What?! Your Grandmother Was Wrong?!

by Leslie Aronson — July 11, 2008

Turns out that, even if money can't buy happiness, it can still make you happier. It depends on how you're spending your money, though, according to Jason Zweig, author of Your Money & Your Brain. While shopping sprees can be fun in the moment, the excitement and morale boost you get from them tend to fade pretty quickly. You also have to deal with buyer's remorse in some cases after the spontaneity and thrill have died down (am I really going to wear leather pants as often as I thought? Is another iPod really necessary for my continued existence?). If you invest your money in more lasting and memorable expenditures, though, your happiness is also longer lasting, according to Zweig. Vacations and random trips are more worthwhile for your long-term happiness as they create shared memories, photos, and inside jokes that help you relive the happiness of the event for years to come. Having money makes taking trips like this easier, of course, but that doesn't mean that those of us on a budget necessarily have to miss out. Cutting back on expensive elements like hotels and restaurants can make trips more affordable and permit you to spend your money on the more exciting things available instead of the mundane activities of eating and sleeping. Depending on your destination, you might also consider staying at a hostel or camping, and if creating memories is your goal, you will certainly find these options to be more memorable.