Living Life:Money Can Buy Love

By now you should be cuddled down in your couch among the joyful yelp of children in the family opening Christmas presents, or the warm presence of extended family, or grateful lovers or beer buddies or none of the above. It is the money-stupid season! People trying to repay for their sinful private lives all year long with some Christmas giving hoping for the ultimate forgiveness form family, friend and foe and sometimes even God, not with sincere apologies, confessions, prayers but mostly with the gift of buying especially for those who can afford to – thanks to their not so bulging bank accounts - but large enough to display the power of means. It is the new materialistic habit of people ‘throwing money at the problem’. If there is no live Christmas tree, buy one. If you don’t have a familiar crowd with blood relations to hang out with, buy your entrance into some high class club where everybody “rich” feels equal. If you are feeling depressed and down low because some folks gave you the verbal lashing for your horrible manners without courtesy, spend your way to comfort and to the envy of all your detractors. And so the good old Christmas memories of the old go down the drain, washed down with wads of dirty money, after all money can buy anything. And despite all conventional wisdom, a Nottingham University study found that money can apparently buy love. Researchers also found money can buy you love - 68% of lottery winners (in the UK) were married pre-jackpot, rising to 75% afterwards. It goes that 97% of 34 people who won more than £1m on the National Lottery were just as happy, if not happier, than before. In fact, none missed working or found that the money caused domestic arguments or led to relationship breakdowns. So can money really buy you love? Back to my favourite answer – Yes & No of course. Ever noticed how many people agree with your point when your wallet is not complaining? Yes, money can buy you love, however artificial or fake and though it rarely lasts but sometimes does. And No, because our morals say we should love people for who they are and not what they are. However, I do not promise you that your wealthy or not so wealthy family will take it lying down if you take home some broke bimbo or dude to family for marriage approval, somehow, it rarely works. But if you try the opposite –a well cultured well dressed chauffeur (never mind if they own it or not) of a sleek European car, man or woman, it usually works. So can money really buy love? On this Christmas day, this is the food for thought. I wish you a merry Christmas. http://Twitter.com/KelvinOdoobo