£101,812 is a magic number – the exact amount of money that is just enough to make someone happy shows a survey by Skandia International
The figure was calculated after 5,000 people across four continents revealed how much money they would need each year to feel happy.
The cash represents around 15 times the average wage around the globe.
But 80% of respondents said that this amount would make them feel really happy.
Interestingly, the research found that of 13 countries surveyed the people of Dubai dreamed of the highest amount to make them feel content. They said they would need £173,146 to be happy.
Though their aspirational figure is closely matched by respondents in Singapore and Hong Kong, people in Europe had more modest needs.
Women want more cash than men
Italians believe they would need to earn £110,351 to be happy while those in the UK came second in Europe, positively glowing for a salary of £83,600 a year.
One of the more interesting findings from the Wealth Sentiment Survey conducted by investment company Skandia International was that women needed more money than men to feel content.
This was highlighted in the Brazil responses with women quoting a figure that was 55% higher than their men to be happy.
One purpose of the study was to understand people’s feelings towards wealth and it found that across the world only three in 20 people would regard themselves as wealthy.
The study established just how much money you would need to have before being considered by others as ‘wealthy’ – and on average you would need £1.1 million, in disposable assets to meet that criteria.
The people of Dubai came in second place with £1.56 million, just behind the people of Singapore who considered that having a net worth of £1.82 million would make them wealthy.
Money helps with happiness
The British need just £821,657, in Germany it was £627,219 while the overall figure to consider someone to be wealthy was £1.1 million.
Interestingly, the people of Brazil recorded the highest wealth sentiment when more than a quarter of respondents said they already feel affluent.
A spokesman for Skandia said: “There are many things that can make people feel happy but there’s no doubt that money can help.
“It’s fascinating to see the regional differences in levels of income and capital for what people say they would need to feel wealthy and happy.
“It’s important for everyone to have a financial plan to ensure we are saving as much as possible to give us financial security.”
