Money For Nothing

Seeing us through recessionary frugality: 

A recent study suggests a negligible relationship 

between wealth & happiness. 

'Most of us tend to think that if we had more money we'd get more satisfaction out of life, but on the whole, this turns out not to be true. So why doesn't money make us happier? New research suggests that the answer lies, at least in part, in how wealthier people lose touch with their ability to savour life's pleasures.

Savouring is a way of increasing and prolonging our positive experiences, helping us to squeeze every bit of joy out of the good things that happen to us.

Why, then, don't wealthier people savour? The basic idea is that when you have the money to eat at fancy restaurants every night and buy designer clothes from chic boutiques, those experiences diminish the enjoyment you get out of the simpler, more everyday pleasures.

Through savouring, you'll increase your happiness and well-being much more than (or even despite) your growing riches. And if your riches aren't actually growing, then savouring is still a way to fully appreciate what you do have.'

J. Quoidbach, E. Dunn, K. Petrides, & M. Mikolajczak (2010) Money giveth, money taketh away: The dual effect of wealth on happiness. Psychological Science, 21, 759-763.