For all the wisdom I had at the time, I always thought that money can’t buy happiness. But what I didn’t know was that being conscious about how and where you spend your money can do some good to your heart besides pepping up your happiness.

I distinctly remember-while in high school in playtime instead of ganging up and fooling around I’d hang out alone doodling “Be Happy” on my worn out homework folders often. Somehow this would make me feel comfortable. In fact whenever I had free time I would be thinking of things utterly inconsequential and entirely beside the point at the time.  I’d be lost in contemplation totally oblivious of my surroundings.

Had I freaked out or somehow distanced myself from reality?

I wasn’t sure except that I hadn’t lost my bearings. I don’t know if it was my mind alone. Strangely it was secretly dwelling on Bobby McFerrin’ s song “Don’t Worry, Be Happy”. The reggae jazz pop from the 80’s wouldn’t leave me alone. It just wouldn’t get out of my hair. Was this just another clickbait title I was looking at or was a life of contentment beckoning me?

I just couldn’t make much of it then.

I’ll never be certain even to this day. Regardless at the core of my every decision lay the motivation to be happier. In a way what I sought was a sense of living that isn’t overrun by fear, pain and loss but rather reverence, appreciation and affection.

Now everyone’s definition of happiness is certainly unique depending upon their values, passions, experience, age, etc. but intrinsically everybody is after moments of happiness in their lives one way or another. The catchphrase “Money can’t buy you happiness” has lost teeth, proving the opposite as more relevant. More money in fact increases one’s level of happiness.

But before you begin see this as an excuse to work harder and longer hours to bring in more money, be mindful that having more money doesn’t necessarily make you happier; it’s how you spend it that equates to more happiness.

Lately I had the opportunity to read Elizabeth Dunn and Michael Norton’s “Happy Money: The Science of Smarter Spending”. It reminded me of something that I hadn’t really thought about earlier; that if managed wisely the money I had worked so hard for, can indeed elevate the quality of my life. 

Your state of mind in fact shapes how you experience the world. This means that spending money to enhance your overall wellbeing is generally a great investment

With this in mind today I live contented spending on these six things that allow my money to make me happier than ever. These ideas are a combination of what I’ve uncovered while perusing a great many writers as well as a few discoveries of my own through personal experience. You can always say that these are the ideas ‘whose time will come’ thus implying that there’s no  newness in them but then perhaps ’you’re the one who’s going to make them work for you’ !

Spend More on Your Future

Living in the moment surely is one great way to approach life but not at the cost of your future happiness. Setting aside money for your future is an infallible way to ensure you bask in the warmth of certainty and protection. An innate sense of being grounded will keep you unfettered, free from anxiety and will let you explore more opportunities further down the road. Trust me it will also help you stop living from paycheck to pay check.

Head Back to School If You Hate Your Job

Go back to education or sign up to refresh your skill if you’re unhappy in your current line of work. Back in Office, there would come moments when FOMO (Fear of missing out) felt overpowering. Anxiety of missing out on cutting edge skill and knowledge would come as a rude awakening. Not before long I realized that this was the time to invest in me and make a new start. I didn’t fail thereafter because I’d learned to how to make a successful change in myself. I’d upgrade my knowledge and skills whenever I thought I can’t handle it.

Pursue a new area of interest if you think all the hustle and grind so far has gone south. It’s never too late to be what you might have been. Luckily, there’s an abundance of resources to help you advance your skills in any field. Once you’ve got the knack of things it will be easy to augment yourself. And to be there you need to invest to help you reach your next goal.

My call! Change doesn’t mean a threat. It always brings an opportunity in its wake.

Splurge a Little

I think dropping a ton of cash for something extravagant will never buy you the same bang for your buck because no matter how remarkable you perceive it at first, you’ll get used to having it over the time until it becomes just another object minus all sense of elation.

So I gave myself small affordable indulgences. I discovered it was a smart way to find joy in minor extravagances. A little luxury for a big smile in exchange is doable and never a better bargain.

Buy Moments Not Things

No keeping up with the Joneses; it’s an endless cycle and it doesn’t make anyone happy. At least it didn’t work for me.  I don’t buy something expensive just because everyone else has it; I buy what I believe I want or need. There are a lot many reasons someone buys something but if it’s meant to maximize happiness, then buying a life experience that is in line with your personality, is more rewarding and your best bet for a lasting happiness.

When people spend money just to throw up or uphold a certain image of them, it doesn’t bring happiness. Instead deep within empty silence and dismay will continue to mock.

The key to zooming out and becoming alive is to spend your money on experiences rather than material things. Any tangible stuff howsoever expensive or badly wanted tends to lose sheen after a while-both literally and figuratively.

Besides knowing you can’t have access to something all the time may help you appreciate it more when you do.

Memories on the other hand never get old.

Fund Your Future

It sounds like a long way off for the moment but the earlier you start the better. It’s imperative that you catch the wave when there’s time. You’ve got more future than your past coming up. You bet it’s hard to set aside a chunk of your income for your twilight years. But you can’t put a price on feeling financially secure. Thanks to the snowballing effect my savings gathered more snow as it grew becoming larger and much quicker than I thought. I never have had to save as much as I grew old.

Live a Life of Simple Joys

Admittedly as they say, money in abundance if mishandled never makes you happy. Why is that? Is abundance truly the enemy of appreciation?

When we become aware that we have the means to splurge on a luxury item of our choice every single day, we kinda take it for granted and not appreciate what our life would’ve been sans bells and whistles.

By reining in how often you afford yourself the luxuries and the opulence, you’ll be able to truly appreciate and enjoy them more fully.

Have you ever noticed how some people seem to get crankier with age while others become more content? I have wondered about that so often, more after retiring.

And this is what has surprised me most. The happiest folks I know aren’t the ones who hold on to everything. They are the ones who have learned what to let go and when to do things that will make life worth living.

Think about it. Are you missing something? Take a closer look at what lies ahead. Your intentions and aspirations will decide what comes next.

So, bend the curve a wee bit more, splurge some extra and guarantee yourself brighter happier moments in days to come!