Basically it is Maslow's Hierarchy of needs. You don't worry about self fullfilment when you are worried about shelter and food.

Studies have shown that the jump from poor to middle class (or at least a point where you don't have to worry about bills) is one of the best ways to boost your happiness

Money can't buy happiness. But Poverty can't buy anything

When you're dead broke, money is everything.

" Money can't buy happiness but happiness can't fill the plate."-Booba

Truer words have not been said, Casey. "If you are struggling financially, and someone tells you money won't solve all of your problems, chances are the that person saying that is someone who's never actually been broke."

My life motto nowadays is what Jim Carrey said in his documentary: "When you compromise and you fail, it really hurts. It hurts even more than failing at what you love. I learned that you can fail at what you don't love, so you might as well do what you love...there's really no choice to be made."

"Nearly all men can stand adversity, but if you want to test a man's character, give him power." - Abraham Lincoln

feels like an old Casey video. im in my happy place

I respect your hustle so much. I remember about 3 years ago you made a video about how you started getting into filming. And you said specifically don't ever max out your credit card for a camera. And stupidly I did the same thing. Well after years of hustling I've peaked over 134,000 subscribers. And videos like this put so much perspective into it. Thank you so much Casey. But seriously don't ever max out your credit card lol

100% agree. I feel like “money won’t solve your problems” only works if your financially stable. Going from stable to rich might not solve life problems (emphasis on might) but going from broke to rich, or even broke to stable will solve a lot of problems.

Money can't buy happiness but money can buy icecream

aint no rich people tryin to trade places tho

This reminds my of the fantastic Japanese concept of "Ikigai" - or ultimate purpose/reason for being. It's a Venn diagram of overlapping circles of purposes. 1) "What you are good at"; 2) "What you love"; 3) "What the world needs"; and 4) "What you can get paid for". *Passion* is when "What you love" and "What you are good at" overlap. *Mission* is when "What you love" and "What the world needs" overlap. *Vocation* is when "What you are good at" and "What the world needs" overlap. *Profession* is when "What the world needs" and "What you are good at" overlap. *Ikigai* - ultimate purpose of the holy grail of happiness - is when all four circles overlap. I haven't found it yet, but I'm trying. Peace!

Casey Neistat discovering Maslow's hierarchy of needs.

And in this video Casey explains Maslow’s Hierarchy of Needs in modern terms

This brings back so many memories. I spent 2 years in community college studying accounting. It was a job that I could do (because I was good at math) and the money was great. But going to those classes and seeing how the next 40-50 years of my life would pan out just really sucked to me. Then one day when I was driving home from class I saw a house that was on fire and firefighters running into the building without hesitation and putting that fire out just sparked something inside of me. About 3 days later I volunteered at my communities fire department and started taking fire studies classes and went on calls to fires, care wrecks and even just making sure the elders of the community were okay due to the fact no one had heard from them for a couple of days. I then knew what I wanted to do with my life. After about a month volunteering I dropped out of college and my accounting classes and kept pursuing a career in firefighting. Eventually I became a certified EMT Firefighter and got a job with my cities fire department. I make good money, enough to pay my bills, buy my food, afford gas for my vehicle, buy clothes, etc. Plus at the end of the week I still will have around $100 to go on a real date with my girlfriend, you know, dinner plus a movie. That kind of thing. Yes, I work a dangerous job that could possibly cause my death at any moment. But at the same time I couldn't see myself doing anything else. I get paid enough money to live a good life and still have a fun weekend with my lady and my friends, all while saving lives and protecting people. What more could you ask for?

Maslow's hierarchy of needs

I read about a study where it was stated that your happiness increases as your median household income increases, but after around 100k-120k (that is more than enough to solve the basic money problems where you can be comfortable) the happiness starts declining, mostly because of longer work hours and your life being your work etc etc.

Yeah being broke makes NOONE HAPPY... Being wealthy might not make you happy, but it certainly goes a long way

"'Money can't buy happiness' means 'the mindless accumulation of excess wealth ultimately leads to diminishing returns on happiness.' It does not mean 'poor people should learn to be content without basic necessities or financial security.'" good video, keep it up.

