Are you Spending Money the Wrong Way in Pursuit of Happiness?

[ginsan]

Money should make you happy but if it doesn't then you are probably spending it the wrong way. See the eight suggested principles to help anyone to be able to get happiness from their money.

• buy more experiences and fewer material goods
• use your money to benefit others rather than yourself
• buy many small pleasures rather than fewer large ones
• eschew extended warranties and other forms of overpriced insurance
• delay consumption
• consider how peripheral features of your purchases may affect your day-to-day life
• beware of comparison shopping
• pay close attention to the happiness of others

These suggestions are not mine but are from the scientific findings of EW Dunn et al. They are valid suggestions which even without reading have been practicing.  What are you take on these suggestions? Do you have more to add to what the researchers have discovered about this?

- https://scholar.harvard.edu/files/danielgilbert/files/if-money-doesnt-make-you-happy.nov-12-20101.pdf

I don't think people are chasing happiness in the wrong way. Surely they will think twice about spending money in pursuing happiness in this life in different ways, but many of those who have abundant wealth use it in good ways, such as donating to those in need. As a good thing in finding a form of happiness within yourself.

But everyone of course has different principles in pursuing happiness and there are times when they waste money on gambling to get happiness as we have seen in many sub gambling but this behavior is quite a bad thing in my opinion.

But I agree with the points you shared where good things can be done in finding happiness in this life by helping one another which can lead to something positive for ourselves in social life.

[mm2543363580]

Everyone's definition of happiness is different some are happy with less material things like in a good company,  family ,friends but some are happy with money around them like they want to party , use money on different habits , vacations and stuff . So this is totally up to yyou how you think about this life if your life is all about money than definitely you are in a wrong direction.

[Kelward]

I'd say if spending money doesn't make you happy maybe you're all spending it wrongly, even though all the advices above seems good, but I think important what makes one happy isn't necessarily coming from textbook advices like this. Just spend whatever you want, one might be happy enough when they can buy some good cars, not necessarily need good experience, everyone differ to each other.
someone else might also be happy by spending their money for buying luxury goods, it's all relative. but what matters most is that, an individual will be really happy when they got their basic needs settled. it's the most important thing, then the other thing comes after that.

I agree with you that what gives  people happiness is relative, because our likings are different. Spending to see other people's happy is good, but another person's happiness may come from clubbing and care free life style. I think that a set of rules can not define true happiness for everyone. Different believes determines true happiness for people, and also what gives them true happiness in spending their money.

[TimeTeller]

I'd say if spending money doesn't make you happy maybe you're all spending it wrongly, even though all the advices above seems good, but I think important what makes one happy isn't necessarily coming from textbook advices like this. Just spend whatever you want, one might be happy enough when they can buy some good cars, not necessarily need good experience, everyone differ to each other.
someone else might also be happy by spending their money for buying luxury goods, it's all relative. but what matters most is that, an individual will be really happy when they got their basic needs settled. it's the most important thing, then the other thing comes after that.

I agree with you that what gives  people happiness is relative, because our likings are different. Spending to see other people's happy is good, but another person's happiness may come from clubbing and care free life style. I think that a set of rules can not define true happiness for everyone. Different believes determines true happiness for people, and also what gives them true happiness in spending their money.

So long you know that you are genuinely happy with what you are doing, that's what matters most.
Because as you said, each of us have different likings in life and that for sure, we have our own source of happiness.
Just respect each other and don't judge other people for what they want in life. Mind your own business in short.
As long as you have peace of mind with what you have, and you are contented with your life, then you don't need to bother with other things.
We have our own time of realizing what's important and what's not. Don't shove it to others about what you have learned, let their time comes on that regard.

[Vaculin]

Nice job ops, these are all good ways to spend money to gain satisfaction, and one of the interesting points mentioned is the one that says, to spend money to make others happy.

That is indeed true because true happiness comes from the happiness of others around you, so instead of concentrating on the self, it's better to invest that energy into seeing the fulfillment and happiness of others, But financial experts and economists will say otherwise that greed brings wrong increase anyways.

True happiness is never selfish and it will only make you more greedy keeping your happiness into yourself. However, if you start considering the feelings of others, spending money so you can see other people’s happiness especially for unfortunate ones, I think that one is way more satisfying and a very noble act. But I believe only few people spend for others, as most of us here spend only for our own happiness and own advantage.

