English 1230-01
September 14, 2010
Essay #1
Can Money Buy Happiness?
Would it be better to have one million dollars or would it be better to have a spouse and children? On one hand, people are always saying what they would do if they had money. On the other hand, people are always saying what they would do if they had a family. Being rich can be defined as many things. It can be defined as being incredibly wealthy. It can also be defined as having friends and family who care about you. It depends on the person’s definition of being rich. The person with the most money in the world can also be the loneliest person in the world. Putting it simply, money cannot buy happiness.
Money cannot buy happiness because one thing that makes people happy is having a family. Families can bring a certain joy that money can’t bring. A family consists of people (and animals) who you care about and who cares about you. Buying a family isn’t the same as having one of your own. When you already have a family, your family will already love and trust you. If you try to buy a family, you’ll have to gain their trust and love and they’ll have to gain your trust and love. Having a family, not having money, is one of the key essentials of being. In other words, families have a big influence on a person, whether it’s good or bad. People that you bought are usually just in it for the money, so they probably wouldn’t care whether you succeed or fail.
Friendship is another thing that definitely can’t be bought with money. When you have a genuine friendship, that person will stay with you through the good times and the bad times. The person won’t care if you have money or not. That person will keep your secrets, no matter how intriguing, until they die. If you tried to buy your friends, they might try to sell your deepest, darkest secrets to the highest bidder. Real friends like you for who you are as a person. If you buy your friends, you will only get