Plenty of people in third world countries which, by our definition are poor, seem happy leading the simple life. The rest run north to "the promised land" That being said, money doesn't buy happiness, but as mentioned it can get you alot of options which can lead to freedom if applied correctly. For example, I saved my money made in telecom sales, and now I live off of some of it while I work hard at being a sucessful day trader.
Of course money doesn't buy you happiness, but it is still a stupid aphorism because whomever said that had obviously never been poor. Not having enough is a miserable thing to experience. That being said, once your wealth/income hit a certain level your happiness doesn't necessarily increase. Take a miserable person and they will be just as miserable rich. Take a happy person and they will be just as happy rich. I made millions when I was still in my twenties and I got the beach house and the car, etc and it feels like any other house or car to me. I guess I enjoyed the anticipation of getting nice things more than actually getting them. To me now, it is just a house and a car. It feels good to know that you are good at something, but I was just as happy when I was in college and had to work for my beer money, ha!
Money cannot create happiness but money can destroy happiness. Money is the root of all evil, shortened from The love of money is the root of all evil.
It's more like, lack of money is the root of all evil, or better yet the fear of not having enough is the root of all evil. Money sure does give you the option to buy the tools that can get you to happiness. How you use the tools, is another ball 'o wax.
Scientists have asked restless natives in New Guinea if they'd prefer to retain the sanctity of their customs and lifestyle as passed on by their ancestors, to which they replied, "Hell no man, sucks to have to chuck spears everyday and pick berries and wear this huge bone in my nostril."