A TRUTH ABOUT MONEY AND HAPPINESS
By Dan Miller
September 8, 2008
Money can't buy happiness or health, or the same amount of gasoline it did last year.
Still, I find it hard to dispute the idea that money -- though it won't bring you happiness -- could make you more comfortable while you look for it.
It appears pro wrestler Hulk Hogan and his wife have been fairly comfortable, though unable to discover happiness.... at least not with each other.
Their big disagreement in a Florida divorce court concerns how much Hulk is worth.
His wife Linda contends Hulk is worth just under $27-million....
But Hulk insists he's about $5-million happier than that, with a total worth of $32-million.
Whatever it is, that's fine.... he's earned it.
To me, the captivating part of their story is Linda's list of monthly expenses.
She says, every month, she has to spend $7,258 on clothing.... $7,500 on maid service.... $1,700 on jewelry.... $6,100 on vacations....$1,318 on grooming.... $2,464 on lawn and pool maintenance.... $2,175 in pet expenses.... and $17,840 for her legal and accounting fees.
That's every month!
And poor Hulk... he's living in a separate residence, and guess what he listed as his monthly clothing expense?$102.
That's right, 102-dollars a month for clothing.
In fairness to Mrs. Hulk Hogan, I'm sure her wardrobe -- unlike the Hulkster's -- consists of more than bandanas and tights.
It's possible Hulk might have sensed trouble brewing for quite awhile.... he listed his monthly legal fees as being double his wife's, at $38,000.
Neither Hulk nor Linda listed any charitable contributions.... oh wait.... Hulk did say that he contributes $11 a month to a religious organization.
The funny thing is, I'd wager that organization is happy to get that $11.
There's no real bottom line here.
As I said at the beginning, money doesn't buy happiness.
I believe that.
In fact, I read the other day about a survey that found virtually the same level of happiness between the very rich individuals on the Forbes 400 and the Maasai herdsman of East Africa.
And if you're still befuddled about money and happiness, remember the words of comedienne Joan Rivers:"People say that money is not the key to happiness, but I always figured if you have enough money, you can have a key made."
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