A Quick Survey: Money or Happiness?

[Gaius Scribonius Curio]

That's right I have a dilemma.

Firstly, which do you think is better? Be honest, I'd genuinely like to know!

Secondly, , I'm at uni, 2nd year, studying Engineering of all things. I even have a scholarship arrangement with a firm whereby they pay all my fees, and I work for them in breaks. This is a lot of money, over $30,000 when it comes down to it. Also it means I have a guaranteed job when I finish here. However... ... I don't enjoy it. In fact, a fair few of my friends have expressed concern that I'm actually depressed when I'm at uni. I can barely force myself to follow the course and do the assignments, and where I used to be a straight-A student, I'm now barely passing and in a downward spiral!!! There are other things I'd like to study that I'm actually interested in, but career-wise I could never hope to earn anything like what I could by persisting with my current course.....

Gah!!! So opinions?

[TevashSzat]

Happiness.

If you choose money, you're going to wake in a decade or two and realize that you hate your life. Its better to work on the things you love to do rather than stick with an awful one that makes you miserable since you will regret it later on

[Evil_Maniac From Mars]

I'm happier if I have money. Therefore, I choose happiness, because then I'll have money.

[Sasaki Kojiro]

Quit your major for a different one. Engineering is a tough field, and you simply won't be able to succeed if you hate it. If you are almost failing in your 2nd year there's no way you'll pass 4th year (twice as hard as 2nd year).

[Lemur]

If you persist in doing something you don't enjoy, you will see the results. Hell, you're already seeing them. Depression, lack of interest, lack of follow-through. So how much money do you think you'll rack up if you pursue a field in which you are not going to give 100%?

It's a no-brainer. Like a dead Greek guy said, "Virtue does not come from money, but rather from virtue comes money, and all other things good to man."

[Veho Nex]

Happiness cause I'd rather be enoying life poor than owning everything and depressed

[pevergreen]

Money. I dont care about happiness.

[Raz]

Money brings happiness...
The only thing you can't buy is a dinosaur. [/homer simpson]

[LittleGrizzly]

I care little for money, aslong as i can afford a few basic material possessions when im older, house, bed, tv, pc, toilet, shower and a fridge, and then afford to get stoned every night outside of that money has little meaning to me.

I choose Happiness, i would rather be a jolly factory worker than a stressed out depressed business owner or other type of high end worker

[Rhyfelwyr]

Happiness is the obvious answer, although money can help to achieve that, up to a certain level. I think they say here in the UK people get happier up to the £20,000 income a year mark, then it starts to go down with wealth.

[Ayce]

Money, or gold in case the economy crashes. That way I can buy stuff that I enjoy.

[FactionHeir]

I like that the poll had financial security rather than money as the option.
Personally, I think money can make happy, but being happy doesn't mean you have money.

That said, having enough money to live a decent life is more important than being happy with many friends and living on social security.

[TinCow]

Rigged question. Having money problems often leads directly to unhappiness. If you talking about being actively in debt for a long period of time, you probably won't be happy anyway. You can be 'poor' and happy, as long as poor as defined as not a lot of spending money, rather than actively in financial difficulties. Financial problems are the number one cause of arguments in a marriage for a reason.

Money can't buy happiness, but a lack of it can certainly cause unhappiness.

[Big King Sanctaphrax]

To paraphrase Tony Montana: first you get the money, then you get the power, then you get the happiness. At least, I think that's how it goes...

[pdoan8]

I voted for happiness. However, I know many people (including myself) lost their happiness when they fall into a financial difficulty situation.

And to add to BKS post above, those who say great financial advantage can't get you any happiness are those who just don't know how to spend money in a meaningful way.

[Tamur]

One of Martin Luther King's famed sayings is, "Those who are not looking for happiness are the most likely to find it, because those who are searching forget that the surest way to be happy is to seek happiness for others."

This is one of those truths that won't change with technology or population growth or terrorism or global warming, because it's human nature. Money can move people to misery or happiness, but staying there is based on very different issues.

[Mikeus Caesar]

Financial security.

Not having to worry about money = the ability to go out = the ability for me to meet people = happiness!

[KukriKhan]

If you quit engineering, do you have to pay back your 2-year subsidy? That could be a factor.

[atheotes]

to me, life without happiness = almost not worth living. You can find happiness through financial security... but its not the be all end all.

[Gaius Scribonius Curio]

Thanks for the replies everyone, I've pretty much decided what I'm going to do.