I’ve had no money and now decent money and I can’t in good conscience recommend being broke... That said, I know it’s not simple. But the thing I would say is if you raise your skill level and then put yourself around people who can pay you what you’re worth, things tend to get better. Just be patient with yourself and hang in there...

too true. this is one of my favourite videos you've done casey. In one of those situations right now, and meeting health problems at the same time coupled with emotional healing required from traumatic events. its not fun. when money literally will solve problems. And having to address happiness and a sense if purpose simultaneously adds the weight further.

As my dad says "money doesn't solve all your problems but it sure does make life a hell of a lot easier"

Rich or Poor, You Hustle, I respect that. You inspire me to do the same. Great Work casey.

Money may not buy happiness, but it can definitely get rid of the things that cause unhappiness. Edit: (I am aware that this doesnt apply to all situations. Which is why I said "can")

Love the way you broke things down, it put a lot of things into perspective

I loved the title of the article and the way he explained that is literally superb.

Most people could live on a $100K salary fairly comfortably. Median US household income in 2017 was just $61K. The "miserable" guy making $1.2M could easily work for just a few years and save enough money to quit/retire (if he lived as though he was making $100K). Then go find a job you love.

I lived 2 years as a homeless person many years ago. It was a weird rebellious time in my life. Fast forward over a decade later and I’m married with a new baby, a good job and a growing KZfaq channel. Time is a weird thing. Life itself is a weird thing. Never think you’re stuck in a rut forever. Things change fast. I believe in all of you

This is the most accurate and truthful video on youtube atm ps: from rich to poor now :(

I’m a broke college student and single mom, money is everything right now. Not stressing on money and shifting certain financial worries to other less important issues makes a person like me appreciate a good meal, because I’ve had to skip a few so that my kids had a full belly. The struggle is real, sacrifices are real!

“Having money isn’t everything, but not having it is”

Basically maslow's pyramid a level must be satisfied and fulfilled before moving onto a higher pursuit

Right on the money as usual! Wiser words have never been spoken about the subject so accurately and succinct. Very insightful.

Great video. Loved the distinction between Money Problems vs Life Problems. Casey you do an excellent job at making us look at life in a different way.

Very interesting perspective coming from Casey who has seen both sides of the equation. Good essay my man!!

Casey's 1000th video! Congratulations!!!😄❤

Money problems: healthcare "Laughs in europian"

There’s one thing my dad told me when I was around the middle school she and starting to think about what I wanna do when I grow up: “Money can’t buy happiness, but it sure makes things a whole lot easier.” Which is I think what Casey was getting at towards the end of the video when he said that the best job is one that satiates all of your needs while also being a job you love. And thus, now I’m a sophomore in college studying to practice medicine. A pathway I care a lot about which also satiates all of my needs very well

"I've been rich and I've been poor, rich is better". Woody Allen.

I don't know if money buys happiness....but, it certainly buys a better sadness.

I had to come back to this video as I'm a dirt poor man, but I always remember to treat others with an extreme kindness and positivity. That sometimes help me correct my negative feelings towards happier way. Happiness does not feed you but it's gotta be one of the most important key.

I have shared this video so many times, it has a message so simple to understand. That as a parent and worker, every so often I see him again, in moments of monetary despair. I do not "shoot butter on the ceiling", as we say in Argentina, but neither do I cover 100% of the basic aspects of daily life. I love the message, it helps me focus and thank my situation a little.

I think at the end of the day it all comes back to sell awareness, there are people out there who truly feel happy when they are crushing it in business, and others feel happy when they are with their family, and only making a little bit of money each month to support them. I think the only time when you are living "Wrong" is when you are disingenuous to yourself, and not living up to what your version of success is.

Studio Casey is best Casey.

Wow that was my first casey vid and honestly it was the best video I've seen in a while.. gonna sub forsure

Whenever i watch your video each time i'd get something to keep the whole life wholesome

Maslow's Hierarchy of Needs.

The best thing is when you start off poor and end up rich.

