There’s not a single problem in my life that couldn’t be solved or at least ameliorated by a large influx of cash. But the point of the old saying that money can’t buy happiness is that the excitement that comes with buying expensive gadgets and tchotchkes rarely lasts. So maybe I’ve had the means to make myself happier all along.
“Research shows that strategic spending absolutely pumps up your happiness levels, but not in the way you may think,” says Jessica Weiss, a happiness researcher and author of the upcoming book, “Happiness Works: The Science of Thriving at Work.”
The key, she says, is to focus on purchases that bring you lasting joy — not just the rush that comes when you buy something advertised on Instagram — like these three investments in your future happiness.
1. Novel experiences. Trying new things comes with a dopamine release and the sensation that time progresses more slowly, says Weiss.
“Even small novel experiences like checking out a new farmer’s market, calling a friend you haven’t spoken to in ages, painting your nails an unexpected color, can create what researchers call “time abundance,” making life feel richer and more textured,” she says.
2. Time-saving purchases. Don’t think of hiring a cleaner or paying for meal delivery as wasteful, says Weiss, if it boosts your mental health.
“Research shows that time-saving purchases reduce stress more effectively than material splurges,” she says. “When you outsource tasks you dread, you’re not being lazy — you’re being brilliant. Your future self, the one not frantically cleaning before guests arrive, will thank you.”
3. Activities that boost relationships. Spending on friends and family can be both healthy and beneficial, says Weiss.
“After tracking people for more than 80 years, Harvard researchersdiscovered something surprising: close relationships predict happiness better than genetics, wealth, or fame,” she says. “That dinner with friends or plane ticket to visit your sister? It’s not just a purchase — it’s a deposit into your emotional retirement account, paying dividends for decades.”
CNBC