Maybe the reason that money doesn’t make us happy is that we’re always spending it on the wrong things, and in particular, that we’re always spending it on ourselves.
If you think money can’t buy happiness, you’re not spending it right. The implication is not, you should buy this product instead of that product and that’s the way to make yourself happier. It is, in fact, that you should stop thinking about which product to buy for yourself and try giving some of it to other people instead.
Think less about, ‘How can I spend money on myself?’ and more about, ‘If I’ve got five dollars or 15 dollars, what can I do to benefit other people?’ Because ultimately, when you do that, you’ll find that you’ll benefit yourself much more.
Michael Norton talking about how to buy happiness