Happy People DO NOT Consume

What a Mad Men-esque quote. I never got into that show because it was, for me, too much like work. I work in marketing, not advertising, but in my day job I’m definitely an information pusher. Although not to that extreme.

Advertisers want you to think that the path to happiness is through acquiring stuff. So they show you happy people consuming, and they blur the lines between needs and wants.

So, we get the stuff, thinking we’ll be happy. But the happiness is fleeting, if it arrives at all. Then we’re on the hunt for the next big high… and the cycle begins again.

It’s bloody confusing. And depressing. But there is light at the end of the tunnel. We can consciously opt out of the cycle, and choose smarter options for seeking happiness than spending all our money on the same sunglasses as Justin Bieber.

According to Jane, the happiest people are those that are thrifty.

Now, now. Stop groaning and thinking ‘reusing teabags’ kind of thrifty. Being a cheap arse is not cool, but being smart with your money is.

Being thrifty is defined as making the most efficient use of resources. Basically, getting more bang for your buck, and making sure it’s the kind of bang that brings you the most pleasure.

Sorry.

So, instead of chasing fame, money, prestige, and the Beib’s sunglasses (which leads to depression, a loss of vitality, and some poor fashion choices), we need to go after the five keys to happiness a’la the thrifty person.

1. Connecting: making connections with people
2. Giving: giving your time/ money to others
3. Activity: choosing an activity as a reward instead of a purchase
4. Awareness: being aware of your spending
5. New skills: learning new skills as a reward instead of a purchase

Thrifty people avoid frivolous purchases, they seek experiences, they wait before they buy, they buy frequent, low cost indulgences, they rent or borrow instead of buying outright, and they pay cash.

Cheap arses eat all the leftovers off everyone's plate at a restaurant after ordering the cheapest meal on the menu, they bring a slab of beer to your BBQ and take home what's not drunk at the end of the night, and they buy crappy birthday presents (in my experience, anyway).

So go on, take the thrifty challenge! But if you find yourself debating whether or not to regift that vase your nanna gave you three years ago, take a step back, you've gone too far.