Class #2 Exercises: Happiness

Exercise #1: Make a list of all the things that give you day-to-day pleasure. Feel free to make this list as lengthy as you’d like.

 

 

 

Question #1: How many of those things can be paid for? In other words, list the ways that spending money proactively gives you pleasure.

 

 

Question #2: How many of the things that give you pleasure have nothing to do with money? How many of them have to do with your friendships, your close relationships, or physical activity? How many of them have to do with small things that you notice or care about?

 

 

 

Exercise #2: Now make a list of all the things that cause you day-to-day pain, or that cause you stress at least once per month. Again, feel free to be as descriptive you’d like, although it probably won’t be as much fun to be verbose here.

 

 

 

Question #3: How many of the things that cause you pain or stress could be relieved if you had more money, or if you were more financially stable?

 

 

 

Question #4: How many of the things that cause you pain or stress could be eliminated if you had enough money to pay someone else to take care of them? (For instance, well-off people can afford house-keepers, nannies, etc.)

 

 

 

Question #5: Think about your most recent purchases. How many of them made you as happy as you expected them to?

 

 

 

Exercise #3: Make a list of the things that you are proud of. This is your definition of pride, no one else’s. What do you have or have you done that you feel is admirable?

 

 

Question #6: How many of the things that make you proud can be measured with money or bought with money?

 

 

 

Exercise #4: Look over the lists and compare the extent to which money can relieve stress or pain, and the extent to which it can provide pride or pleasure. What do you notice?

 

 

 

Question #7: Can money buy YOU happiness? Can money buy YOU relief from unhappiness? This is not a question about someone else. This is a question about you and you only. There is no “correct” answer, although there are certainly honest and dishonest answers. Just remember, we’re asking here about you, and no one else.

 

 

 

If you’d like to talk about your answers, feel free to email spendsmartliverich@gmail.com
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