“We tested this idea in poor countries where many of our participants reported having trouble meeting their basic needs,” said Dunn. “And even in these relatively impoverished areas of the world we find people are happier when they spend money on others rather than themselves.”

Given that it’s rare to find such global evidence, Dunn and Norton believe they may have found a psychologically universal human trait.

“The reward experienced from helping others may be deeply ingrained in human nature and be present in diverse cultural contexts,” said Norton.

Based on the research and findings from related work, Dunn and Norton propose five core principles:

• Buy experiences – like trips, concerts and special meals that inoculate against buyer’s remorse.
• Make it a treat – making daily habits into special indulgences increases satisfaction.
• Buy time – before making a purchase, ask yourself, “How will this change how I use my time?”.
• Pay now, consume later – paying up-front and delaying consumption maximizes the pleasure of anticipation and reduces debt.
• Invest in others – spending money on others provides a bigger happiness boost than spending on oneself.