"I enjoy money. Not enough people in this world are happy. I'm determined to be contented, and having plenty of money from working makes it easier for me"

A candid embrace of financial enjoyment pairs with an equally candid recognition that happiness is scarce. The statement rejects guilt around liking money, not out of greed, but as a practical acknowledgment that resources help reduce friction in daily life. Contentment is framed as a deliberate choice, an inner stance, yet one that is easier to sustain when external pressures are softened by material security.

Money is treated as a tool rather than an idol. Its value lies in what it makes possible: less anxiety about bills, safer environments, access to care, time for rest and relationships, freedom to say no. These conditions do not create joy by themselves, but they remove persistent obstacles that can corrode it. The emphasis on being “determined to be contented” keeps the center of gravity within the self; the financial piece supports that resolve rather than replacing it.

“From working” is pivotal. It signals that the source of the money matters. Earnings born of effort confer autonomy and dignity; they align satisfaction with contribution and agency. This connection protects against the hollow pursuit of accumulation for its own sake. The pleasure is not only in having, but in having earned, an ethical and psychological grounding that can make enjoyment feel deserved rather than defensive.

There’s also a quiet social critique. If many people are unhappy, one response is to change systems; another is to cultivate personal well-being. The speaker chooses a pragmatic path without denying wider realities. “Plenty” hints at sufficiency rather than endless escalation, suggesting a threshold beyond which more offers diminishing returns.

Ultimately, the stance is neither ascetic nor materialist. It is a balanced ethic: choose contentment, work for it, and let financial stability support the choice. Happiness is not bought, but the space to experience it can be. Refusing shame about that truth is part of the determination to be content.