Money does buy happiness – but most people want a considerable lump sum to bring a smile to their face, according to a new survey.
Table of contents
The average amount of cash in the bank that will bring a smile to most people’s faces is a substantial £7,646,500, researchers for cashback Quidco have revealed.
Around 2,000 people were asked how much cash would make them happy – and almost two-thirds put a figure on their wellbeing.
For 10%, the figure was a massive £50 million, while at the other end of the scale another 10% opted for just £250,000. The average was £7.65 million.
Although cash would make many people happier, having money in the bank also brought out their dark side.
Secret windfalls
A fifth disclosed they would keep their windfall secret – not even telling their partners about their good luck.
Many confessed that they would willingly leave their partners for cash – and a lot less than the amount would make them happy.
The study found £1.3 million was enough for the average person to pack their bags and leave their partner, while £1.4 million would see them walk out of their job.
Even if someone came into a fortune, a miserly 3% admitted they would not fritter the cash on gifts, holidays and hand-outs for family and loved ones. However, a huge majority of 80% professed they would be generous with their money.
Paying down debts would be a priority for a third and buying a luxury home appealed to 12%. Other aspirations included investing, helping out family, expensive holidays and buying a home overseas.
Dares to raise cash
The firm’s Vix Leyton said: “Many say money can’t buy happiness, but that doesn’t appear to be right according to our research.
“We were surprised at how much money people aspired to – and what they would do to raise the money.”
The lengths people would go to for money included:
- Chancing Russian roulette with a loaded gun – £4,465,027
- Going to work naked for the day – £3,479,621
- Running a 26-mile marathon naked – £4,085,672
- Letting a William Tell archer shoot an apple off their head with a crossbow – £2,969,758
- Having their face tattooed – £4,318,907
- Marrying someone they do not love – £3,941,149
- Auditioning for TV talent show The X-Factor – £2,853,069
- Letting a tarantula spider crawl over their face – £2,468,650
Other trials people would endure for between £1 million and £2 million cash include swimming with sharks, eating Kangaroo testicles, shaving off their hair and staying in a haunted house for a night.
Not everyone believes money can buy happiness – many thinkers believe the cost of being happy is an intangible currency, while scientists take a different view.
Related Articles, Guides and Insights
Below is a list of some related articles, guides and insights that you may find of interest.
Questions or Comments?
We love to get feedback from our readers. So, after reading this article, if you have any questions or want to make comments, send us a message on this site or our social media?
Don’t forget that you can also request the guides sent directly to your email inbox.