Spending that makes you happy

Research tends to find the following spending brings the most happiness:

  • Getting rid of money worries — paying off debt, getting insurance etc
  • Experiences — events, travel ….
  • Changes that give you more time — hiring others to do tasks etc
  • Beautiful things — art, plants etc
  • Spending on others — charity, shouting a friend, gifts

No paywalls or ads — just generous people like you. All Kiwis deserve accurate, unbiased financial guidance. So let’s keep it free. Can you help? Every bit makes a difference.

Mary Holm, ONZM, is a freelance journalist, a seminar presenter and a bestselling author on personal finance. She is a director of Financial Services Complaints Ltd (FSCL) and a former director of the Financial Markets Authority. Her opinions are personal, and do not reflect the position of any organisation in which she holds office. Mary’s advice is of a general nature, and she is not responsible for any loss that any reader may suffer from following it. Send questions to [email protected] or click here. Letters should not exceed 200 words. We won’t publish your name. Please provide a (preferably daytime) phone number. Unfortunately, Mary cannot answer all questions, correspond directly with readers, or give financial advice.