There’s no denying the fact that money is a good thing. It pays our bills, gives us the means to buy new clothes, lets us get our cars fixed, and has many other benefits. But while new studies show that more money can lead to a better sense of control, there are some things money can’t buy.
As The Beatles famously sang, “Money can’t buy me love.” Earning a lot of money after a certain point shouldn’t necessarily be your main focus in life. So, although money may make certain aspects of your life easier, it's key to appreciate the other important things in life too!
15 Important things money can't buy
Having money is essential, but again there are plenty of things that can bring joy to your life that money cannot buy. Let's dive into the most important things money can't buy. This way you can become emotionally balanced with money as well!
1. Mental health
One of the most important things money can’t buy health, and it certainly can’t buy mental health. Being stressed out all the time and not taking time for yourself can lead to anxiety and even depression. Throwing money at the problem won’t necessarily fix it, either.
In fact, you can work so hard for money, that you end up burning yourself out. This not only impacts your mental health but can also lead to other health complications, like insomnia, and can even increase your risk for developing other health issues like heart disease.
And while money can pay for medical bills and expenses, it can’t buy back your peace of mind and natural health.
2. Healthy relationships
Money can’t buy a healthy relationship, whether that is with your partner, family, or friends. If you’re constantly fighting with your partner, buying them an apology gift won’t fix it. If you’re in a toxic, draining relationship, no amount of money will fix the issue.
You can't put a price on having meaningful healthy relationships with those you love. The only thing that can build healthy relationships is to spend quality time together and be kind.
3. Time
I’d love to be able to buy extra time in the day or one of the "time-turner’s" that Hermione Granger used in the Harry Potter series. Sadly, those do not exist in real life.
Money can’t buy you more time. We all have 24 hours in a day, so it’s important to use them wisely. The same is true for our length of life.
While medical advances over the centuries mean that we live longer than we did in the Middle Ages, we still haven’t figured out a way to live forever.
4. Happiness
One of the other things money cannot buy is happiness. You can have all the money in the world and buy all the latest gadgets, but it doesn’t guarantee that you will be happy.
Happiness is internal. There are plenty of people who have lots of clothes, a big house, and everything they could possibly want, but they are still unhappy.
If you want to be happy, don’t throw money at the problem, trying to find a solution. Instead, focus on enjoying the things in life you do have.
5. True friendships
If you have a lot of money, you might find a lot of people who want to be friends with you. But that doesn’t mean they are all your true friends. You might find that when you need those people the most, they suddenly don’t want anything to do with you.
True friendship is another one of the most important things money can't buy! No matter how much or how little money you have, make sure to tell your friends who have stuck by you the longest how much you appreciate them.
6. Respect and admiration
You might think that having a load of money automatically makes people respect you. But that’s not true at all. Sure, people might envy you. But envy does not mean that they accept you for who you are and have given you their trust.
The same goes for admiration. It’s your accomplishments and actions that command admiration from other people. So even if you’re a millionaire, you can’t buy someone else's admiration and respect.
7. Inner peace
People who have a lot of money can have the same fears and worries as everyone else. Just because you don’t have to worry about paying the bills, doesn’t mean you’ll have inner peace.
You can reach a sense of calmness without having a lot of money. And in fact, it’s nearly impossible to have inner peace if you’re only thoughts are about money. The only way to truly have inner peace is to practice mindfulness and inner awareness.
8. Good manners
Having good manners is something that is taught, not bought. You need to make an attempt to have good manners. It takes time and effort to change your attitude towards yourself and others.
Having a lot of money can even do the opposite. People with money can become rude to others because they don’t feel the need to be nice. Money or no money, that’s not an excuse to not be kind and civil to those around you.
9. Empathy
Another one of the things money can’t buy is empathy. Understanding and feeling what others are going through is only something that can come through years of practice. You can’t pay to understand what someone else is going through, especially if you haven’t been through a similar experience.
Money also can’t buy you empathy from others. Finding people who can truly relate to what you are going through can take time. It doesn’t matter if they have money or you have money. Connecting and listening to others is a skill set money cannot buy.
10. A positive attitude
Having a positive attitude is also one of the things money can’t buy. Sure, you can buy all the things in the world, but if you’re negative all the time, it can cause a lot of unhappiness. Being positive is about having a state of mind that looks at the good things in life. It’s about counting your blessings and being grateful for everything you have.
11. Love
Taking someone on a date and paying for their meal won’t mean that they will love you or even like you. One of the things money cannot buy is love. Sure, you might be able to buy them lots of things and pay for vacations, but that doesn’t mean that person loves you.
The best way to find love is to spend time with someone and get to know who they are. Love is one of those funny things that you can’t control. When it happens, it happens. Money can’t make that happen.
12. Integrity
Integrity is another thing money cannot buy. Being honest and having a strong ethical code are things that you have to aspire to do on your own. It’s not something that you can purchase with money. Instead, it’s a virtue that you have to aspire to.
If you want to build up integrity in your life, start by identifying the most important things to you. Stand up for what you believe in and be honest with yourself and those around you.
13. Inner beauty
Money might be able to buy you weekly facials and botox, but it can’t fix your inner beauty. In other words, you can’t buy yourself a great personality.
Being kind, honest, and gentle with others are skill sets that are acquired. While you can try to fake your life, it will all eventually catch up to you, as we saw in the drama series “Inventing Anna.”
14. Passion
You might want to really love playing the piano or kickboxing, but if you’re not truly passionate about it, no amount of money spent on lessons and materials will make you love it.
Passion is something you get through putting in the time on your own to do something you truly care about. If you’re not sure what it is you are passionate about, money will only get you so far. You need to give something your all to discover your true passions in life.
15. Self-esteem
Money can’t buy you self-esteem. It’s something you need to figure out yourself. While buying new clothes or items might give us a temporary serotonin boost, money doesn’t give us the means to know our own self-worth.
Instead, you need to encourage yourself and focus on positive thinking. You can even complete a 30-day self-love challenge to build up your confidence.
Focus on attaining things money can't buy!
Money can buy us a lot of things. But there are a number of things money can’t buy. Friendship, love, passion, and good manners, just to name a few. Regardless of how much money you have, it’s important to keep in mind that sometimes money isn’t everything.