How to Have More "Happy" Than "Unhappy" Spend

We often hear ‘money can’t buy happiness’, but being aware of how we spend our money can have a significant impact on our happiness, motivation, and self-worth.

This is because having a significant amount of “unhappy spend”, will make us (you guessed it) unhappy. That sick feeling you get when you know you should check your bank statements could be a sign that you aren’t proud of the decisions you’ve made. Taking a closer look, while initially uncomfortable, can help you identify things that either make you unhappy or just plain don’t recognize.

What is “unhappy spend” vs. “happy spend”?

Good personal finance habits doesn’t mean giving up on your personal wellbeing and happiness. Start by thinking about transactions that make you actually happy.  If you love Starbucks, then you shouldn’t say “no” to your daily coffee trip; find areas of your budget that you don’t absolutely love, like maybe going out to eat often.

👍 Happy spend includes:

• Things you feel are necessary
• Moments that brought you lasting joy and memories (like a planned trip)
• Purchases you saved and budgeted for

👎 Unhappy spend includes:

• Transactions you don’t recognize
• Impulse purchases you’re anxious about and not sure you can afford
• Items that didn’t fit your lifestyle or you don’t use (like clothes that don’t fit)

When it comes to budgeting, starting with classifying all transactions as “happy” or “unhappy” can lead to better habits over time.

How do I turn “unhappy spend” into “happy spend”?

If you’re running low at the end of the month, or you’ve spent more than you earn in a month, then it might be worth looking into your spending patterns to see where you could potentially save money in the following month.

🚩 What are the red flags when it comes to bad spending habits?

1. You don’t know where your money goes.
2. Shopping at sales is a must for you.
3. Impulse buys make you overspend.
4. You believe you’re just bad at saving by default.

The key is to know where you’re spending your money, whether it’s on food, drinks, entertainment, or clothing. Once you know that, you can identify areas where you can save. For example, if you’re spending a lot on a gym membership and not going, it might be cheaper to buy basic equipment and work out at home instead. Or if you’re purchasing a bunch of things on Amazon you don’t end up using or don’t 100% work - return it! Amazon usually has a very easy return and credit policy.

When you buy new products or services, make sure you know what customer protections are available to you - if you’re buying a pair of new Nikes, they actually come with a 2-year warranty; if you’re buying a new Mac, you can try it out for 14 days and return it if you don’t like (even if you’ve used it during this time!). On top of that, if you pay with your card, you’re eligible for chargeback in case something goes wrong!

Why would I double check all my transactions from the past month?

Another reason to keep track of your spending is avoiding duplicate charges from merchants, or higher charges than you expect followed by an initial authorization e.g. from a hotel or a car rental. In that scenario, you can get in touch with the merchant directly and ask for a refund, or, if unsuccessful, you are still able to get help from your bank.

Keeping track of your spending is the first step towards taking charge of your personal finances, but will also help you save lots of money in the long term. Starting your budget by identifying “happy” and “unhappy” expenses can be the key to making budgeting less soul-sucking and restrictive.