standard of living

Should your standard of living rise?

Posted July 25, 2008 - 15:56 by Philip Brewer

Personal Finance, Frugal Living

Piggy bank waits for the train

Studies show that a high standard of living doesn't make people happier. People who live in mansions and penthouses aren't any happier than people who live in suburban houses, small apartments, or even shacks. An increase in standard of living does make people happier, but only temporarily. That has implications for managing your standard of living.

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A decent standard of living

Posted March 3, 2008 - 14:55 by Philip Brewer

Personal Finance, Frugal Living

Bench in an herb garden

There's little argument about the minimum a human needs to survive--we know how much water, food, and shelter keep body and soul together. But a certain level of comfort above that has always been considered necessary for a "decent" standard of living. Just how much space there is between necessity and decency, though, is a social construction, and society's opinion changes all the time.

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