Are you "quite happy and satisfied with your life"?

I just saw this article in our local paper: Money can buy you happiness, to a point.

It claims that people's happiness increases with their income until they reach $75,000/year. It also says "as in other studies of well-being, we found that most people were quite happy and satisfied with their lives."

So what's your take? Make less than $75K and feel happy? Make more and not feel happy? Are you quite happy and satisfied with your life? What about most people that you know?

Not sure of the significance of the $75k benchmark.

Our income is over that amount. We have no debts, we own our home and property outright, we have enough to travel moderately, and we are in reasonably good health. We are able to gift a bit each year to our kids. Most importantly we have friends. Not a lot of close friends, but a lot of people who we would help out in a pinch and who would reciprocate if we needed them.

I can't imagine how my life would change if I suddenly became wealthy. I might live in a nicer location but I couldn't even say that for sure. I have everything a rich person could have simply to a much lesser degree. I have a roof over my head. It isn't luxurious but it keeps me dry. I have an automobile. Again not fancy but it's in good condition and it gets me where I want to go.

then I can pay the bills and get by. Certain quarters of the year I have to struggle week after week for enough hours and I can honestly say it does effect my mood.

I don't even know how much our annual income is. As a veteran teacher, I make around $60K and my husband works part-time at the community college.

Our children are grown up and on their own, and we have no debts. If our health holds up, this is probably the most secure stage of life.

to see why check out my thread detailing my life.

health care (hubby is military) and my husband is stateside and not deployed. I'm in not great health but not especially terrible health at this time. I feel I am so much luckier than so many Americans today and many people around the world in general. I am very content and grateful for the comfortable (not rich, but comfortable in that I have the basics I need) lifestyle I have.

I was happy and satisfied when I made less than 75k. It's just easier now knowing I can pay my bills. treat myself a little, help my kids as they cope with the economy, send some money to favorite political and charitable causes and still be able to save something with every paycheck.