You can buy happiness – it’s about a fiver a day
YOU do not have to be a millionaire to be happy... an extra fiver a day should do it.
While there is a strong link between happiness and how much spare cash people have, the sums involved are small.
The average person has £44 spare money a week after covering daily essentials, while the happiest have only a little more at £82 a week.
This works out at just over £5 a day difference, enough to wipe away money worries, which is one of the biggest obstacles to happiness.
It also allows people to enjoy small treats such as a trip to the theatre or local bowling alley, boosting their quality of life.
The latest SunLife Cash Happy report shows that having a lot more cash to spare does little to boost your happiness. Marketing director Ian Atkinson said couples fare better than singles: “Those living with a partner have the most cash, and are one of the happiest types of household.”
People living alone are least happy, both financially and emotionally, while empty-nesters are the happiest.
How you spend your money can also help to boost your happiness. Households with children say they were happiest when giving any spare pennies to their little ones.
Small treats such as buying newspapers, meals out and day trips also made people happier, Atkinson said.
Changing priorities mean that Britons would rather cut their weekly food shop than ditch their digital TV or mobile phone, SunLife research shows.