How many of us believe that a person can never have enough money? What is enough money? Ask anyone around you, and you will get the same answer. ‘’I believe I would be happier if I had more money.’’

Andrew Bradley’s new book, “How much is enough?” examines how people can maximise wealth and happiness. Bradley is in a position to know more than a bit about the topic.  He is CEO of Old Mutual Wealth, a member of the Nelson Mandela Metropolitan University Business School Advisory Board and has served in leadership capacities on the boards of the Association of Collective Investments, the South African Savings Institute, the Financial Planning Institute and the International Financial Planning Standards Board Council.

Bradley and his co-authors stress the importance of having a healthy relationship with money. They believe that people shift focus after they reach the basic level of “I’ve got everything I need” to “wants”. Bradley says, “The major connection that we stumbled across inadvertently is the link between money and happiness. Everyone says ‘when I have money, I’ll be happy’ but people just want more and more.’’ Bradley believes we need to ask ourselves what gives us happiness and satisfaction in life. Answering this question is a key to knowing how much money we need to live a happy and fulfilling life.

According to NMMU Business School Director, Prof Steve Burgess, the new book will be a ready addition to anyone’s reading list. “Comparing themselves to their parents, many people have more money but less happiness in life. This book teaches us the important link between self-awareness, prudent financial behaviour and happiness. Once we have the good fortune to satisfy our basic needs, we can choose whether money makes us happy or not.  And there’s an added bonus, being happy can bring you more money too, according to Bradley!”

‘’How much is enough?’’ has valuable lessons for each and every one of us. Bradley says that behavioural change is needed in order to have a better and easier relationship with your money. Change the way you think and the way you do things with your money in order to be happy with what you have and you will find that your wealth will grow in turn.