The saying says, 'money can't buy happiness'. But there is another 'saying' that refutes, saying 'Those who say money can't buy happiness, don't understand where to shop'. Others say, 'Anyone who says that money cannot buy happiness is those who have no money, or those who are very, very rich.' Which one do you agree with? So can money buy happiness?

Lots of research is done to find the relationship between money and happiness. As expected, indeed along with rising income, the level of happiness is higher. Those who still have to struggle to meet their basic needs have less happiness, compared to those who have higher income. This is evidenced by research from Betsy Stevenson and Justin Wolfers of the University of Michigan, who analyzed the relationship between happiness and income in the United States, from income of US $ 10,000 to more than US $ 500,000 per year.

Only 35% of those who earn less than US $ 10,000 per year answer very happily with their lives. There are 55% of those who have US $ 50-75 thousand per year answer very happy with their lives. And those who earn more than US $ 500,000 per year, all (100%) answer very happy with their lives.

Thus, the conclusion is that money can buy happiness? Wait a minute. It turns out that if explored more deeply, there are still other factors that affect happiness related to money. Elizabeth Dunn, a professor of psychology at the University of British Columbia stated in her book 'Happy Money' that money can indeed buy happiness. And there are certain ways so that money can buy happiness, without seeing the amount. How?

1. Spend money on experience, not things

Neighbors just changed cars? Is the favorite program back endorsing the new hijab? Favorite brands launch the latest and most sophisticated products? There are always things that make us tempted to buy them. But it turns out that the results of the study speak, that the purchase of experience gives a happy effect that lasts longer than the purchase of goods.

Experience can be in the form of holidays, watching concerts, visiting certain places or just trying new things that have never been done, eating in a new place for example. But we tend to prefer to spend money to buy goods because they think things are more durable, while experience is only experienced briefly and what is left is memory (and of course documentation).

2. Give to others

It turns out giving / spending money to others can make us happier. Of the people who made the research respondents then given money to be spent alone and spent on others, those who spent money on others felt happier, even though they themselves were poor.

3. 'Buy' time

The saying "Time is money", but actually time can be worth more than money. Spending money on something that will provide free time or productive time for family and friends, is better than something that is material.

For example, instead of buying a large house on the outskirts of the city and having to travel long distances to work, it is better to buy a small house / apartment in the city center that is close to the center of activity. By buying a house / apartment in the middle of the city, it will save a lot of time and increase quality time with family. Another example is to hire someone else to become an assistant / household assistant to do all household chores.

4. Pay now, enjoy later

This concept contradicts the credit card, where the purchased item is enjoyed first and then paid later when the bill arrives. With the principle of first pay and enjoy later, when enjoying the purchase it will feel like 'free'. An example is planning a vacation long ago.

With vacation planning, tickets are purchased first and so are accommodation / hotel rooms booked and paid in advance. When it's time to vacation, besides feeling like it's free, it's also not burdened with debts / bills received after the vacation is over.

In addition, there are studies conducted in households in the UK, which find things unique. It turns out that having a debt can reduce the level of happiness, and vice versa, having savings can increase happiness. And paying off debt is more important than having savings, when viewed from the point of view of happiness. This is in accordance with the principles of financial planning, where debt payments are the first priority before the others.

Want to have money and be happy? Learning to manage properly. Where? Classroom Sharia Financial Planner 9-11 June Info here, Manage Keua