Everyone knows that money doesn’t guarantee happiness, but Suze Orman’s recent column makes some excellent points about how much easier it is to smile when you aren’t worrying about making ends meet.

This is a major reason why people stay in corporate jobs they hate. They’re worried that their real career dreams won’t pay the bills and they’ll end up living in a van down by the river. But how much money do you really need to be happy?

Do you need enough for a fancy car and a McMansion or are you okay with making some material sacrifices to follow your dream career? Everybody has different needs and priorities. I strongly believe that you can have both a career you love and a decent income.

I know many people who are living this dream. Sometimes it requires going through some lean periods or putting up with a job you’re not crazy about long enough to sock away some savings. For others, it means balancing money-making with dream-pursuing in creative ways.

But it can be done — whether you’re inside Corporate America or following your own path.