This was great! Thank you for creating this!

I’m struggling to buy groceries.... money would definitely solve a lot of my problems!!

The thing is: No, money won't bring you happiness, but the lack of it will bring you lots of problems

Being poor sucks but it gives you a perspective on life some rich folks will never see.

The burgers for breakfast part was so wholesome

I appreciate your evolution and the use of your platform to make a valid social comment. I will now start watching your videos again. Thanks Casey.

Primary vs secondary needs, don’t have primary can’t work on secondary.

Casey, I shared this video because it explains the situation of many people. When they wish for money, people tell them “money won’t buy happiness”. But it solves a lot of problem. Thanks for this video

Getting this kind of honesty is so damn refreshing. Without being able to pay for the basics makes even being able to think straight......impossible.

1.2million a year!? Work 5 years and retire... live life to the fullest who in their right mind doesn’t think that way...

2:50 The janitor found happiness by always bullying JD (John Dorian) from the show Scrubs.

I cancelled paying clients so that I can work on cars 1.5 days a week. Totally happy so far because A) I enjoy it. B). I don't have to earn money, then pay taxes, and then pay someone to do the work I want to do in the first place. Win-win!

This video needs to have a part 2 or 3. What you can do from either point of view. I believe it will help both parties

Extremely well said, as always Casey! Great video

Money makes people more of what they already are - Dave Ramsey

"Money isn't everything, but not having it is." -Kanye West

Man those throwback real life photos are priceless. My photos like that are what keep me going. Digital just isn't the same.

I'm incredibly lucky to have found myself in the position I'm in today. I had a lot of mental and physical health issues in my late teens that culminated in me hitting rock bottom. I spent my life savings flying to the other side of the world to work as a model and found myself sick, starving and exploited but I kept appearances up on social media. During those two years I was fortunate to see some amazing places and work with great designers but the time came for me to be a mature student and get into uni to study as a food engineer. Yeah, I'm borrowing tonnes of money from the government and spending every waking hour studying and working but I have my physical and mental health again! My coworkers call me the happiest dishwasher they've ever seen. I'm not partying with celebrities and billionaires anymore or working with luxury designers but I wake up everyday excited and fulfilled. I'm becoming the person I've always dreamed of being - a woman in STEM!! I study and work as hard as I can because one day I will nourish the world, and work on supporting the population with sustainable, accessible and healthy food. Idk, I'm broke but I'm happy as hell and all I can do is help others find that level of self fulfilment that I have.

I do not know how he does it, but somehow Casey has the power to solve every topics problem and argument.

Having money isn't everything, not having it is. -Kanye West

Great video Casey! Money is a tool. It’s needed, it just can’t / shouldn’t be used to solve every problem. People who hold this expectation that it fixes everything will not be happy, those who have enough and know how to use it, will be better off.

You're such a great person, I respect you for what you did and for all the obstacles that you had to deal with.

The rule for me is: Money can't make you happy but makes you less unhappy.

Money may not buy happiness but I'd rather cry in a lambo than on a bus.

Aside from the overall message of the video, I'm very impressed at your ability to board and film.

About a year and a half later, still one of my favorite videos by Casey

Money does bring happiness but doesn’t cure sadness

I read in a book called The Happiness Hypothesis about a study on money and happiness and they found that 70,000 USD was the general cutoff point for when money stoped increasing your happiness. That if you got a raise from 60-70K you'd be happier, but if you got a raise from 70-150K you'd be about the same. Which really does make sense ... as someone who used to make loads of money writing software and then went from making no money teaching yoga to making a decent salary teaching yoga in Bangkok, I've been through all levels of where money will impact my happiness and I know it's right at around that point (well less in Bangkok, but oddly around 70,000 Baht a month is about what it takes here to be happy and not stress over money).

very inspiring episode, watching it for 3rd time already since it came out!

Casey I think I'm speaking for everyone when I say you're not lucky, YOU'RE BLESSED!

