How to Buy Happiness

It's true that you can't literally buy happiness. In the words of Abraham Lincoln, "Most people are about as happy as they make up their minds to be." And he would know, because he was depressed and miserable most of the time. But money can at least provide an escape from drudgery and give you increased access to excitement and entertainment.

Instructions

Difficulty: Challenging

1. Move slowly. Don't throw yourself, and your money, into the first harebrained scheme that comes along. Spend time savoring the joys of contemplation.
2. Don't let laziness rule your buying decisions. Sitting in a beach chair while servants fawn over you may be fun for a short time, but it's not likely to provide long-term satisfaction. Look for goals and projects that combine fun and challenge.
3. Be wary of ventures where money and status are ends in themselves. A huge yacht is an obvious sign of wealth. But if it's not fun for you, it's no more capable of enhancing your well-being than a '72 Pinto.
4. Surprise people. Look for activities that will stun your friends and family. If all you've ever done is sit on the couch, do something bold like get in shape, hire a guide and climb Mount Rainier.
5. Indulge in a little eccentricity. The more money you have, the nuttier you're allowed to be. Wear your pajamas around town. Call the best restaurants in town and pay whatever it costs to get that duck a l'orange delivered to your door.
6. Look for new activities with heavy technical demands, such as photography, music dubbing, video editing, car racing or anything else that requires many hours of study and pricey equipment. You'll spend many satisfying hours shopping for supplies, learning arcane details, and talking with experts. Soon you'll feel like a member of an elite club.
7. Look for ways to include your friends and family in your new activities. You'll be happier if you can share your experiences with people close to you.
8. Avoid being pompous or superior when discussing your new acquisition or endeavor. Nothing will turn away listeners, or set you up for ridicule, more than acting as though you know everything. If you just took up sailing, for example, take joy in all the learning you can look forward to. Listen and apply yourself, and soon you'll be an expert.

What to Look For:

• Fun
• Excitement
• New learning opportunities

Tips & Warnings

• Recognize the limitations of money. Money will get you access to things. Motivation and skill are up to you.
• Don't flit from interest to interest, acquiring and discarding expensive toys as you go. This will only make you look silly without providing much satisfaction.
• Drop in on worthy causes and shower them with money (see How to Give Away Your Fortune).