Sure! It is allowed for lay people, as long as they observe [the five precepts][1] and [virtue (sila)][2], which includes [Right Livelihood (samma ajivo)][3]. Please also see [this answer][4]. The [Vanijja Sutta][5] states: > "Monks, a lay follower should not engage in five types of business. > Which five? Business in weapons, business in human beings, business in > meat, business in intoxicants, and business in poison. > > "These are the five types of business that a lay follower should not > engage in." The [Sigalovada Sutta][6] states: > The wise endowed with virtue > Shine forth like a burning fire, > **Gathering wealth as bees do honey > And heaping it up like an ant hill. > Once wealth is accumulated, > Family and household life may follow.** > > By dividing wealth into four parts, > True friendships are bound; > One part should be enjoyed; > **Two parts invested in business;** > And the fourth set aside > Against future misfortunes." The [Dighajanu Sutta][7] states: > "And what does it mean to maintain one's livelihood in tune? There is > the case where a lay person, knowing the income and outflow of his > wealth, maintains a livelihood in tune, neither a spendthrift nor a > penny-pincher, [thinking], 'Thus will my income exceed my outflow, and > my outflow will not exceed my income.' The [Adiya Sutta][8] talks about the five types of benefits that can be obtained from wealth, which are summarized below: > 'My wealth has been enjoyed, > my dependents supported, > protected from calamities by me. > I have given supreme offerings > & performed the five oblations. > I have provided for the virtuous, > the restrained, > followers of the holy life. > > **For whatever aim a wise householder > would desire wealth, > that aim I have attained.** > I have done what will not lead to future distress.' > When this is recollected by a mortal, > a person established in the Dhamma of the Noble Ones, > he is praised in this life > and, after death, rejoices in heaven. Also from the [Anana Sutta][9] which talks about "the four kinds of bliss that can be attained in the proper season, on the proper occasions, by a householder partaking of sensuality", summarizes it as follows: > Knowing the bliss of debtlessness, > & recollecting the bliss of having, > enjoying the bliss of wealth, > the mortal then sees clearly with discernment. > Seeing clearly — the wise one — > he knows both sides: > that these are not worth one sixteenth-sixteenth > of the bliss of blamelessness. [1]: http://www.accesstoinsight.org/ptf/dhamma/sila/pancasila.html [2]: http://www.accesstoinsight.org/ptf/dhamma/sila/index.html [3]: http://www.accesstoinsight.org/ptf/dhamma/sacca/sacca4/samma-ajivo/index.html [4]: https://buddhism.stackexchange.com/a/8518/471 [5]: http://www.accesstoinsight.org/tipitaka/an/an05/an05.177.than.html [6]: http://www.accesstoinsight.org/tipitaka/dn/dn.31.0.ksw0.html [7]: http://www.accesstoinsight.org/tipitaka/an/an08/an08.054.than.html [8]: http://www.accesstoinsight.org/tipitaka/an/an05/an05.041.than.html [9]: http://www.accesstoinsight.org/tipitaka/an/an04/an04.062.than.html