{"id":2434,"date":"2022-01-26T13:30:02","date_gmt":"2022-01-26T17:30:02","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.skypointfcu.com\/wph\/workarea\/?p=2434"},"modified":"2022-01-26T13:30:24","modified_gmt":"2022-01-26T17:30:24","slug":"how-to-get-more-joy-while-giving-to-good-causes","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.skypointfcu.com\/wph\/workarea\/blog\/how-to-get-more-joy-while-giving-to-good-causes\/","title":{"rendered":"How to Get More Joy While Giving to Good Causes"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

We may think spending money on ourselves will make us happier than spending it on someone else. That belief can make it hard to carve money out of our budgets<\/a> to give to good causes.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

But research shows that spending money on others is more likely to make us happy. This seems to be a worldwide phenomenon, and one that applies whether we have a lot of money or only a little.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cGenerosity and happiness are pretty clearly linked in the research,\u201d says Kristy Archuleta, a professor of financial planning at the University of Georgia. \u201cWhen we are generous of our time, our talents, giving to others in whatever kind of capacity we can, we tend to be happier.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Some generous acts create more positive feelings than others, however. Here\u2019s what to consider if you want to maximize your happiness while helping others.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Make it social<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Canadian social psychologist Lara Aknin says she\u2019s been interested in the emotional benefits of financial generosity since she was about 8 and daydreaming ways she could help other people.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cI remember thinking if I save $10<\/a>, I could give it to my parents and they could go out for dinner,\u201d she laughs. \u201cI clearly had no concept of money [because] I thought $10 would give them an evening out on the town.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

As a graduate student, Aknin investigated ways money could improve well-being and found that \u201cprosocial spending\u201d \u2014 spending on others \u2014 was a source of happiness. In subsequent research, Aknin \u2014 now a distinguished associate professor at Simon Fraser University in Burnaby, British Columbia \u2014 determined that giving was most rewarding when it offered a social connection. Instead of sending someone a gift card to a restaurant, for example, we\u2019ll feel happier if we take them out to dinner, Aknin says.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Volunteering can connect us with others, as can organizing or attending a fundraiser. Giving a group gift or donation is another way to up the social factor, Aknin says.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Investigate your impact<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

We also want to know that our giving matters. Being able to see or envision the change our contributions will make tends to increase our happiness, Aknin says.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

In a 2013 study led by Aknin, participants were given a choice to donate to one of two charities dedicated to improving children\u2019s health in impoverished areas: UNICEF and Spread the Net. Spread the Net offered a concrete example of a donation\u2019s impact by specifying that every $10 given would buy a lifesaving mosquito net. UNICEF did not provide such details. Participants who donated to Spread the Net felt happier after their contribution, but those who gave to UNICEF did not, researchers found.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cThe more information we have about the positive impact of our gifts, the greater the emotional rewards,\u201d Aknin says.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

This doesn\u2019t mean you shouldn\u2019t give money to UNICEF, of course. But you may get more satisfaction from your donation if you read stories about the organization\u2019s impact or peruse its annual report.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Emphasize choice<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Want to take the joy out of giving? Make it an obligation, Aknin says. For maximum happiness, people need to have a choice about whether to give, to whom and how much.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cIf people feel caught or forced or obliged, these emotional rewards sometimes disappear or can be severely dampened,\u201d she says.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

You can increase your sense of autonomy by planning your charitable giving<\/a>, says Archuleta, a certified financial therapist and co-founder of the Financial Therapy Association. Think about what you value, investigate nonprofits that support those values and consider making recurring contributions part of your budget<\/a>, she suggests.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

If you\u2019re trying to encourage your children to be charitable, consider letting them choose the cause and how much to donate. (You can offer guidelines, such as giving away a nickel, a dime or a quarter of every dollar they receive.) Find ways to demonstrate their impact: $20 might buy a flock of chickens for a family through Heifer International, for example, or feed a shelter pet for a few weeks. And encourage them to make social connections by volunteering or fundraising with friends.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cGiving in the more rewarding ways is important, not only because you feel good in the moment, but that warm glow will be one factor that encourages you to give again,\u201d Aknin says.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

This article was written by NerdWallet and was originally published by The Associated Press. <\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n

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