@ Kukrikhan, I will have to pay back the money from the scholarship fund that has already been paid on my behalf. Thats somewhere in the region of $8000-12000.

I've decided after long and vigourous thought to start arranging to switch. I still have to apply and get accepted, and there are other details that I have to work out, but I've started getting together the forms and stuff, and I'm ringing the scholarship people today.

I just thought I'd note this isn't quite as spontaneous as it seems. I've been considering it for a couple of months as a serious option, but my natural nervousness and lack of confidence and most importantly indesiciveness held me back.

[Spartan198]

Well, it's hard to say. You can be happy as a hillbilly, but still be broke and sleeping under a bridge with the local troll. And you can also be richer than Paris Hilton, but still hate your life.

So... GAH!

[Ramses II CP]

You don't actually have this choice, the world just isn't that simple. Find the right compromise and you'll have both in ample quantities.

[Martok]

As Evil_Maniac From Mars implied in his somewhat glib reply: If I'm happy, it usually also means that I have enough money as well.

[Samurai Waki]

An old proverb my Dad Used to Say "Money Can't Buy You Happiness, but Happiness is subjective to how much money you have."

Playing the Devils Advocate However, my parents put financial security first, and it ended up nearly ruining (and completely mentally screwing up) four otherwise healthy children.

[rajpoot]

Money enough to just be happy, and no more. Earn until you think I can live with this happily enough. that's it.

[Mithrandir]

Any poll with the option happiness is a no-brainer.

As long as it's happiness on the long term, not just for a few minutes/hours/days/weeks...

[ELITEofWARMANGINGERYBREADMEN88]

Financial Security. Without Money, You Broke, and won't be happy.Trust me.

[Gaius Scribonius Curio]

Again, Thanks for all the replies.

OK new question...

Just throwing it out there, anyone know anything about bipolar disorder?
Over the past year, 6-7 people have suggested that I might have it. Latest was one of my friends who suggested that I should go talk to her therapist. I think I might. I've been doing some reading and may have some (OK a lot) of the symptoms.

Thing is the gap between highs and lows is supposed to be in the order of months, or at leasts weeks. I regularly go from an excellent mood in the morning, to hating myself in the afternoon and then back again by the evening. The other night, at my best friends mothers engagement, I went from over the moon to a panic attack in about 10 minutes...

OK I'm definitely going to see a doctor/therapist, but not for a few days. Opinions?

[Uesugi Kenshin]

Again, Thanks for all the replies.

OK new question...

Just throwing it out there, anyone know anything about bipolar disorder?
Over the past year, 6-7 people have suggested that I might have it. Latest was one of my friends who suggested that I should go talk to her therapist. I think I might. I've been doing some reading and may have some (OK a lot) of the symptoms.

Thing is the gap between highs and lows is supposed to be in the order of months, or at leasts weeks. I regularly go from an excellent mood in the morning, to hating myself in the afternoon and then back again by the evening. The other night, at my best friends mothers engagement, I went from over the moon to a panic attack in about 10 minutes...

OK I'm definitely going to see a doctor/therapist, but not for a few days. Opinions?

My brother has Bipolar and it's a tough disorder to diagnose, but if you have really rapid mood swings you may want to get it checked out. I'm not entirely sure what the other symptoms are though because when he had it really bad back in his teens I wasn't really in the loop/was a kid so I didn't quite get it.

Good luck, hopefully therapy will be enough. From my experience with my brother I bet you don't have it quite as bad as he did, he had to be hospitalized a couple of times before he was out of middle school or elementary school, one of the two. As I said I was young.

[Gaius Scribonius Curio]

Thanks for the quick reply. If I do its not too bad, just strange and confusing. I might be overreacting, I mean people have been saying it for a while but I didn't bother about it, did some reading and thought, omg these symptoms sound like my life! But its not affecting my life too much, just every now and again I'm really confused. Its the 'mania' part that made me sit up and take notice. A lot of the time, particularly at work, I'm hyperactive, talk way too much, flirt like anything, and am constantly on edge. My friends at work that know me outside work are genuinely confused at my seemingly complete personality change, and I am too. Its definitely not deliberate!!!

On the other hand my mother reckons I'm a hypercondriac (she wasn't here when I did my knee and ws on my own for a week, that might have changed her mind, driving, working, walking the dog twice a day when you can't straighten your leg is a bit painful!) but to be fair I probably am overreacting.