Summary Of Yes Money Can Make You Happiness

People often think money cannot grant you access to the perception of happiness. According to happiness researchers Elizabeth Dunn and Michael Norton money can be very influential to people's happiness (Cass R. Sunstein, 549). In itself money can not provide them with happiness, but money presents them with endless opportunities to experience happiness. Money provides an outlet out of their monotonous everyday lives. The American work ethic has traditionally been the catalyst for American success and happiness. Many, however believe that happiness can be acquired through monetary success. Happiness must first be fully understood before it can be talked about and how one can achieve it. The majority of researchers define happiness as “subjective
Sunstein talks about another concept developed by Dunn and Norton in her essay “Yes, Money Can Make You Happy”. Dunn and Norton refer to it as “buying time”. People's sadness is thought to be found in their large disappointments in life, but in actuality it is in the everyday errands and annoyances they have to partake in. Sunstein suggests that instead of wasting time looking for better gas prices or sales, they should use their money to save time. Commuting to work everyday can be a hassle, so instead of driving everywhere she suggests riding the train. That way they can socialize with other people on the train instead of just sitting in their car alone. Being social can boost your happiness and has a “positive effect on your well being” (Sunstein,
Doing this is another way to boost someone's happiness. Today everyone's uses credit cards so they can have instant gratification instead of having to wait around for whatever they want. It's actually better to wait though, people feel better once they get something after they have waited a period of time for it. The french call it se réjouir which translates to be delighted in english. Sunstein believes that a big part of why people become happy during the period before something happens is because they can picture it the best way possible. That is why their is a satisfying feeling when someone saves money for something they want to get in the future. Another way to look at delaying gratification is that if they always use their credit card to pay right now they will eventually be consumed by debt. Sunstein says “...debts create a psychological burden. That burden is corrosive, and it can have a serious adverse effect on happiness.”( 553). Looking forward to something in the future can have a positive effect on a person's well being while also boosting their