Summer is well under way and many young adults have
taken the opportunity to seek and obtain a summer job! So what is the best way
to spend your money that will allow you to achieve the most amount of
satisfaction and happiness? Don’t buy a thing. Not one thing. Literally.
Scientifically the best way to obtain happiness is by spending money on others,
however if you want to spend money on yourself, you are much better off
investing in experiences rather than material items or “things”. Traveling and
going to large events is an exponentially more effective method for achieving
happiness and satisfaction. For example, buying a $2000 luxury coffee table
will only be useful as a piece of furniture and the happiness gained from that
investment will only last a few days at most. However, going to get a bite to
eat with friends will be a unique and enjoyable experience each time.
According
to a 2014 Psychology Today article titled Why
Other People Are the Key to Our Happiness, “The interactions we have with
other people affect the way we feel about life. Our close relationships keep us
grounded and influence both happiness and the sense that we are part of a
larger community. Interestingly, even our interactions with people we do not
know that well give us a sense that we are part of that larger community. When
we are first introduced to that community, those interactions and that feeling
of belonging also increase our happiness.” Luckily in South Florida, there are
lots of events and attractions happening almost every weekend and when there
aren’t, there are several outdoor opportunities that will allow you to make
positive memories and create opportunities to build long term happiness and
friendships with new people!
So this summer, don’t buy a thing. Buy
experiences! Now get out there and have fun!
^AC
