a number of things you can do to save the planet. The first is to say no to straws. The second is to start educating others about the pollutions straws cause, and the harm they do. There are a number of groups that focus on spreading the word, including:

http://www.plasticpollutioncoalition.org/no-straw-please/

In addition to taking your own personal pledge to go straw-free, and encouraging friends and family to do so as well, there are a number of awareness-raising activities that can help. Discuss the issue in the local eateries you attend. Give copies of this printout, or leave it when you pay your check:

https://static1.squarespace.com/static/55b29de4e4b088f33db802c6/t/58c8172dbf629ac501c67309/1489508151451/2017StrawsUponRequestCard.pdf

An obvious benefit to most businesses is the amount of money saved by not buying plastic straws. Paper ones can be given on demand if requested, and will be much cheaper.

You might even be able to get local businesses to sign a pledge and show that they are committed to greening their businesses:

https://static1.squarespace.com/static/55b29de4e4b088f33db802c6/t/5ae341296d2a738cae5b5540/1524842794283/Pledge+Straws+Business.pdf

Plastic straws may seem like a small thing to cut down on, but it can have a huge beneficial impact on the environment.