“Basically, everywhere in the world, giving is associated with being a happier person.” Michael Norton

Can money make you happy?

Short answer, “Yes…if you give your money away!”

Harvard Professor Michael Norton wrote a book about this called Happy Money, the Science of Smarter Spending. In it he presents data to support his regular challenge to audiences: “If you think money doesn’t buy happiness, try giving some away.”

Happy Giving

In the book, Norton and co-author Elizabeth Dunn explain the results of numerous experiments in which Canadian college students, poor Ugandans, and Belgian pharmaceutical salesmen were given money to spend on themselves or others.

In every case, the persons who were told to give their money away were happier than the persons who were told to keep the money for themselves.

Happy Findings

A few of their other findings:

  • The most generous givers tend to be at both ends of the wealth spectrum.
  • Poor people tend to be more generous the middle class.
  • Giving to religious groups, even when compulsory, tends to make people happier.
  • Giving to a person you know makes you more happy than giving anonymously.
  • Money does not make the average U.S. citizen happier after they reach an income of $75,000 a year. From that point on, most persons claim they would need to triple their current income to be completely happy.

An explanation, illustration, and confirmation of the most neglected beatitude:

“It is more blessed to give than receive.” (Acts 20:35)