Observation #17: Can you buy happiness?

I recently watched a TED video about the feeling that spending money gives people. They basically said that when people spend money on others they feel much better than when they spend it on themselves. This raises an interesting question: Is there a difference between giving money away to people you know (gifts) versus giving money to strangers? 

I run into people all the time who say, “My wife and I don’t exchange gifts.” For me, buying someone something they weren’t expecting is awesome. It’s like, I know what this person really wants. I am in tune with this person. Seeing my mom cry when my dad bought her an iPad was awesome. 

Would my dad have felt the same way if he had bought himself an iPad? Definitely not. I mean my father still calls the internet “The Dubya Dubya Dubya.” IPad or not, he loves to see my mom happy.

Charity. I try to give when I can. I feel like I do it more out of guilt than anything else. When you are at Wal-mart at the cashier and they say “Do you care to donate a dollar to...?” Well of course I do. What would the people behind me in line think if I didn’t say yes? Do I feel good about it? Not really. Guilt is not virtuous.

The skepticism that surrounds charity has become so pervasive. Where does my money actually go? Administration. CEOs. Warlords. If one penny goes to someone who needs it isn’t that two more pennies than they would have had? It is the faceless part of charity that makes it difficult. I think due diligence is necessary. Research the charity you are giving to. Let’s level with each other. Who has that type of time? When doing good, blind faith may be enough and it may have to be enough. We can’t let these worries prevent us from helping others.

I think it is easier to give money or gifts to the people around you because the response is immediate and you witness the impact it has. I will agree with all the anti-consumerists out there that say that a kind word or time spent with a loved one is worth more than any gift. “Valentine’s Day is a holiday created to sell chocolates and cards or Christmas has become so commercialized.” Bah humbug! Anti-consumerist is latin for cheap son of a bitch. That may be a little extreme. Making people feel good should be paramount. Happiness is contagious. Make someone happy.


Can money buy happiness? Do you give to charity? Do you exchange gifts?