Is the man living in a beautiful mansion with millions of dollars at his disposal truly happy? What if I added that he had spent so much time making that money that he had no family or true friends. A lot of work colleagues, employees and various hangers on, but no true soul mate. He had no knowledge of anything outside his business. Now do you believe he is happy. Of course he’s not. OK. So does that mean that money can’t buy happiness. Which might infer that we are happier without money, right?

So let’s take a snapshot of another man’s life. A poor man. A homeless man. He survives on the charity of others. Never knows from one day to the next where he will sleep, what he can find to eat. But he is a good man, a widely read man. He reads anything he can find, that other people leave behind. He is a kind and cheery friend to all that he meets. He has many very close friends amongst the homeless, as well as those that run various charity units. He has no money, no material wealth at all. His health is incredibly bad because of his exposure to the elements and an unstable diet. He is often cold and alone. But he has love in abundance. He is not lonely. Is he happy? Very doubtful.

OK. So these are extremes. I’ll give you that. So let’s go with a more middle of the road scenario. It may look like your story. I know it was ours for a very long time.

Once again there is a man. He has a job as an office administrator, which he loves. He has a lovely little home, a beautiful wife and a couple of wonderful, intelligent children. He is a good man with many friends. But families and houses cost money and there isn’t enough to make ends meet. He starts working overtime. They put the kids in daycare and his wife gets a job. When he gets home his wife and children are already asleep. When he wakes up his wife and children have left for the day. They take different vacation times in order to care for the kids during school breaks. They can pay the bills but they are a family in name only. There is no relationship to each other left. Strangers sharing a house.

His wife used to love to cook and garden. Now it’s instant meals and the yard is full of weeds. He used to work out and volunteer at his church. Now he can’t even find enough time for the sleep he needs. He hates his job. They are living to work. And it is causing resentment to build up between them all. They have money to live, but no time to use it. They have people in their lives, but no time or energy to spend with them. Nobody would call them happy.

But what happens if the same family takes a slightly different path. What would have happened if before things got really tough the wife started her own home care business. Doing what she loves for others who were time poor. She makes a little money, and the children play in the yard of clients while she works. She is there for the children and is awake and cheery when her husband gets home. He is still working overtime. They are both working the same hours but the whole family gets time together.

The kids get a little older and mum can put in more intensive time ot her work without sacrificing the precious time with her family. She still cooks and gardens but through research and study for her business is even more efficient at it. It’s even easier so she enjoys it even more. She has time with her husband, who isn’t as tired because he is eating better and has the emotional support we all need. He doesn’t have time to volunteer, but he at least has the energy to attend his church and some of the regular church functions with friends.

Eventually he drops the overtime and comes into his wife’s business as a full partner running the administrative side of the business. She can focus on the hands on side of the business. They are still working hard, but they are together for much of the day with a healthy amount of separation. As the years roll on her business client list increases and they employ others to pick up the strain. They have plenty of time to spend with their children, friends, each other and their church.

The kids go to the best local school. Mum and Dad can allow time out every week to volunteer at the school. There is money for holidays, and time to take them. There is money for nicer clothes and some of the luxuries of life. They are not millionaires but they are comfortable.

Now are they happy?

Happiness in life requires balance. Yes the money made a difference, but without time every thing else suffered. We need to take care of our physical being and our health. We need to feed the soul, our passions and desires. We need to take time to love, be loved, to laugh and to play.

This family followed their passions. They worked smart, not hard. They kept the faith of their vision. They had a goal and they stuck to it, step by step. Through this they, their children, their friends, the church, the school and the broader community are happier and richer for the experience.

Now that is how money can buy happiness!