Money can't directly buy happiness, but it certainly smooths out the path. Also, money may not be able to buy happiness, but not-money can't buy anything.

I agree with you that the pursuit of an ever-increasing bank account is probably not a route to happiness (or more importantly contentedness, happiness is fleeting), but the reality of our world is that not having a livable amount of money tends to put direct blocks in front of your contentedness, which having money tends to dissolve.