They say that money can't buy happiness, and while I believe that's true, I'd be lying if I said I don't care if my children grow up to be financially stable adults. Luckily, it looks like their father and I have a way of helping make that a reality by ensuring they grow up in a happy household. How's that? Well, according to a new study, people who said they had a happy childhood were more likely to be making more money than those who didn't by the time they reached 30.
The new British study was conducted on American teens and young adults. Overall, it found that unhappy teens had incomes that were 30 percent below average as adults while happy teens' incomes were 10 percent above average as adults.
But why is that? Well, if you really think about it, the answers should come as no surprise. According to the study, happy individuals are more likely to get a degree, find a good job and get promoted quicker thanks to their positive outlook.
Read more in ¿Qué más?: Can you stay happily married when you have small children?
As with any study, however, I'm sure there are a lot of exceptions. I mean, I know my share of adults who have no qualms talking about the horrible childhoods they had and all the odds they had to overcome to become successful and wealthy adults.
Either way, considering the impact our kids' emotional well-being could have on their future success, these findings should convince parents to make sure their kids grow up in an emotionally healthy environment. Interestingly enough, this doesn't really have anything to do with money or how much of it you spend on your kids. Expensive gifts and clothes don't really make children happy–although everything in our society seems to point that way. Feeling loved, secure and important are much more powerful. As is, seeing you happy.
Image via cheriejoyful/flickr