[Kasabus]

I'd say if spending money doesn't make you happy maybe you're all spending it wrongly, even though all the advices above seems good, but I think important what makes one happy isn't necessarily coming from textbook advices like this. Just spend whatever you want, one might be happy enough when they can buy some good cars, not necessarily need good experience, everyone differ to each other.
someone else might also be happy by spending their money for buying luxury goods, it's all relative. but what matters most is that, an individual will be really happy when they got their basic needs settled. it's the most important thing, then the other thing comes after that.

I guess one way to be happy is to be able to make your ends meet and at the end of the day, you still have good amount left intended to save and to invest. That life is very satisfying to live without any pressures that you could be in financial struggles one of these days knowing you have already prepared for it in the first place. Buying luxuries in life will only bring happiness temporarily, but helping others and buying their needs for some who have been living life the hard way is what I think what will make me real happy.

[panganib999]

Money should make you happy but if it doesn't then you are probably spending it the wrong way. See the eight suggested principles to help anyone to be able to get happiness from their money.

• buy more experiences and fewer material goods
• use your money to benefit others rather than yourself
• buy many small pleasures rather than fewer large ones
• eschew extended warranties and other forms of overpriced insurance
• delay consumption
• consider how peripheral features of your purchases may affect your day-to-day life
• beware of comparison shopping
• pay close attention to the happiness of others

These suggestions are not mine but are from the scientific findings of EW Dunn et al. They are valid suggestions which even without reading have been practicing.  What are you take on these suggestions? Do you have more to add to what the researchers have discovered about this?

- https://scholar.harvard.edu/files/danielgilbert/files/if-money-doesnt-make-you-happy.nov-12-20101.pdf

I had this thing employed that’s referred to as “delayed gratification” basically meaning that you’re postponing today’s reward for a better and more satisfying incentive n the future. It has helped me take up discipline and become better at gaining self-control over the past 4 years I’ve used it, all because I promise myself that this temporary happiness isn’t gonna fare against a much more fulfilling happiness I will feel when I get this or I was able to get what I want for so long.

I figure that some people here might wanna try it too. It helps, it’s effective, and it keeps you off the edge thinking about that thing you wanted so much as a goal and not as a reward.

[Mpamaegbu]

• use your money to benefit others rather than yourself

I don't believe this. Perhaps you didn't word it properly. I think it should've been better worded as – Use your money to benefit others rather than AND yourself. Who makes money for others? I don't think there's anyone who does that. Even the philanthropists we know, they first made money for themselves before spreading out to help others.

[romero121]

• use your money to benefit others rather than yourself

I don't believe this. Perhaps you didn't word it properly. I think it should've been better worded as – Use your money to benefit others rather than AND yourself. Who makes money for others? I don't think there's anyone who does that. Even the philanthropists we know, they first made money for themselves before spreading out to help others.

In my country there is a saying when you give food to the neighbouring children, our children will grow of their own. This means even when we aren't available on some occasion or due to some reason we weren't afford, by the time they'll help. Ao, when we're in a able situation to help others we should do the best of our ability. This is how I've learnt, and there are very few people who are of the category to live for others. Those are exceptions, I've seen a doctor who doesn't charge money for the treatment. He just request give what they are willing to pay. If they don't have money they can leave. For that person's death we were able to see how good he had won the hearts of poor people.

[Texac]

Everyone's definition of happiness is different some are happy with less material things like in a good company,  family ,friends but some are happy with money around them like they want to party , use money on different habits , vacations and stuff . So this is totally up to yyou how you think about this life if your life is all about money than definitely you are in a wrong direction.

Money is not everything, but it is also everything in this day and age.  I want to ask you, do you feel happy without money? your family, wife, and children don't have a full life like other people, are you happy?  i don't think it's wrong to live our lives around money, because it's what rules the world. without it, we are nothing in this world, no one will consider you human if you don't have money.

[Vishnu.Reang]

No offense, and I'll be blunt, the people who say money can't buy happiness are people who don't have money and want to be happy. I was in that situation when I was a worker, didn't have much money in my pocket, and always yearned for love without money. But that didn't happen, not a single girl dated me knowing I was a worker. So far, I'm married and if I don't have money, my children are not as complete as their friends, and my wife can't be prettier than other women, so I can't be happy with those things. This may sound very harsh, but I think we should accept it in today's society.

