Comments on: Giving Makes You Happier Than Spending (Both Cost Money)

By: Minimum Wage

Minimum Wage — Sun, 30 Mar 2008 01:11:28 +0000

Spending makes me unhappy. Does this mean that giving would somehow make me less unhappy?

By: michael vespa

michael vespa — Fri, 28 Mar 2008 13:14:04 +0000

hello
If it gives people that warm and fuzzy feeling to give to a good cause how about this:
my wife found a lump right below her breastbone 2 days before her 40th birthday ,we went to the hospital to get a x-ray ,the first thing the did was to admitt us the the 5th floor….the c ward (cancer) then came back with the bad news stage 4b thymoma no cure …we can give you chemo..but lets be honest we are not going to get a 100% remission there is too much disese too have that happen,that was best md in the field of thymomas in indiana
now we have 2 boys 6 and13 and bills that reach over there heads so if someone want that warm fuzzy feeling I am here for ya

michael vespa 860 490 9828

By: Jason H

Jason H — Wed, 26 Mar 2008 17:02:20 +0000

Jim: Actually I’m quite happy with life. And why should one donate to a cancer victim? That is exactly what insurance and debt management is for. Sorry, I don’t feel any sympathy and before you ask I lost my grandfather to cancer and have seen two friends go through breast cancer, so I don’t have my head in the sand.

By: Monevator

Monevator — Wed, 26 Mar 2008 16:11:22 +0000

Another benefit of giving rather than spending is you don’t suffer Buyer’s Remorse. This is the well known phenomenon of buying, say, a big flat screen TV and then realising after a day that perhaps it isn’t going to improve your sex life or your kids grades at school. Receivers of gifts seldom complain to you afterwards!

By: jim

jim — Wed, 26 Mar 2008 01:26:31 +0000

Jason: So you’re saying that cancer victims should resolve their issues through hard work? You’re painting with a broad brush…

Plus, the study didn’t say that you will be unhappy if you don’t donate to charities, just that you’d likely be happier. You don’t sound that happy though…

By: Jason H

Jason H — Wed, 26 Mar 2008 00:22:38 +0000

Spending money while spending time with friends and loved ones or giving small gifts to loved ones I’m fine with. Does it make a person happier? Sure, since you likely will receive a gift of that person’s time and perhaps a stimulating discussion.

However, I call BS on giving to charities. I haven’t given to a human charity for nearly a decade now and I’m far from unhappy. Given that most charities waste the money on people that can resolve their issues through hard work, I find them to be a waste of time. If/when I do give, I give to animal charities, as they can’t help themselves like humans can and should.

By: emilyg

emilyg — Tue, 25 Mar 2008 22:08:08 +0000

I heard about this study on NPR recently and I thought it was great. The funny part, though, was that people were significantly happier after spending on others instead of themselves, but when asked separately whether people become happier from spending it on others or themselves, they all thought the answer would be themselves. So people don’t really know this about human nature…they just get warm fuzzies and forget about it later. But it’s undeniable. I definitely feel really good after buying a gift for someone or donating to a charity — much better than when I guiltily walk home from the mall with a bag of clothes I really didn’t need that badly.

By: Lord

Lord — Tue, 25 Mar 2008 20:30:52 +0000

Please send it all my way then. I will be most thankful and graciously accept whatever you care to bestow.