They say money can’t buy happiness, and I couldn’t agree more with that. Happiness is an emotional state of being, a sense of contentment, a feeling of satisfaction, joy and fulfilment. It cannot be bought and sold. Having money in the bank or under the mattress will not make us happy in any way. Indeed, the Scrooge-effect could leave us increasingly miserable. 

However, I do believe that money can buy choices and opportunities, and what you choose to do with those opportunities can make you very happy indeed. 

I used to have a very well-paid job that had enabled me to support myself and my dogs, up-size my home, do some home improvements, go on staycations twice a year. Life should have been good. But the money couldn’t outweigh the effect of that job and working environment on my mental and physical health. Ultimately I had to give up my job, meaning I have also had to rent out my home and move back in with my parents, as I could not pay the bills. I have lost my dogs, as no amount of money could save them from illnesses and old age, and without them a great deal of happiness has been robbed from my world. 

My illnesses and losses have made me reassess my life in its entirety. I used to have very materialistic dreams. Success seemed to be measured by what kind of house you lived in, what kind of car you drove or what kind of holidays you took. I now have very different dreams, and a very different path to happiness. 

Unfortunately, everything still depends on money. This is what I would do if I had the money, and I can safely say that it would make me very happy indeed. 

1. Pay off my parents’ mortgage

My greatest desire would be to pay off my parents’ mortgage. They have supported me relentlessly through life’s ups and downs, and seeing them trapped in stressful jobs, wishing away the remaining years on their mortgage so they can retire is heart-breaking. The joy of being able to give them the gift of financial freedom, a peaceful life and the time and energy to chase their passions would give me immense happiness. 

2. Buy my brother a house

My brother is currently living in a small rented property with his small family. They both work for the NHS and have always worked hard and paid their way. I would love to be able to gift them a house fit for their current and future needs, with space for their two boys to run riot and make wonderful memories, free from the financial burden of rent and mortgage payments. 

3. Help my tenants

Losing my home was a terrible blow to my independence. Being unable to afford to live in it, it is rented out, thankfully bringing in just enough income to cover the mortgage, tax, maintenance and insurance costs. Paying off my mortgage would mean I would own my home outright, enabling me to do what I like with it. I would get the greatest pleasure from gifting it to my tenants, releasing them from the endless cycle of rent payments. It would be the least I could do for a lovely couple who have cherished my home as if it were their own, and released me from the fear of missed mortgage payments and repossession. The ability to give back would be joyful. 

4. Build a home in the countryside 

I have always loved houses, floorplans, designs, garden design, and I would love the opportunity to build my own home. However, whereas I may once have seen this as the chance to advertise my success, I now focus on what means the most to me.  

I love nature and the countryside, solitude and the natural world. I would love to buy a large area of land, design and build myself a home. It would be sustainable and energy efficient, large enough to take in my family but compact enough not to take a week to clean! It would have a large kitchen garden, large windows to exploit wonderful views over the countryside and let the light flood in, and be remote enough to ensure the first sounds you hear are bird song not traffic. A meadow area for colour, scent and pollinators and pasture for donkeys and goats would complete my idyll. Though I confess I would need to indulge my romantic side and incorporate a sweeping staircase and balconied landing! 

5. Build up a business around my passions 

My mother asked me what my long term dream was. With tears flowing freely, I could only try to explain that I didn’t dare to dream as my financial situation meant nothing was achievable and it was too painful to dream of something that I could never reach. Money would give me the freedom to dream, and to chase those dreams and grasp them with both hands. 

Most of my holidays have been within the UK, staying in holiday cottages with my dogs. My ideal business would be to own and run a couple of holiday cottages in the countryside. Not only would this exploit my experience of staycations and provide a regular income with minimal day-to-day work involvement for me, mostly I would have the regular opportunity to bask in the joy of those on holiday, the infectious laughter of children and the boundless energy of dogs relishing the great outdoors and freedom from school, work and city life. 

There are probably a million and one other things I would do, given the chance, and some of them are very shallow and the happiness they would offer would be short-lived or materialistic. Freshly-styled hair is a wonderful feeling and confidence boost, and it would be lovely to be able to afford more than my current 1-2 hairdresser trips a year. The money to afford a new phone every year or two would remove the irritation that goes with old, slow and frequently hanging technology. But these are first world problems that would not materially affect my happiness.  

The freedom to travel to bucket list destinations with the most important people in my life and make memories that will last a lifetime – that is something that money can buy and will definitely create happiness.  

No money worries would free up time and headspace to devote to my passions. I would love to write novels, to share the stories always turning round in my head with the world. 

Yes, money can buy things. No, money cannot buy happiness. But money can allow us to do things for others, go places with others, experience the world in a different way, share things with others. Money buys opportunities, choices, the ability to help those who mean so much more than money. It is the impact of what money can achieve that creates happiness. 

So if anyone has or knows someone with a spare couple of million pounds, I would be very grateful to work through my list, sharing that money and embracing the joyful impact money can have when spent the right way to improve what matters most in this world – those who mean the most to us.