Happy money
by Elizabeth Dunn · first published 2013
8mentions
3recommended by
7HN commenters
2013–2026first – last mentioned
43% recommend57% neutral
Happy Money offers a tour of new research on the science of spending. Most people recognize that they need professional advice on how to earn, save, and invest their money, most people just follow their intuitions. But scientific research shows that those institutions are often wrong. Happy Money explains why you can get more happiness for your money by following five principles, from choosing experiences over stuff to spending money on others. And the five principles, from choosing experiences over stuff to spending money on others. And the five principles can be used not only by individuals
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These 2 put out a book on the subject as well. It's worth a read if you found this paper helpful. http://books.simonandschuster.com/Happy-Money/Elizabeth-Dunn...
on “If money doesn't make you happy, you probably aren't spending it right (2010) [pdf]” ↗Not been in your position, but what truly spoke to me was the book by Elizabeth Dunn and Michael Norton, titled: Happy Money: The Science of Smarter Spending In short: The key lies in adhering to five key principles: Buy Experiences (research shows that material purchases are less satisfying than vacations or concerts); Make…
on “Ask HN: What to do after $8M (all cash, post tax) exit?” ↗Read this summary of the research on how to maximize happiness per dollar. Happy Money: The Science of Happier Spending https://www.amazon.com/dp/1451665075/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_api_glt_... There’s a lot of guidance on which “keeping up with the joneses” spending might actually make you happier.…
on “Ask HN: How do you manage the “Keeping Up with the Joneses” trap?” ↗…a way that maximizes your own happiness. Studies indicate that spending money on others is one of the best ways to increase your own happiness. I don't have references handy, but check out the book "Happy Money: The Science of Smarter Spending." That is loaded with references to studies that support that claim.
on “Why Chris Hughes And Google Are Giving Cash Directly To The Poorest” ↗…a dramatic impact on happiness," writes Dunn and her co-author Michael Norton. * https://www.independent.ie/lifestyle/happiness-is-buying-exp... * https://dunn.psych.ubc.ca * http://www.amazon.com/Happy-Money-Science-Happier-Spending/d... If, per Aristotle, happiness is the supreme good, it would objectively be better to spend your limited resources on things that are more likely to give it to you. * https://www.psychologytoday.com/blog/hide-and-seek/201301/ar...
on “Diamonds Keep Getting Cheaper” ↗…very similar. Each city has 2-3 churches. A bunch of art museums with many of the same artists. Yet another farmer's market or marketplace. Shopping centers with the same brands. etc.. I think it was "Happy Money" by Elizabeth Dunn that claimed their studies indicated that long vacations are not as effective as short vacations because most people get used to it quickly and the novelty wears off. That certainly…
on “Why Continuing to Work Is Good for a Man’s Health” ↗Books on happiness (research) have become a bit of a thing in recent years, but Dunn seems to have published one of the earlier ones in 2013: * https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/15803098-happy-money I'd also recommend Morgan Housel's various writings: * https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/231148075-the-art-of-spe... He had an interesting observation: the popular saying "don't spend money on things,…
on “The Price of Happiness” ↗…not based on one experiment, but on numerous factors that point in the same direction. We are social creatures, and feeling like we are a part of a greater whole makes people happier. In the recent book Happy Money, the authors, two Ph.D. researchers in the area, describe experiments that indicate that spending money on others promotes happiness. Of the three components of Self-Determination Theory, one is "Relatedness",…
on “Midlife: A Philosophical Guide” ↗