Money - in context of our world

On one of those days of pleasant idleness, I was lost in reverie. A chance meandering on money happened and some very trivial questions popped up. Questions which are mostly left for another day to answer - days which never pass by.
So, How important money really is? Depends on the person whom you ask. For some, its the most important thing. The more they earn the more they crave. Its The happiness to them. I started out as one of them. But As they say, as you grow your perspective changes. With age priorities change and what was once for granted is not a given thing anymore.
Mine changed too. Sure money is important. Sure its directly related to happiness in life. But how does one see it as the source of happiness is important. For me, its not the money but what i can buy from it that's important. I feel excited when i spend it for things which i have passion for. It helps me feel happy when I donate it to needy. It helps me feel good when I lend it to dear ones in their times of need. So, in a way it kind of feeds my happiness. But its not The Happiness. I earn money with the intention of spending it, not with the intention of hoarding.
That makes me a spendthrift, doesn't it? I will happily agree. So long as I am getting happiness out of it, spending money is not that important.
Kind of antithesis but true, I earn money so that i can spend it. This is what drives a nation's economy. So to conclude, very rudimentary but often overlooked - Earn money to spend it. Buy happiness from it. This happiness can become as real as the happiness one gets from the relationships one shares. But for that it has to be spent in right way.