Finally Bought the Bag on Your Wishlist But the Joy Didn't Last? Psychologists Discover Spending Money on Others Makes You Happier

Why does buying things for ourselves bring such fleeting joy?

We actually adapt to new things much faster than we think. A month after buying a handbag you initially wanted to carry every day, it often feels like just another bag in your rotation.

A survey of over 600 Americans revealed an interesting clue: where you spend your money is deeply connected to your happiness. The results showed that regardless of income, people who spent more on gifts or donations felt happier. Even among employees who received bonuses, those who spent the money on others had significantly higher happiness levels weeks later.

Whether it’s $5 or $20 actually makes no difference

To prove this, the journal Science published an interesting experiment in 2008. Researchers handed college students envelopes containing either $5 or $20 and asked them to spend it by 5 PM that day. Half the participants were instructed to spend the money on themselves or pay a bill, while the other half had to buy a gift for someone else or donate it.

That evening, researchers asked them about their happiness again. The results showed that the group who spent money on others was significantly happier than the group who spent it on themselves. More interestingly, whether they received $5 or $20 had little impact on their level of happiness. It turns out that what determines happiness isn’t the amount, but where the money goes.

The happiness multiplier comes from a visible reaction

However, simply spending money on someone else isn’t enough; the real core is whether that spending connects you and the other person.

More than the act of giving a gift, the time spent sitting face-to-face over the gift is the key to creating happiness. When you get together, see your friend’s surprised expression as they open the gift, hear a sincere thank you, and then naturally start chatting, you truly feel that the money you spent reached their heart.

Research also points out that who you give the gift to is important. Think back: spending money on close family or friends often brings a better mood than spending it on an acquaintance. It has nothing to do with their title, but rather how close the distance is between you.

Next time you want to spend money, try a different direction

When we think about what to buy for ourselves, it’s easy to overestimate the happiness that item will bring. But when we think about buying something for someone else, what often pops into our heads is a shrinking bank balance. This is why we habitually buy gifts to reward ourselves.

If you’ve recently felt that the satisfaction from shopping is becoming increasingly short-lived, maybe you can try slightly changing direction. You don’t need to spend a lot of money picking out an expensive gift—when you go to work tomorrow, just grab a hot coffee for a hardworking coworker! Rather than just leaving the coffee on their desk and walking away, taking a few minutes to drink coffee and chat together will be a better choice for your mood and your relationship. After all, what we give can sometimes hold onto happiness better than what we keep.

Besides this article, here are a few recent stories worth checking out: