Spend Money On People That Matter

You’re probably aware that altruism, such as spending money on others, tends to cause happiness. For some reason, however, we forget this when we get that paycheck on our desk and must decide what we will do with our resources.

Still, if we can cement the notion that happiness is brought about through sacrificing our hard-earned money for the sake of others, then perhaps we will end up becoming happier, richer people.

In case you’re not convinced on the premise of this article, research confirms that the validity of altruism tends to be true across the board. A 2008 study done in the UK, for example, did both cross-sectional and longitudinal sampling, and their hypothesis in favor of altruism was guessed correctly almost every time.

As for why spending money on others increases happiness, we can point to a number of reasonable and educated guesses. One of the most prominent is that altruism is still inherently selfish and promotes our own well-being. The act of “feeling good” about yourself can be a prime motivation for many people who choose to give money away or buy something nice for someone else.

That said, selfishness for the sake of others is probably the best type of selfishness. Few would discredit altruism as being a healthy practice, even though selfish motivations for good actions can still be rooted in unhealthy behavior, but that’s a different subject.

For many, spending money on others comes from what some researchers consider to be a “prosocial” motivation. That is, doing nice things for friends strengthens relationships, which in turn leads to happiness. This is especially true for romantic relationships or even the simple idea of exchanging gifts on a holiday. Many of us like to fulfill obligatory traditions for the sake of making others happy.

So, the real question is, “What are great ways to spend money on others?” Charity is an obvious suggestion, and it promotes altruism that doesn’t always guarantee any sort of return on investment.”

Spending money on friends, or helping someone you know that is need, is always a great way to promote the common good that is within your own social circle, especially if you are doing so for your local community in general.

Whatever you decide to do, remember that simple actions such as these add up over a lifetime. Developing a strong habit or tendency towards thinking for others, at least in addition to yourself, promotes a healthier lifestyle in more ways than just monetarily.