Elizabeth Dunn (1)

The premise of this book is that if you think money can’t buy happiness, you aren’t spending it right. Dunn and Norton explore compelling scientific research on what kinds of expenditures increase happiness versus decrease it, and they present five basic principles: 1. Buy experiences. 2. Make it a treat. 3. Buy time. 4. Pay now, consume later. 5. Invest in others.

Their research is compelling and many of their suggestions are worth taking to heart—like that buying a big house in the show more suburb won’t make you happy (especially when it comes with a commute). It’s not as helpful on the subject of deliberating limiting one’s consumption—they suggest, apparently seriously, that you would be happier if you loaded a Starbucks card at the beginning of the week with enough money for four brewed coffees and a Friday Frappucino, because then you get the treat on Friday and you enjoy treats more when you separate the paying from the enjoyment. Buy time is also a bit problematic—they do acknowledge that you shouldn’t buy your way out of things you might enjoy, but that’s a brief mention in a long chapter. Still, there were a lot of concrete ideas about getting more happiness out of a dollar, and who doesn’t like that idea? show less

While this book contained plenty of good food for thought, and lots of research that can easily be applied to any set of circumstances to increase happiness, I felt it was hindered routinely by a certain lack of maturity in the writing, particularly a number of awkward innuendos, and none subtle. Perhaps the authors wanted to include these, and anecdotes, in order to make the text more approachable, but in fact I found myself pulling back more in response than anything.

However, if the reader show more can move past these, then they will receive well-researched psychological tips for increasing happiness in how they choose to spend their money. show less

Interesting read about what research indicates can be the ways to spend money that will make people the happiest. One big omission is the place saving money might hold in the happiness equation. Another criticism I have is with an example about how better housing does increase happiness with housing but not overall happiness -- but no explanation of what that means or how that can be. One thing I can takeaway as a tip to myself is to mentally think of my purchases in terms of experiences show more rather than things. For example, a book can be the item itself or the experience of reading it -- generally, experiences make people happier than things. So by thinking of purchases in terms of the experiences attached to them, that is likely to make me happier with my purchases.
Overall, this is a quick, fun read. show less

Concise and digestible psychology of happiness