What makes us happy: Free time or money

Of course, the time - money. So we have to make sacrifices and to prioritize. Earnings or freedom - what do you lean? On the choice, in fact, it depends not only your well-being.

British Columbia scientists from the University (Canada) conducted a series of experiments, which become parties to the 4600 people, and found that people who value their time, generally happier than those who do focus on earnings. Information published in the journal Social Psychological and Personality Science.

During the study, the volunteers responded to a series of leading questions from real life that psychologists were able to assess their priorities. For example, subjects were asked about how they would fly low-cost, long flight with transfers or would have paid a little more, to be faster in the destination; they would like to cut a bit of your time, and along with the salary or overtime for allowance. Another couple daily decisions: to go away for a cheap fill up with gasoline or next to the house; get $ 50 cash or use a coupon on a long-term cleaning services face value of $ 120. The choice is not always obvious, but it gives objective data.

It was found that slightly more than half of respondents value their time more and, most importantly, they are a bit happier.

Despite its scope, the study has a significant limitation. It was attended by working Americans, Canadian students and visitors to the museum "World of Science" (Vancouver). The sample does not include people living in poverty, for whom money is of great importance due to life circumstances. In this case, we found no association between the choice of participants and their gender, income and marital status: prioritization - an individual matter. The only traceable relationship lies in the fact that people aged often value their time.

So what makes people happy? Scientists do not know about it. But they suggest that in his spare time, people do things that in the long run give them a sense of satisfaction with their lives. Psychologists hope that the findings of their study will encourage people to the correct compromise between money and freedom.