Money Can Buy Happiness If You Buy the Right Things

We’ve all been told, “money can’t buy happiness.” But is that true? 

Not really.

There were a couple of studies done. The study by Princeton University shows that yes, indeed, the more you make the happier you become. The study done by the University of Pennsylvania shows that your happiness doesn’t plateau. That means you get happier with every dollar you earn. That’s a good enough reason to work your tail off, right? 

Here’s the caveat. If you are already a miserable person, it won’t matter how much money you make. You are just miserable. 

Meanwhile, more research was conducted by three scholars at the University of British Columbia, Harvard University, and the University of Virginia that exhibits the following: If money isn’t making you happy, you’re not spending it right. 

One school of thought is this: the things that make us happy cannot be bought. I’m referring to love, physical activity, meditation, gratitude, etc. But if that were true, why does my new pair of sneakers bring me so much joy? Truly, I feel the oxytocin run through my body when I think about these new kicks. My feet are happy, and so is my heart. 

This new study proves that what you spend your money on is what makes you happy. According to Jessica Weiss, an executive coach with a background in psychology who is a contributor for cnbc.com, here are some things the researchers suggest:

Have you ever gotten that euphoric sensation when you are surrounded by strangers at a concert, and you are all singing together? It’s a thing and it has a name. “Collective effervescence,” according to the National Library of Medicine, is the ultimate in happiness. When we sing together, our body releases endorphins that make us feel amazing. 

I am a strong proponent of meal prep services. I love to cook, so I choose the ones that allow me to chop, sear, and season. Sure, it costs more than if I were to buy the ingredients at the grocery store, but it is a cost that is worth it to me because my anxiety gets a break from figuring out what to feed the family every night. That's happiness.

Planning a vacation, date night, or outing with the family will cost you money. But experts say the anticipation of the event is worth the cost. Just think about how excited you got, as a kid, when you knew Christmas was right around the corner. Or your birthday. Or a family vacation. That happiness is worth something.