Free Money Finance: You Only Need $40,000 a Year to Be Happy

Looking for happiness through financial success? Wondering what the magic number is? It's $40,000. Really. So pick a job you are going to enjoy instead of one that makes a lot of money -- just be sure your job will get you to that $40,000 mark.

In fact, this salary guideline is well established in research: the first $40,000 makes a big difference in a person's level of happiness. Happiness is dependent on being able to meet basic needs for food, shelter, and clothing. After meeting those needs you have to turn to something other than consumerism, because additional money has negligible impact on how happy you are. Your level of happiness is instead largely dependent on your outlook.

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