What You Do With Your Money Matters More Than How Much You Have

We spend a lot of time on this show talking about how to grow, protect, and plan with your money. But today’s guest has spent most of his career asking a different question: Once you have money, can the way you spend it actually change how happy you are? Harvard Business School Professor Michael Norton’s research points to something most of us have backward—it’s not how much money you have; it’s how you use it to help and connect with the people around you. Host Jennifer Borget sits down with Norton, co-author of Happy Money: The Science of Happier Spending, to unpack why giving to others tends to outperform spending on ourselves and why the smallest habits—like buying someone else’s coffee—might matter more than the size of the gesture, plus a golden rule of spending Norton says most of us should incorporate for a happier life. Whether you’re already generous by nature or are looking for ways to live a better life in the long run, this episode might change how you prioritize your spending. **Download your free Family Finances Workbook and start building spending habits that actually make you happier TODAY:** https://www.northwesternmutual.com/podcast/ And one more thing—this episode drops during Childhood Cancer Awareness Month, and Northwestern Mutual is marking it with action. For every new follower of A Better Way to Money in September, they’ll donate $10 to Alex’s Lemonade Stand Foundation—a leader in advancing innovative childhood cancer research (up to $5,000).  This supports Northwestern Mutual’s larger commitment to accelerating the search for better treatments and cures for childhood cancer, while also supporting families and survivors living with long-term side effects. Since 2012, Northwestern Mutual has funded more than 860,000 hours of childhood cancer research and contributed more than $75 million to the cause overall. With more than 1,000 children worldwide diagnosed each day, this work is helping drive real breakthroughs to bring us closer to a cancer-free future. **Connect With Michael Norton** - Michael’s website: https://michaelnorton.com/ - Michael’s book: Happy Money: The Science of Happier Spending **Connect With Northwestern Mutual** - Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/northwesternmutual - Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/northwesternmutual/ - LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/northwestern-mutual/ - TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@northwesternmutual **Episode Page:** https://www.northwesternmutual.com/life-and-money/plan-your-spending-for-a-better-life **LinkedIn:** https://www.linkedin.com/showcase/a-better-way-to-money-podcast/