A new study suggests that most people feel best when they spend their money on others as opposed to spending more on themselves. Michael Norton, a professor at Harvard Business School, explained the results like this: "So instead of buying yourself a coffee buy your friend a coffee and that might actually make you a happier person." Would your feelings support the study's findings on happiness and money?
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Are You Happiest When You Spend Money on Others?
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without a doubt
1don't get me wrong - i love to buy myself little nick-nacks but it really does make me feel better when i get stuff for others. just seeing a little smile on their face when they get a gift - even if it's nothing too big - it does make me feel good.
2I love spending money on others. I go overboard for Christmas. haha
3Whenever I buy anything for anyone else (family) usually they don't seem very thankful for the gifts that I get offended that they don't appreciate it, so I'm not going to spend any kind of money on my family anymore. I used to like spending money, but not so much anymore.
4It depends on who it is for. There are certain family members, friends, and charities I love to give too but my sister for example is the most ungrateful person in the world so I do not do anything for her anymore.
5i always buy lunch/dinner/coffee for my best friend but she's never thankful. she treats it like she deserves it and doesn't say thank-you. obviously i'm not going to rub it in and be rude about it and say 'hey, i payed for your coffee again, what do you say?' , but it makes me not want to spend more money on her.
6I love buying gifts for others and myself.
7i love spending on myself AND others... it's bad!
8Definitely yes. I love treating friends and loved ones whenever I can afford it
9Oh, I LOVE to buy little presents for people. I've been on a really tight budget for the last year, and it's been really frustrating to me to see something someone would love and not be able to buy it and surprise them with it.
10I'm with Jude!
11I think there needs to be a distinction between the love of the reactionary gratitude and the feeling that it brings the giver, and the love of the action of providing someone with something just so they have it. It always feels good to be thanked, but would it be just as nice to give if it were anonymous? Food for thought.
I am as happy to get something I want as I am to give someone else something they want, but for charity and/or giving to people who need it--truly, there's nothing better.
12I think that it makes you feel like a good person, doing something nice for someone else.
13i agree.
14I definitely get a bigger kick buying things for other people than I do myself - especially if I know they will really love it.
15I love to buy gifts for the people that I love. But I do like buying myself treats sometimes too!
16Sho'nuff. I love buying little gifts for people. It's fun and I do feel better.
17Ten years ago, I would have laughed and said "no way, it's all about me baby!". It took me a while to grow out of my selfishness to realize how good it feels to spend on someone else and to see their reaction. What a feeling!
18i love giving presents..
19I'm not sure what exactly my problem is, and I'm sure it has to do with how I was brought up, but if anything, I feel great anxiety when I have to buy stuff for others. I love buying stuff for myself, but I know I can't go overboard because of money issues. And I guess that plays into my angst over buying stuff for others, since I never want to spend that much...it's all quite stressful even thinking of this! I hope it changes for me in the future (I'm almost 24 now).
20my ultimate joy is bringing gifts taht drive them ccrazy
21It's my hobby! lol but due to my budget, it is only on the occasions..
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