>>One's happiness is entirely dependent on a single thing. It is also the one thing which is entirely under your own control - your attitude.
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>But isn't it harder to have a great, happy attitude when you have to worry about survival? That meshes right into the Hierarchy of Needs. Gotta believe that you would a better chance to have a great attitude if you weren't thinking about the rent, childcare, mortgages, utilities, repairs, food...

Been that, done there. Sloboslavia 1993, with the soaring inflation, when week's paycheck was worth two cartons of cigarettes if you were able to cash it before Friday evening - by Monday, it was nearly worthless. Dunno how we survived, it's a sort of a miracle, but we weren't dour and sour all day, or all year for that matter. There's an art to staying sane when the whole country goes crazy, and making light of the situation is part of it. Bordering on galgenhumor at times, but keeps you going.

IOW, great attitude will help you go through your financial troubles. If you're trying to wait them out with a bad attitude, you won't be able to enjoy once they're over. Lousy attitude tends to stick.