10 Ways to Live a Happy Life Without Money

Money doesn't buy happiness, right?

And even if it did, not everyone can afford to spend their lives floating around in luxury.

Money can't buy happiness, but it can buy you freedom, and money really can be used to increase your happiness in ways that you may not have considered before.

Here are ten ways to live a happy life without money – whether you have none, just a little or more than you know what to do with!

1) Time

Most of us are so focused on getting our hands on money that we forget about its less tangible benefits.

If you don't have any cash, use your time in other ways. Find some cheap or free entertainment by going for walks in nature, volunteering for a cause you care about or hanging out with friends and family.

If you need something to do, try doing an art project or baking your favorite dessert—you'll make someone else happy with your talents and have fun doing it!

Not only will living happily help lift your spirits, but it will also give you more energy and creativity than sitting around moping about how broke you are.

2) Family

The next time you feel lonely or miss your kids, think of how much they love hearing from you.

No matter where they are or what they're doing, they will always want to listen to what's going on in your life.

Give them a call or send them an email. You might be surprised at how much happiness that simple gesture can bring.

You don't need money for things like these—only love and family. And if you have both, you have everything.

3) Friends

Having friends is important because they're fun and because social interaction can boost your overall well-being.

Make it a point to get together with at least one close friend each week. It's also wise to participate in some club or organization.

For example, join an amateur sports league or volunteer for an hour or two each week at an animal shelter.

Just be sure not to neglect your partner—or you could find yourself single sooner than you think!

Don't have time for that?

Turn on your favorite music and dance around instead; taking care of yourself will help you care for others.

And even if it doesn't sound like much fun, remember that laughter is good medicine!

4) Nature

Nature is always unique. The trees sway in a slight breeze, birds tweet away, and flowers bloom with every step.

Nature doesn't charge for entry, but it does offer beauty as no other place can. Get out there as much as you can.

Even if you don't have money for your daily living expenses or big weekend trips, take advantage of nature's free resources – they're always there for you when you need them most.

To live happily without money, try going outside more often than not. Bring your family along; everyone will benefit from some fresh air and time spent together.

5) New experiences

Rather than spending your time and money on material items, you may not even enjoy, find ways to experience new things.

You could also try volunteering, taking up a new hobby, or traveling. Remember that happiness is about more than what you own—it's about experiencing life.

When I was poor in college, I loved going on walks around campus with my friends and laughing at how silly we looked wearing all of our layers while everyone else was enjoying their shorts weather.

We didn't have much in terms of money, but we had plenty of laughs and stories, which made us happy!

6) Creativity

One of the most valuable assets an entrepreneur can have is creativity. Creativity enables you to find new and better ways of doing things, and that's especially important in today's business environment, where everything seems increasingly commoditized.

If you have creative ability, whether artistic or mathematical or something else entirely, that means you have a unique way of looking at and thinking about problems.

Use that as your most significant advantage when trying to solve them.

Remember: there are no constraints when you're making stuff up!

You don't need to worry about real-world issues like budgeting because those aren't real concerns for you.

You'll only be judged on how good your idea is—and if you're talented, it won't matter if anyone has done anything similar before. It's all yours for the taking!

7) Gratitude

The feeling of gratitude is one of the happiness's most essential roots.

When you feel grateful for what you have, your mind is more likely to notice and appreciate other things in your life—from relationships with family and friends to living in a beautiful home or simply having enough money for food on your table.

In addition, when you're grateful for what you already have, it makes it easier to be happy with what is given (and not given) in future moments.

Recognizing that you are fortunate doesn't just make those around you happier; it can also change how they interact with you and support your goals.

8) Caregiving

It sounds counterintuitive, but studies have shown that caring for others is one of the most effective and least expensive ways of reducing stress.

Consider taking in a few hours of extra shifts at work or getting an extra family member involved.

Even pet care can be rewarding, especially if you can foster or adopt an animal.

Taking care of other living things can help you appreciate life on Earth and spend your time more effectively on what matters.

If you want to boost your mood and reduce stress, think about how much you can do with limited resources—for free.

9) Humor

You don't need money to be happy. Happiness is a state of mind that you can choose, no matter what situation you find yourself in.

Laugh often, try new things, and let your family and friends support you through tough times.

You may not be able to control all of life's circumstances, but you can control how you react. By being grateful for what you have, being patient with what is going on around you, and being kind to yourself (and others), it's easier to feel happy without money.

It may take practice but feeling good about life, in general, will help eliminate stress—even if your bank account is empty.

10) Support groups

Joining a support group or community can help reduce feelings of loneliness and isolation.

If there aren't any nearby, you could consider joining an online community. Support groups exist for just about anything and everything—from helping individuals stop smoking, lose weight, and overcome addictions; to raising children who have special needs; to facing diagnoses like cancer or Parkinson's disease.

Regardless of your circumstances, others genuinely understand what you are going through because they have been there too.

Connecting with these people will allow you to find support in times of need and enjoy good company.