Happiness: A dollar and a date

(Flowing Hair Dollar, 1795)

According to Prevention, money can buy happiness.  But luckily, just a dollar might suffice.

In his article "How a single buck can change your life," Bill Bradley cites a recent study from the University of Rochester.  It shows that "spending your discretionary income on life experiences – whether climbing Mt. Kilimanjaro or taking salsa lessons – yields greater happiness than buying material possessions."  This is partly because

experiences can be "reconstructed favorably in memory" (whereas today's new smartphone is simply tomorrow's older smartphone).

Another important ingredient for getting the most out of your buck is spending it on an activity that involves companionship.  For example, buying a dollar's worth of bananas could be much more yummy if you snack on them along with a friend or two.  Going for a hike alone could not only be dangerous, but also less fun than going with others.

This research by psychologist Harry Reis and colleagues indicates that "it doesn't matter what the activity is as long as you're doing it with it someone else."  A thrifty approach, however, "means you can afford more experiences – all the better for your social life, and your wellbeing."

In other words, that one dream trip around the world might be less cumulatively joyful than a hundred social trips around the neighborhood.  That is why Prevention lists these happy-happy/joy-joy "staycation" ideas:  sign up for a local race and train with a partner; cook and eat dinner with a friend; head over to the theater with a pal, then discuss the show afterwards; challenge someone to a game of chess; and hit the hiking trail with a buddy.      

Resources

http://living.msn.com/life-inspired/year-of-happiness/article?cp-documentid=2557827

Copyright April 26, 2013 by Linda Van Slyke   All Rights Reserved