Want to Be Happier? Hire a Housekeeper Instead of Buying Gadgets

How should you spend your money to boost your happiness? A new study from the University of British Columbia and the Harvard Business School has the answer. No, the latest gadget won't truly make you happy in the long run, and even replacing all your furniture isn't the solution. If you want to make a significant impact on your well-being, use your money to buy yourself more free time.

"People who hire a housekeeper or pay the neighbor's kid to mow the lawn might feel lazy," says lead researcher Professor Ashley Whillans. "But our study's findings prove that purchasing time significantly enhances personal happiness levels."

The researchers surveyed over six thousand individuals in the United States, Denmark, Canada, and the Netherlands. Participants were asked if, and to what extent, they used money to buy themselves more free time. They also rated their life satisfaction and answered questions regarding stress and pressure.

The result: Participants who spent money to save time reported greater life satisfaction. This effect was evident even after accounting for income changes.

"The benefit of buying leisure isn't exclusive to wealthy individuals," stated researcher Elizabeth Dunn. "We assumed the effect would be significant only for people with some extra money, but to our surprise, it was true across all income levels."

To verify whether purchasing time really leads to greater happiness, the researchers conducted a field experiment: sixty adults were asked to spend forty dollars one weekend on buying time and forty dollars another weekend on material purchases. The results showed that people were happier when they invested in time savings rather than material items.

Despite these benefits, researchers were surprised to find how few people choose to spend money on time-saving purchases. Even in a sample of 850 millionaires who participated in the study, about half reported spending no money on outsourcing tasks they dislike.

"Although buying time can serve as a buffer against the pressures of daily life, few people do this even if they can afford it," says Dunn. "A vast amount of research shows that people benefit from purchasing enjoyable experiences like a desired trip, but our study proves that people should also consider buying an escape from unpleasant experiences."