If you’re feeling like there is never enough money, you certainly aren’t alone. What is shocking, however, is just how much money people around the world appear to think that they need to be comfortable and happy.
A recent study that looked at 5000 workers around the world showed that people believe that they need at least $161,810 (£101,812) for a happy life. This is actually 15 times the global average salary! The survey, called the Wealth Sentiment Survey, was commissioned by the international investment company Skandia International.
British people had the second highest price for their happiness in Europe. They said they needed $133,010 (£83,600) to be happy. Germans showed the most modest desires of those in Europe at $85,781.
Interestingly, women showed higher price tags to their needs than men in many cases. In Hong Kong, Italy and Brazil, the women said that they needed $.13, $.11, and even $.55 more than what men said they needed for their happiness.
As Phil Oxenham, the marketing manager at Skandia International said: “There are many more things in life that can make people happy but there is no doubt that money can help. It is fascinating to see the regional differences in levels of income and capital that people think they need to feel happy and wealthy. These figures are, of course, aspirational and for most of us the important thing is to have a financial plan and make sure that we are saving as much as we can to give us financial security.”