When you receive your income every month and then you go shopping, buy new clothes, shoes, cosmetics, gadgets, dine out in luxurious and your favorite restaurants. Did you really sleep well after spending money you just got in those ways? Have you ever asked yourself how long the happiness that you buy from your hard effort for the whole month will last?

A little happiness that you find by yourself that you’re always happy whenever you do, can be buying food for stray dogs to help them survive. 

Another type of happiness is when you feel content to see your loved ones and people around you smile and happy. Try this! Instead of spending your income on shopping, telling your family members that you’ll take them to a nice restaurant and noticing how they react. Your young brother may smile widely and say “Really”. Even you have money now, you may not have that happy moment again. 

In fact, the people who surround you are not only your family. Then, who should we share our happiness with? Putting in simple words in line with the lifestyle of this generation by referring to the words of the Buddha.

Before sharing our money to provide happiness for others, that money must be earned ethically from our physical and intellectual efforts. The Buddha stated that there are 4 functions to spend our money.

1.Take care of yourself

You must be happy in both body and mind and have the quality of life in balance with your status. And then you can take care of your family, subordinates including your friends.

2.Protect yourself from danger

You spend money to guard yourself against natural disasters and risks such as fire, flood, earthquake, and theft. In other words, to buy life insurance.

3.Contribute to others

You offer your money to help support 5 groups of people; 1. Relatives 2. Those who ask you 3. Deceased relatives 4. Nation (Tax payment) and 5. God and Goddess.

4.Brahmin / Practitioner / Those who commit themselves to Dharma

You donate your money to them as you believe that your good deeds will carry on to the next life and will be a resource in preparation for the transmigration journey.

After studying the Buddha’s words, you may compare with the environment and people around you and realize that his Mighty words are powerful and deep. You may strive for saving money and investing in stocks and property, but you can’t take any piece of assets with you when you leave this world. 

Amazingly, the Buddha stated that Gratitude is the utmost auspiciousness. When you make merit, you realize that it’s your responsibility to pass on your good deed to your passing family members and relatives. 

Many people may doubt and wonder what they should do. How they can share their income with family while they’re still facing challenges in supporting themselves with their insufficient money.

The suggestion is to find a piggy bank and put some money in it every day. Also, sharing some money for making merit, taking some savings to give a birthday treat to your family member. You may put 20 baht a day in the piggy bank. In that way, you’ll get 600 baht per month and 7,200 baht a year. With that amount of money, you can buy birthday gifts or other essentials.

We hope everyone will find true happiness by spending money that we earn wisely and feel happy by sharing. Happiness will never fade and we’ll be proud whenever we think about that great moment.