Happiness Lab host Lara Acton says money can't buy happiness, but research shows that's not quite true. Using money to buy time can lead to a boost in well-being as a professor at Simon Fraser University is studying the psychological consequences of pro-social spending. We often assume that buying ourselves things, new clothes, a shiny car, or a nicer cell phone will bring us happiness, but acquiring new possessions doesn't feel as good as we usually hope. The science shows that giving money to help someone else often feels better than keeping it for ourselves.
Money can buy you happiness - but not in the way we think. Giving money away - especially to help others - has been shown make us happier than spending on ourselves.
Social psychologist Lara Aknin explains the best ways to spend on loved ones, friends and even total strangers to get the biggest happiness bang for your buck.
And Harvard's s Josh Greene reveals how much money Happiness Lab listeners gave to charity via Giving Multiplier last year - and how many lives you saved.
To give to a charity of your choice and to some of the most effective charities around (and have your donation matched at a special rate) visit: https://givingmultiplier.org/invite/HAPPINESSLAB
The Happiness Lab will return in January 2023. See you then.
See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.