Indulge in Small Pleasures Rather Than Big Splurges
You can save money by giving up your Starbucks lattes, but little indulgences like fancy coffee drinks, pedicures and super-soft socks can make us happier than large splurges. “One reason why small frequent pleasures beat infrequent large ones is that we are less likely to adapt to the former,” according to a research paper published by Scholars at Harvard.
The research paper gives the example of going out for an after-work beer vs. buying an expensive dining table. Each time you go out for beer, the experience is slightly different, whether because you choose a different beer or the conversation is different, while the table remains the same every time you use it.
It’s often the newness of something that’s enjoyable, so once you’ve adapted to an object you no longer derive the same pleasure. That’s why small pleasures could be a better way to spend your money than making one big purchase.