We used to buy a family pass to one location each year. It's usually about the cost of 2.5 visits, but we were able to explore the zoo, museum, or theme parks very thoroughly with frequent and sometimes short visits.

@@dpstitches I’m a coaster nut and riding them is like therapy for me and I have two parks close by. I’ve also recently started tracking my benefits of the passes in YNAB to see when I start breaking even. Usually 3 visits

Yeah, that's a tip I meant to mention but apparently left out of the script: One of the key insights here is that the emphasis on LITTLE is actually pretty important. Because of adaptation, a 12 oz latte is actually a substantially better bang for your buck than a grande or venti. Not only do you save money, but you're getting more happiness for your buck! - Ben M 🎨

Uh-oh, I think my Midwestern is showing 🙃 - Ben M 🤓

Go Midwest!@@YNABofficial

In the US the complaining was more about avocado toast rather than avocados by themselves.

@@CharleneCTX same thing, no? Here sandwiches you buy are more expensive than home made ones, but I haven't seen a significant difference specifically for avocado ones. Except maybe the cheapest sandwich, which tends to be "jambon - Emmental" (ham and basic hard cheese). As soon as a sandwich has any kind of salad, it's all fairly similar in price. It's more the quality of meat that makes a difference.

Good point! Elizabeth Dunn, one of the researchers in this study, has a whole chapter about that principle in her book with Michael Norton "Happy Money". - Ben M 🎨

💕💕💕 - Ben M 🤓

"So for me, it's equivalent to a gym membership." Oh my goodness, I LOVE THAT IDEA SO MUCH. 😍 - Ben M 🎨

Thank you! 😊 I like how you used comparison to your advantage. It's so easy to critique little indulgences, but I love the idea of tinkering with our regular happy spends and asking, "Hmmm... what would it look like if I did this instead?" One example for me: I bought my wife an espresso machine for Christmas. Did NOT do this as a money saving thing at all. For my wife (currently pregnant and managing a 2-year-old, bless her), making her own latte is a lot easier than running out to get one from a shop. She loves coffee shops as a place to hang with friends, but when she mostly just wants to enjoy a coffee, she actually prefers the ritual and sense of accomplishment from making it herself. The savings is totally secondary (but a welcome perk! 😉) - Ben M 🎨

🙌 - Ben M 🎨

Love it! I increasingly find way more satisfaction out of "less but better" purchases versus "more more more". Also TIL chocolate subscriptions exist 👀 - Ben M 🎨

Okay, but you have to spill the beans on this chocolate subscription 👀👀

@-hibiscus I ship it in from Cocoa Runners in the UK. Even with the extra shipping fees it is cheaper and way better quality than the American subs. I had it when I lived there and I missed it so much, couldn't find anything as good so went back to it. Some of the chocolate is experimental but you really find odd flavors to enjoy and it changes your relationship with chocolate. Plus overall I eat less junk and candy bars because this chocolate is so intense and satisfying and interesting.

"Four fancy bars last me all month." Wow. Teach me your ways. I could rule the world with that kind of self-control. 😂 🌻 Hannah

@@YNABofficial the chocolate is more intense so you need a lot less of it. Kindof like the same difference between whiskey and beer.

If you google "If money doesn't make you happy harvard study", you'll find the open access paper as the first result! - Ben M 🎨

scholar.harvard.edu/files/danielgilbert/files/if-money-doesnt-make-you-happy.nov-12-20101.pdf 😊

There's lots more like it in Elizabeth Dunn and Michael Norton's book "Happy Money: The Science of Happier Spending." Also some really interesting stuff about money in "The Myths of Happiness" by Sonja Lyubomirsky. - Ben M 🎨

Who says that? Serious question, who?

I tried to get the citation for you, but it's behind a paywall.

There's a non pay wall copy available on Harvard's open access repository. I can't post a link but found it by googling the title and it was the first result. It's by EW Dunn and dated 2011 if that helps 😎

Thank you for the helpful information!

KZfaq makes these links insufferably long, but if you google "If money doesn't make you happy harvard study", the paper should be your first result. It's free to read! - Ben M 🎨

Ben, can your comment be pinned? Would make it easier for all of the eventual duplicate questions about the link. Awesome vid and can't wait to read the study.

Done! - Ben M 🤓

Gotta stay edgy for the algorithm 😎 - Ben M 🎨

See, I don't even know how big that is. Is that big? Is that small? I DON'T KNOW. The imperial system is confusing! - Ben M 🤓

I dunno. I don't see 340 grams as particularly intuitive either. ... Now if they measured them in graham CRACKERS (0.5 ounces each), we'd be getting somewhere. So to rephrase: I want to ask who's eating 24-graham cracker cookies. I mean, isn't 12 graham crackers a monster of a cookie to begin with? 🤨​ - Ben C @@YNABofficial

Start drinking tea. Much better than bean water 😂

Whatever rocks your boat, really. Unless it's harmful to your health. In which case, moderation is a good idea. For example, I love champagne. But that doesn't mean I would drink it every day even if my budget was up to it. But tea, coffee, freshly squeezed orange juice... Sure.

Use your imagination, Lisa.

My first instinct is... buy a puppy? Technically a little treat, if you're using the right scale 😉 - Ben M 🎨