"You Can Buy Fun, But You Can't Buy Happiness" (Dave Ramsey)

TRUE, but...

Our last few sessions of Financial Peace University have left me with a myriad of emotions and thoughts.
Many of the teachings are things that I'm proud to say that we've been doing and have avoided (saving, creditors etc), but at the same time there are aspects that can use a little fine tuning.

That great deal at Target, on clearance with a coupon= fun. Not happiness
That trip to the mall with a great dinner after= fun. Not happiness.
Those four trips to Disney= fun. Not happiness.
Paul's much improved and practiced golf skills= fun. Not happiness
House hunting for the forever house= fun. Not happiness.

1 John 2:16 says "For the world offers only a craving for physical pleasure, a craving for everything we see, and pride in our achievements and possessions. These are not from the Father, but are from this world."
I admit, I struggle with this! There are a lot of things out there that I want to get, to have, and to show. Using the excuse "we work hard and deserve it", or "it'll pay for itself..." is not an excuse to indulge in anything that seems valuable.
and
"For the love of money is a root of all kinds of evils..." 1 Timothy 6:10. (Not having money. Not making money. Not spending money. Loving money.)
and
"You have put more joy in one ordinary day than they get in all their shopping sprees." Psalm 4:7 (The Message).

Here's an article from Dave's archive that I liked...
The Pursuit Of Happiness
Don't let stuff get in the way of lasting happiness
from daveramsey.com on 26 May 2011
Too bad happiness can't be bottled up and sold. Because there are plenty of people out there thinking it can be bought.

A new study out by two professors at the University of Missouri finds that people who usually go far into debt did so because they wrongly thought they'd have "unreasonable degrees of change in their lives from their purchases."

In other words, they thought stuff would make them happy. It didn't. And they found out the hard way: by running up a huge tab that will follow them around for years.

Those unrealistic expectations, according to the study, fell into four categories. People believed having more stuff would:

Make them a better person (more self-confidence)
Get others to like them more
Make them more fun
Make them more effective
Buying stuff isn't necessary for any of those. Making up your mind to do them is.

Quick note: The survey also found unrealistic expectations are much less present in people who don't have debt problems. These people know spending isn't the way to have a content heart.

Having stuff is fun, but that doesn't equal happiness. Fun is like a balloon pop—one burst of air and then it's gone. Happiness is like the air you breathe—a genuine feeling of contentment. It's a mindset, and it stays with you.

Do you really want to buy a $500 suit just to get a few compliments at your next meeting? You'll be paying for the outfit for months, but the "nice suit" props will be over before the end of the day. How can you honestly say that is worth it?

Material possessions won't bring you happiness. As soon as the thrill of a new suit wears off, you'll try to fill the hole it leaves with a vacation. When that's gone, you might go for a car or a house. Each time, you'll be more upset that you can't find sustainable happiness, and you'll buy something bigger, only to be disappointed again. You see the pattern here.

Don't place your hope for happiness in something that won't fulfill it.

http://www.daveramsey.com/article/the-pursuit-of-happiness-dr/lifeandmoney_debt