"Money can't buy you happiness." It's a phrase that's true, to an extent. A 2023 study found that happiness levels continued to rise for people who made a salary of $100,000—but after that, levels plateaued.

Searching for true happiness in material things like money, cars, and clothes can be a letdown. "When we buy new things we get a dopamine rush from the anticipation, but once the item is in our hands that high fades fast and we start looking for the next best thing," explains Eliana Bonaguro, LMHC, a licensed mental health counselor in Bonita Springs, Florida.

And people are sharing the exact moments and specific material things that have failed to satisfy them. These are 13 of their real-life stories:

TikTok · howdoewedo🪼 www.tiktok.com

"Finally hit that financial milestone - thought I'd feel safe but just raised the bar and kept stressing." -howdoewedo

"My 60 yr old husband and I finally had the money to build a big 3,000 sq ft house. It was five bedrooms, finished basement with a gourmet kitchen. We had the idea that our children who were spread across the country could come home to visit and stay and saw this as a big flex. We very quickly HATED the big house. Our children are very successful and have busy lives that make us very hard to travel home to us, no fault of their own. We found ourselves rattling around in a big empty house that felt cold and stark. We sold the house and bought a cozy three bedroom house and we couldn’t be happier. We now travel to our children ❤️" -KristySor1221

"A couple of videogames for the Switch that I thought I would be more into but I have played them for less than 3 hours total. Goodbye around 170 dollars." -Aaagal

"I had a $13,000 check and I blew it all in seven weeks. I regret every single purchase because I was spinning the wheel of cause and effect hoping it would point to meaning. Spoilers: it never will." -Appropriate_Fan3532

"Designer goods. I started earning enough money I could shop at Holt Renfrew every weekend. Then I got tired of having things because I realized I enjoy having a simple wardrobe and decluttered space over anything. I’m mentally and financially much better off now." -emeraldvirgo

- YouTube www.youtube.com

"Buying a house in cash (no mortgage), thought it would bring some sense of relief from the struggle but the struggle is still a struggle. That said it is one less thing to worry about." -User unknown

"Straightening my 🦷… no one really seemed to notice 😳." -sunnydelite

"Rolex. The faux scarcity, the absurd waitlists, the whole circus of geezers and wannabe gangsters hoarding them as trophies. I flipped mine within a month and picked up something quieter, less showy.. but just as good - arguably better - and I haven’t looked back." -User unknown

"Buying more and more clothes. The trends are not worth your hard earned money and now I’m either giving it all away or donating it." -xxxxxxxtina

Woman buying clothes.Image via Canva/gilaxia

"A $175,000 sports car. The anticipation and excitement of chasing it was actually better than the reality of owning it." -TigerResponsible2277

"Got my dream LV (Louis Vuitton) bag, but when I got it I was like..'ohh ok' guess what im still using my local bags 🫣." -Jeiklein

"Getting an apartment. there’s no going back from not having responsibilities, it’s lonely sometimes, there’s always something new to fix, buy, or save for." -muvvaphukka

"All of it. The house. The car. The expensive piece of paper on the wall. The man. The dogs. The fence. The dream. I’ve been wanting my current car for 5-6 years. It was never available and they wouldn’t let you order it. I finally got one 3 months ago and what now? I don’t like it nearly like I expected. My driver seat was much more comfortable in my old, still very nice, car. We bought the ‘forever house’ 3 years ago, and I hate the location. I think about our old townhouse we loved for a decade all the time. I can’t keep up with this space on my own. So. What now? I was told if I get these things and do good and look good and be good, I’ll be happy. I’ve never been more miserable in my life." -keekspeaks

Unhappy and unfulfilled woman.Image via Canva/Liza Summer

Struggling with finding fulfillment and happiness outside of material possessions? Here are three things to try:

When you hear the words “all in,” what do you think? You might picture an elaborately-themed birthday party for a dog, or maybe a person giving a detailed presentation on why she's "Team Conrad." (IYKYK) Or maybe you picture a woman who takes up running, showing up every day to push herself and completely changing her body and her mindset in the process. Whatever you picture, the idea is the same: Someone who does something with 100 percent total commitment. Going “all in” means giving your all—going completely over the top, no second guessing, no holding back. Just full-throttle enthusiasm, with some flair and creativity thrown in. And when people go “all in,” something truly special usually happens as a result.

The internet abounds with examples of people giving it their all—whatever it is. In this roundup, we’ve found the very best examples of people going “all in”—moments where passion, creativity, and commitment take center stage. Some are sentimental, some are silly, but all of them are a reminder that giving 100 percent is truly the only way to leave a mark on this world. Get ready: These folks didn’t just show up, they went all in.

1. This unbelievable high note 

Most of us music enthusiasts can agree that the song “Alone” by the American rock band Heart is one of the most passionate (and technically challenging) songs you can ever sing. It’s so challenging, in fact, that only singers with really incredible range—Celine Dion, for example, or vocal powerhouse Kelly Clarkson— dare to take it on. (If you don’t know the song by name, listen to any one of these clips and you’ll recognize it after a second or two.) So imagine our surprise, scrolling through TikTok, when we see a young singer covering “Alone” and dropping the high note so casually it looks like she sang this song out of pure spite. You almost can’t believe what you’re hearing—but it’s real. And the comments section is full of people who are completely gobsmacked (including a producer from American Idol). We just know we’re going to see this girl on stage again soon.

The ultimate healthy food collab

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You already know our friends at All In—they’ve got some seriously tasty snacks that are not only healthy and affordable (scroll to the bottom of this article to see how you can snag a free box), they help fund food banks, gardens, community fridges, meal programs, and other amazing things. Lately, they’ve managed to take their awesomeness up a notch by teaming up with Fresh Truck, a weekly mobile market that brings fresh and affordable produce to neighborhoods in the Boston area. Fresh truck hosts weekly markets, pop-up events, and an online storefront, all to help strengthen communities who need it the most. They’re going all in on local nutrition and food access, and we’re here for it.

This fairy-themed proposal