It surprised us. We’re talking about the study that shows money can indeed buy happiness, but that level of feeling good evens out at $75,000 per year. After that, you are about as happy as you will be, no matter how much money you make.

Those findings are from a study that involved surveys from 450,000 Americans who answered questions about their sense of emotional well being in 2008 and 2009. Those years were the beginning of the current economic difficulties.

Those who make less than $75,000 per year find it hard to be happy. The rigors of making ends meet in today’s materialistic world interfere with an individual’s sense of emotional well being.

And while the effect of day-to-day happiness levels out at $75,000 per year, the overall sense of well being (or happiness) improves as income improves.

Does this mean that all those lessons we learned about love and family and simple pleasures aren’t accurate? In our judgment they still ring true. But it’s hard to enjoy a sunset with your spouse if you are both worried about paying the electric bill or repairing the car.

Those day-to-day concerns are real. They have a regular impact on the lives of citizens who are working hard but finding it hard to just get by.

Part of the purpose of this study was to determine if economic growth of a society at large is of value to individuals within that society. And, as is usually the case, there are no definitive answers.

There are lots of people who make $75,000 per year or more who are profoundly unhappy. And there are lots of people who make less than that who are.

Does money buy happiness? Maybe, maybe not.