Article's right, the money I make over $75k doesn't make me happier. It's the stuff I buy with the money that makes me happier.

This and similar studies are usually very limited as they often only interview working people. If you've made a mint and retired early - as high earnings often allow you to do - then you won't be featured.

In addition, they often don't properly account for long-term goals (e.g. putting away cash in your pension pot, or funding your childrens' education, or paying off that holiday home). All these goals may involve short to medium term stress, as you are working harder with less free-time, but ultimately (assuming you live...) you should ideally end up with:

(i) kids who are well educated and have great opportunities;
(ii) parents who you can treat, as thanks for the opportunities they gave you;
(iii) a lovely place in the sun, where you can pootle about in;
(iv) an early retirement, with enough cash to travel the world and otherwise do what you want; and
(v) the peace of mind that comes with knowing you have funds to take care of your and your families' healthcare needs, should anything arise,

each of which gives a deeper satisfaction I think than simply being able to clock off early.

And in the interim, particularly if you work in Asia/Europe, you still have plenty of holidays and cash to enjoy your working life, it's just that it's sometimes a spot more stressful than a 9 to 5. But is it worth swapping a few extra hours per day and losing the benefits above? For me, no, particularly as earning a lot less money brings non-work related stresses of its own.

Harry_Seldon: Doing good while others struggle around me is not happiness, it is uncomfortable and demeaning.

Not to be snarky,but I just don't understand how you can feel guilty about spending your own money on the things you can easily afford. As someone who makes a modest living working for a company that provides goods & services to other companies, I want you to spend your money. You do not have to feel guilty on my account simply because I'm not as well off as you are. I'm not part of the 99% that's going to hate you for doing what I want to do myself. I can buy my own stuff. I just have to budget & save a little more. If it makes you feel better... It is summer. Put together a bbq & invite those neighbors you think need a little, you know, relief. I've been there & I know how far something like that can go for people with tight finances. Even something like pre-made burgers & store bought potato salad can relieve a little of the financial stress a family on a limited budget is experiencing. People in those situations also tend to pay it forward when they are able. I'm far from the bleeding heart, charitable type, but even I manage to pull some random act of kindness out of my ass for a friend or stranger once a month.

Tanthalas39: I've been saying this for over ten years, but using $80K as the "level-off" line, based on my own experience. Almost nailed it.

I've been looking for a figure that would allow me to do pretty much what I want. $80K ~ $40.00 per hour, 40 hours in a week... sounds solid.

/prefer not to work more than 25 hours a week, on average per year
//Need to raise hourly rate

I make a little more than 75k, but I work nearly 60 hour weeks and spend a lot of time shouting at people.

A lot of money - like enough to pay off the house then then have a living wage off the interest - would make me very very happy.

Some of you people don't get it. You don't need money to find a cute, sexy woman who genuinely wants to be with you -- in fact, not having money probably significantly increases your odds of doing so. Sure, a farkload of money will likely net you one of the sun-dried, rail-thin women you think are sexy, but... frankly, I'd rather take the one who genuinely wants to be with you over someone who only wants your money. Maybe you're okay with only being wanted because you're rich. I personally can't stand the idea; I'd rather be wanted because I'm me. I'm poor as dirt, but I make women stain their panties.

Also, you also don't need money to do two chicks at once. Let me tell you, folks: if you need money for that, you're doing it wrong.

James F. Campbell: Some of you people don't get it. You don't need money to find a cute, sexy woman who genuinely wants to be with you -- in fact, not having money probably significantly increases your odds of doing so. Sure, a farkload of money will likely net you one of the sun-dried, rail-thin women you think are sexy, but... frankly, I'd rather take the one who genuinely wants to be with you over someone who only wants your money. Maybe you're okay with only being wanted because you're rich. I personally can't stand the idea; I'd rather be wanted because I'm me. I'm poor as dirt, but I make women stain their panties.

Also, you also don't need money to do two chicks at once. Let me tell you, folks: if you need money for that, you're doing it wrong.

No all you need is to be attractive, do not be unattractive.

Also do not make women shiat themselves at the sight of you.

Money just makes them go away afterward.

sheumack: I make a little more than 75k, but I work nearly 60 hour weeks and spend a lot of time shouting at people.

A lot of money - like enough to pay off the house then then have a living wage off the interest - would make me very very happy.

I think the thing not mentioned in the article is that $75k a year is maximum happiness WITH NO WORK. If you have to have a job to earn $75k then you can still be very unhappy and stressed.

in north korea the number is $600