Casey. I'm 62 and have; NO savings, NO safety net, NO back-up plan, NO car, NO house, NO friends. I was a millionaire and hit a wall. Money never solved my problems or made me happy. Now I'm trying to jump on the KZfaq bandwagon but my wife doesn't believe it will ever happen. Not to mention my seven kids :) Life is Life. An amazing journey of discovery, ups and downs and I've discovered, it's where happiness really is. Accepting where you are and getting on with the show. WITH PASSION! Love your work.

Personality and education are important too. They will define the set of values that will influence the choices you take. Money is important, but it's your values that prevent money from corrupting your choices.

Thanks for making this video Casey. Before watching I had actually came to these conclusions myself completely unironically. I come from a family that had always focused on solving life's problems without having first solved their money problems. We all need a path, and a good start is solving your money problems first so you can solve life's problems second.

great life lessons to ponder. I'm 64 and still swinging for the fences! cheers...

Being rich doesn’t make you happier, but it sure does make life easier.

Depression dosen't look at your bank account

Great reminders and reality check on life. Thanks CN 👍🏾

I really enjoyed this one Casey. I'd add one more twist...about taking a risk in life to move towards something you really want to do or try. Taking a leap of faith could possibly reintroduce the Money Problems which is scary. It feels very uncomfortable to leave the luxury of working on Life Problems knowing oh boy...this move might make me have to work on the Money problems again too. So you choose to stay "comfortable" to minimize pain. But instead, you should minimize those money problems/risks. Paying off debt, selling what you don't need, temporarily downgrading where you can to help give you a little more courage and freedom to jump.

Basically if you're poor like me. Money comes first. Life and everything else forget about it.

"A man is rich in proportion to the number of things he can afford to let alone" - Henry David Thoreau

Great video. I’d love to see you do a video on the difference in the mindset of a successful person vs the mindset of an unsuccessful person.

l lived a good life in Cali, but now I'm watching this video from a small hut in the philippines.. my phone, wifi, and electric fan is plugged in an inverter plugged to a car battery and I'm happy as hell! 1st world problems always crack me up. Happiness is a choice.. regardless of your situation.. peace

Pretty damn good 1,000th upload, Casey. Appreciate and respect your interpretation of important issues.

Casey is right! About 6-8 months ago I was homeless and couch surfing because of family issues. I used to live paycheck to paycheck relying on tips from my job to get me through the week, I never knew where I was going to sleep at night and made peanut butter sandwiches in my car because buying a loaf of bread and some pb was cheaper than eating out. One day I was falsely arrested for something I didn't do, the police took the last 30 dollars I had to my name and threw me in jail (the case got dropped). If I had money at the time my life would have been significantly less stressful. I had a relationship fallout through my homelessness and barely managed to pass a semester in college while sleeping on my friends floor/couches. Be grateful for the money you have and decent people around you :)

Casey, you look so genuinely happy in those old photos!

Our favorite video of your videos. A gem of wisdom.

Im having Huge money problems I work a full time job but have to support a family. Im broke Im have enough money to not starve but have to go some days eating one small meal. Life sucks now but i know it will get better. my car broke down making it a 3 hour round trip on the bus to work now. Money to fix the car will take time to save. I still get out of bed, brush my teeth, take a shower and get out the door everyday. I have no choice but to keep going, I wish i had dream I wish I cared, but i feel i have given up on life at 28. I beat A heroin addiction 4 years ago and life was going great, now its getting hard again and I need to focus on how much worse it can get and keep positive. If i don't I will use again, and if i use i might die and never get a chance to do something great with my life. thanks for some inspiration casey ur video make a shitty day just a tiny bit better.

if you think money can’t buy happiness, try being poor.

This is EXACTLY what I’ve always thought but couldn’t articulate. At least not this well. Very nice

Boy, boy, boy, I always shout at my kids when they watch your programs, I tell them that they are wasting time and nothing wise will teach a guy like you. By mistake today I clicked on your channel and watched the whole video. You are right depending on how high you sit, you have a different view. Politicians, athletes, artists, celebrities they do not know what is happening at the bottom and they try to tell us how to live. I like you. You have my thumb up and I share your clip with others.