• Home
  • Start Here
  • Blog
  • Deals
  • Stats
  • Insiders

Solo Traveler

Solo travel tips, destinations, stories... the source for those who travel alone.

Sign Up

You are here: Home / How to Travel Alone / A Solo Point of View / Money, Solo Travel, and Happiness

Money, Solo Travel, and Happiness

October 9, 2013 by Janice Waugh

photo, image, Anand Prakash ashram, money and happiness

My stay at Anand Prakash ashram was an experience that I will never forget (and one I'd like to repeat.)

Can money buy happiness?

Traditional theory and popular music says no. But a recent study suggests the opposite. According to the authors' analysis, I would say that solo travelers are in a great position to make their money – happiness relationship a positive one.

Have a read…

Table of Contents

  • First, Happiness Theory Simplified – Then How It Applies to Solo Travel
  • Choices and Solo Travel – Before You Leave
  • Choices and Solo Travel – On the Road

First, Happiness Theory Simplified – Then How It Applies to Solo Travel

Happy Money, money and happiness

Money, it can buy happiness if you spend it right.

Let's start with a quick synopsis on the money and happiness issue. As with most research, the results are affected by the questions asked. In the case of money and happiness, the questions researchers have typically asked were about things and how the human brain adjusts quickly to their enjoyment. That research reveals that the “new” thing, though really exciting at first, can quickly become ho-hum.

Recent studies look at money and happiness quite differently. They look at spending money in ways that the brain won’t adapt to or take for granted easily. According to an article in US News and an interview of the authors of Happy Money (which you can see at the end of this post), the key is to buy experiences instead of things and spend it on others in addition to spending it on yourself.

Choices and Solo Travel – Before You Leave

Happiness by Will Ferguson, money and happiness

I read this novel about happiness on one of my first solo trips. It had me laughing out loud yet it makes very good points about happiness.

A number of the principles outlined in Happy Money apply to solo travel planning.

Buy experiences rather than things. The authors of Happy Money, cite travel specifically when they suggest buying experiences rather than things. I would add that solo travel takes the value even farther. I experience great happiness when I successfully meet a challenge on my own. Whether it's negotiating a new transit system (read Age Brilliantly: never mind the gap) or meeting a physical challenge I have not undertaken before (read Falling in Love in The Lake District) I have found great happiness from these experiences – happiness that is injected into other parts of my life as I live with greater confidence.

Be spontaneous. The brain loves surprises. Surprises make one happy! As a solo traveler, you have more opportunities to be spontaneous than most. Take advantage of that and, without any preparation or planning, at the very last minute, go somewhere for the pure joy of it. Skyscanner has a function within its flight booking engine that allows you to put in “anywhere” rather than a specific destination. When you do, it produces all the possible destinations from your airport in order from least expensive to most expensive. Surprise yourself with a low-cost mystery trip.

Enjoy the anticipation. In the interview, the authors describe the excitement of a child before Christmas and the denouement after the gifts are opened. The point: there is often as much if not more happiness in the anticipation of a trip as there is in the traveling. So, go ahead, dream, research, do whatever builds anticipation for you.

Pay now, travel later. Credit cards are tools. They are not money. So while you may pay for your trip on a credit card, pay off the card before you leave. This approach to money not only relieves painful money woes after a trip (which often negates some of its joy) but also makes the anticipation of the trip that much sweeter.

Choices and Solo Travel – On the Road

And here are some of their principles that apply to solo travel as you are actually traveling.

Make it a treat. Regardless of your budget (whether you have lots to spend or very little) it's worth treating yourself. Buy yourself an unnecessary gelato.  Splurge on a fine restaurant. As long as it is out of the norm and considered a treat by you, you will gain more happiness from the expense.

Buy time.  There are times when my splurge is a taxi. Upon arriving in a new city, I may take a taxi to simplify life and to make better use my time. This leaves more time for the fun side of travel.

Share your wealth. The research also points out that happiness comes from sharing your good fortune. Whether it's volunteering or giving generously to the people who clean your room, you will gain happiness by sharing.

So that's it. Happiness is not about how much money you have but how you spend it. And solo travelers, by our nature, can get more happiness from our travel expenditures than most.

 

Last updated: 16th March, 2019

The Insiders

Our Solo Travel Course

Top Categories on Solo Traveler

Solo Female Travel

Road Trips

A Solo Point of View

All Articles

Destinations

Travel Money

Deals

Insiders on Patreon

Trips for Solo Travelers

Follow Us…

A Proud Member of…

Member of the Society of American Travel Writers

RESULTS MAY VARY (The disclaimer.)

The content of Solo Traveler and any resources published by Solo Traveler are meant for entertainment and inspiration only. Please note that while we have advertising clients promoting destinations, products, services, trips and tours on Solo Traveler and that we endeavour to only work with companies in which we have confidence, we are not responsible for the delivery or quality of their products or services. Every person and every travel situation is different. Your safety, satisfaction and fun traveling solo are your responsibility alone and not that of Solo Traveler, its publisher, editor and/or writers. Please see our Privacy Policy here.

Contact Us

Publisher Janice: info @ solotravelerworld.com

Editor Tracey: tracey @ solotravelerworld.com

Sales Simon: simon @ solotravelerworld.com

Get Solo Travel News & Deals

  • Home
  • About
  • Advertise
  • Deals
  • Solo Travel Statistics
  • Media & Speaking
  • Privacy Policy & Disclosure
  • Contact
RESULTS MAY VARY (THE DISCLAIMER)

The content of Solo Traveler and any resources published by Solo Traveler are meant for entertainment and inspiration only. Please note that while we have advertising clients promoting destinations, products, services, trips and tours on Solo Traveler and that we endeavour to only work with companies in which we have confidence, we are not responsible for the delivery or quality of their products or services. Every person and every travel situation is different. Your safety, satisfaction and fun traveling solo are your responsibility alone and not that of Solo Traveler, its publisher, editor and/or writers.

PRIVACY POLICY & DISCLOSURE: In accordance with FTC guidelines, I disclose that I may be compensated if consumers choose to utilize links located throughout the content on this site. Additionally, some posts might be sponsored to support this site. Please do the appropriate research before participating in any third party offers. All opinions are my own. Please read our full Privacy Policy here.

Copyright © 2021 · Solo Traveler · Site By RTW Labs