Money Actually Can Buy Happiness If You Spend It Like This...

Mo’ money, mo’ problems, right? Actually, researchers have discovered having excess cash to splash does make you happy—but only if you use it to benefit other people.

In a recent study, a team from the University of Zurich set out to examine the link between generosity and happiness in humans. They divided 50 participants into two groups and gave them an imaginary sum to spend. The first group, given 25 Swiss francs, were told to spend their money on gifts and experiences for other people. The second, who also had 25 Swiss francs, were instructed to spend it on stuff for themselves. The participants rated their happiness levels using a scale before and after the spending spree, and group one—the generous spenders—rated themselves as significantly happier than group two—the selfish spenders.

Next, participants had an MRI scan while they planned what to buy for a specific person of their choosing. Even when the gifts involved out-of-pocket expenses for the participant, the parts of their brain associated with generosity (temporo-parietal junction) and happiness (the ventral striatum) were much more active than normal.

Psychologists have previously theorized that, considering generosity doesn’t make logical sense from an evolutionary or economic perspective, our tendency towards unrewarded giving—like leaving a generous tip for a waiter at a restaurant we’ll probably never visit again—is a form of social cooperation. Gifting other people reinforces social relationships that might prove important at some unforeseeable time in the future.

It all sounds depressingly calculated and selfish, right? Well the results of this study suggest generosity isn’t necessarily a case of preempted reciprocity; spoiling other people produces a measurable, positive psychological response in each of us. Making them feel good makes us feels good in turn, and doesn’t that fact reinstate your faith in humanity?

Since you are here, we would like to share our vision for the future of travel - and the direction Culture Trip is moving in.

Culture Trip launched in 2011 with a simple yet passionate mission: to inspire people to go beyond their boundaries and experience what makes a place, its people and its culture special and meaningful — and this is still in our DNA today. We are proud that, for more than a decade, millions like you have trusted our award-winning recommendations by people who deeply understand what makes certain places and communities so special.

Increasingly we believe the world needs more meaningful, real-life connections between curious travellers keen to explore the world in a more responsible way. That is why we have intensively curated a collection of premium small-group trips as an invitation to meet and connect with new, like-minded people for once-in-a-lifetime experiences in three categories: Culture Trips, Rail Trips and Private Trips. Our Trips are suitable for both solo travelers, couples and friends who want to explore the world together.

Culture Trips are deeply immersive 5 to 16 days itineraries, that combine authentic local experiences, exciting activities and 4-5* accommodation to look forward to at the end of each day. Our Rail Trips are our most planet-friendly itineraries that invite you to take the scenic route, relax whilst getting under the skin of a destination. Our Private Trips are fully tailored itineraries, curated by our Travel Experts specifically for you, your friends or your family.

We know that many of you worry about the environmental impact of travel and are looking for ways of expanding horizons in ways that do minimal harm - and may even bring benefits. We are committed to go as far as possible in curating our trips with care for the planet. That is why all of our trips are flightless in destination, fully carbon offset - and we have ambitious plans to be net zero in the very near future.