Your Money Minute Can You Buy Happiness 1/2/26
Jan 2, 2026
Join Harvard professor Arthur Brooks, a leading voice on happiness and public policy, as he shares insights from his research. He reveals why buying possessions often leads to fleeting joy and advocates for investing in experiences that create lasting memories. Discover the power of reclaiming time by outsourcing chores you dislike, and learn how saving money, rather than accumulating debt, can enhance your well-being. Brooks outlines five crucial steps to genuinely 'buy' happiness.
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Material Gains Fade Quickly
- Money alone doesn't buy lasting happiness because people quickly adapt to new possessions.
- Arthur C. Brooks emphasizes that
Choose Experiences Over Things
- Buy experiences like trips, concerts, or classes rather than more stuff to build lasting memories.
- Arthur C. Brooks recommends using possessions (like a beach house) as magnets for shared experiences.
Buy Time And Use It Purposefully
- Pay others to do chores you dislike so you gain time for meaningful activities.
- Arthur C. Brooks warns to use that reclaimed time purposefully and avoid wasting it on passive activities.