"The best things in life are free" To what extent do you agree or disagree with this statement. Give reasons for your answer and include any relevant examples from your own knowledge and experience. Write at least 250 words.

There are various expressions as well as opinions in the world related to

happiness

and

money

. While idealists often assert that the best things in

life

, like

happiness

and

health

, are free, those who take a more realistic stance disagree.

This

essay will take a more realistic look at

this

argument and contend that the best parts of

life

often come at a

cost

. It is generally agreed that

health

is our most important asset;

however

, while

health

itself

the thing named or in question

it

can be considered free,

this

is not always the case with maintaining good

health

. To keep in good shape, we often have to pay;

for example

, for gym memberships or wellness courses for meditation or yoga. We have to eat healthy food which usually costs more than processed or junk food. To reduce stress, people normally have to take holidays and these

too

Suggestion

cost money too

cost

money

.

Thus

,

one

of the best things in

life

- good

health

– doesn’t come for free. Some would

also

argue that

happiness

is the most important value in

life

,

although

, contrary to popular belief,

this

too comes at a

cost

. It is commonly said that experiences (as opposed to materials "things") make us happy. While

this

may be true, experiences often come at a

cost

. Consider a relaxing holiday away, or learning to become a pilot - these are experiences which would arguably make someone happier if they were to pursue them, yet they

cost

money

.

Thus

,

happiness

is not always free and the experiences which make us happy are not either. A final point regarding putting a price on

happiness

is an economic

one

. If the points in the previous paragraph are taken as true,

then

looking after our

health

and pursuing experiences that make us happy can be seen as opportunity costs.

This

means that whenever we are pursuing these experiences or going to the gym or on a meditation retreat, we are not working and,

thus

, losing

money

which we would

otherwise

have been

earning

Suggestion

earned

. Because higher earnings on a large scale, in the form of GDP, are

one

measure of

wellbeing

Suggestion

well being

, or

happiness

,

one

could argue that not earning

money

(

i

refers to the speaker or writer

I

.e.

being

Suggestion

Being

on holiday) at a given time can actually decrease our

happiness

, broadly speaking! To conclude,

one

can clearly see from the arguments presented above

that the

Accept comma addition

that, the

best things in

life

,

such

as

health

and

happiness

, are not always free. That said, it does not mean that free things

such

as jogging or relationships cannot make us happier or healthier. Perhaps a more realistic perspective on the costs (or lack thereof) of the best aspects of

life

is what is needed.