No, it doesn't sound harsh. You are telling truth, when I was a worker I also go through same kind of experience. This slogan money can't buy happiness is only for those people in real who don't have money. The way most of the women use to say they don't like gold and diamond's jewellery, or ornaments until and unless they don't get. Money can help you achieve happiness to an extent. Look for purchase that will help you feel fulfilled. Having money can actually bring you happiness and self satisfaction unless greed gets you and join the race of being richer.

[Negotiation]

I have heard many people say that money cannot buy happiness but nothing is possible without financial condition. In fact, the relationship between money and happiness is very complicated in life. Many people think that rich people are happy to live an impossibly luxurious life. For most people, the tendency to be happy increases as income increases. This is also the case with higher income earners. For most people, the more money, the greater the amount of happiness. But do everything in your own interest. Must spend as income and avoid greed. Greed sometimes destroys happy relationships.

[Mpamaegbu]

~

Those are exceptions, I've seen a doctor who doesn't charge money for the treatment. He just request give what they are willing to pay. If they don't have money they can leave.

I ain't saying that good natured people don't exist. Of course they do, though in minute proportion to the world population. What I'm saying is that I don't think anyone will want to make money only to concentrate spending it on others and neglect themselves. How does that work?

The doctor you mentioned who didn't have the habit of making his fees/bills a priority, it didn't mean he didn't spend on himself. For all we know, he might even have got regular aids from charitable organizations that offset medical bills for indigent patients.

[Aanuoluwatofunmi]

There's nothing wrong with pursuing after money for your own good and happiness but what we definitely define as happiness here matters alot, are they things that can affect us in life entirely the negative way or things that can help improve our well-being in general, we sometimes go for the wrong things thinking they are the right ones for us, at the end of it all, they turned to be the beginning of sad occurrences that leads to regretting what we have taken as decision in the past, therefore we must put some things in place and meet up with some certain conditions before we assume going for our individuals opinions as choices.

[BVeyron]

Money should make you happy but if it doesn't then you are probably spending it the wrong way. See the eight suggested principles to help anyone to be able to get happiness from their money.

• buy more experiences and fewer material goods
• use your money to benefit others rather than yourself
• buy many small pleasures rather than fewer large ones
• eschew extended warranties and other forms of overpriced insurance
• delay consumption
• consider how peripheral features of your purchases may affect your day-to-day life
• beware of comparison shopping
• pay close attention to the happiness of others

These suggestions are not mine but are from the scientific findings of EW Dunn et al. They are valid suggestions which even without reading have been practicing.  What are you take on these suggestions? Do you have more to add to what the researchers have discovered about this?

- https://scholar.harvard.edu/files/danielgilbert/files/if-money-doesnt-make-you-happy.nov-12-20101.pdf

I think the best strategy in expenses management is trying to avoid buying things which can bring disappointment. The main problem of all the investments is that the amount of earned money are far less than expected, it can happen due to wrong investment strategy, or due to fiat devaluation. So the core idea is to optimize all the expenses so that there wont be serious troubles with regrets. Psychology of expectations and regrets is the main scale of values in economics, not money, in terms of motivation money is a fictional scale, since, for example, giving someone x4 money for a work doesnt always mean that someone will be x4 more devoted to the required work. Since psychological definitions can't be measured quantitatively, the scale of expectations and regrets can't be linear, but it anyway exists and comprises the backbone of all the motivation potential of every person, and of society in general.

[og kush420]

I'd say if spending money doesn't make you happy maybe you're all spending it wrongly, even though all the advices above seems good, but I think important what makes one happy isn't necessarily coming from textbook advices like this. Just spend whatever you want, one might be happy enough when they can buy some good cars, not necessarily need good experience, everyone differ to each other.
someone else might also be happy by spending their money for buying luxury goods, it's all relative. but what matters most is that, an individual will be really happy when they got their basic needs settled. it's the most important thing, then the other thing comes after that.

You have a point there. How we can earn and spend is up to us, as long as we feel satisfied and happy. We don't have to follow the advice or what the textbook says, we can't force everyone to do the same thing when everyone is different.

Recently I have bought some necessary products for my work and needs, many people say that I am quite wasteful when buying such expensive things. But I don't care because it's my money, and I work hard to earn a lot of money simply to have a better life. I feel happy owning those things, I don't see anything wrong here. They are not me, how will they know what I need and think?

That is right and many people take money from other people and spend it like selfish people and never pays back
These kind of people are threat to the the society and to themselves. Life is tough and these kind of people make it more tougher