Americans teach money isn't happiness when young, and as you age into adult the teachings change to suggest money is happiness cause you can purchase whatever you want whenever you want it. Well, I'm going to slam that right now. That is absolutely bullshit and not true. When it comes to material things and money, I'm personally well enough off, sustained, and more often than not, I'm still a sad/depressed soul. Why is that?? Because money and physical materials do not make a happy life, they make a more comfortable life. Yes, comfort can help prevent some misery, but that is not the same thing as happiness.
Surely freedom makes you happy?
Kind of. You certainly notice a lack of when you can't go anywhere only because the bank says you can't afford to. The kicker is, so what? Whether you're trapped at home or have the money to travel, you do so alone. Shallow empty connections are the same as being alone. You can be just as happy at home with quality bonds
So where does happiness and fulfillment come from??
Partly independence, emphasis on partly. The other part, is QUALITY connections. Others Genuine love and acceptance of your best and worst flaws and pleasure of your presence, and vise versa.
So where does that leave money?
Exactly where it belongs. Used to sustain life, not define its value or your own. Beyond bare minimum, it's a luxury commodity. The people who judge another's value based on income or how they can benefit your pocket, piss off, you are just wrong, Scrooge!

I stg vast majority of Americans need to learn this, or wind up being miserable and hollow wondering where they fucked up. Bud, you fucked up when you kept choosing wealth and ease, ease of access, over quality and hard work, confidence from earning your marks yourself and maintaining good connections. Everything in life worth it, takes effort and patience. Immediate gratification means just as Immediate ending, easy come easy go.