can’t buy me love

So we already know you only need 40k to be happy. We also know that monogamy is another big factor in happiness. But how do you get from 40K to monogamy? Most men I know have to spend a bit upfront in order to see some longer-term investment. And while you can get by on $50 into your savings account a month, you can’t necessarily get by on $50 to take a girl out to dinner once a month.

Of course, you can find someone who doesn’t need pricey (or even mid-priced, these days) dinners, but let’s be honest - the initial period of a relationship requires a little extravagant spending. Women like to be taken care of, even if it’s just for a little while. Courtship is really important. And I’m not talking about golddiggers. I’m talking about normal women who can (generally) take care of themselves but like to know that a man can occasionally step up to the plate too. She will reciprocate down the line, hopefully, but until you settle into some sort of a rhythm, men are at a disadvantage financially when it comes to love. So, what do you do?

how much money do you need to be happy?

According to Penelope Trunk, only 40K. This is in any city. Studies have shown that after you make the jump to 40K, any additional increase doesn’t add as much happiness as one might think. There are a few explanations for this - one major thing is that we spend that extra money on the wrong things: generally, things that make us less happy.

The basic idea is that once you’ve got enough to meet basic needs, you’re in a stable place that allows breathing room for being happy. You’re not worrying about paying bills and have hit an equilibrium in the income/bills dynamic.

The things that DO make you happy have nothing to do with money. Most importantly, consistent sex is highly correlated with happiness (and that is - sex with one person consistently is optimal). You don’t need money to have sex. Interestingly, on average, once a week is enough. After that, you get diminishing returns.

Personally, I can dig the 40K number. I’d have to get rid of my condo, but I’m trying to do that anyway. After that, if I could just pay off my debts, I’d be sitting pretty on 40K for sure.