+
upworthy
More

76,000 bank transactions led researchers to some interesting insights on spending.

True
TD Ameritrade

A recent study found that money can, in fact, buy you happiness. Well, kind of.

There's been a lot of research lately showing that spending money on experiences or other people leads to more happiness than spending it on stuff for yourself. In other words, there may be a "right" way to spend money.

This study, titled "Money Buys Happiness When Spending Fits Our Personality," took that a step further by looking at how individual personalities factor in. Researchers examined 76,000 bank transaction records and found that "people whose purchases better match their personality report higher levels of life satisfaction."


Different things will make different people happy.

To better understand this, researchers broke down people's spending habits using the "Big Five" personality traits — extraversion, agreeableness, conscientiousness, neuroticism, and openness.

This explains why one person's dream of saving up and traveling the world might not give someone else the same satisfaction, just as donating a chunk of money to a nonprofit may float some people's boat but not others'.

Knowing where you fall could help give you a better idea of how to best spend your money. After all, a solid fit between your purchases and personality is more strongly associated with life satisfaction compared to your total income and total spending.

Check out the five breakdowns below and see which one sounds most like you.

1. Extraversion

GIF from "Beetlejuice."

What it means: You're a very outgoing and sociable person. You get excited when you're around people and can talk up a storm like it's nobody's business.

What brings you joy: Dancing in the club, large dinner gatherings with friends, joining a tour group surrounded by complete strangers.

2. Agreeableness


GIF from "The Simpsons."

What it means: You put the concerns of others before your own. You're very compassionate and cooperative, and you love to do things that benefit other people (or animals).

What brings you joy: Donating to charity, taking care of the cutest puppy ever, investing in a socially conscious business.

3. Conscientiousness

GIF from "Creed."

What it means: You're all about controlling your impulses and achieving the goals you set for yourself. You're also very organized and always pay close attention to the details.

What brings you joy: Signing up for that intensive workout program you read about, joining a free yoga class in the park, setting yourself up with a healthy meal plan.

4. Neuroticism

GIF from "Conan."

What it means: You're quite the worrier and are more prone to stress. You overreact at times and your emotions can be rather overwhelming.

What brings you joy: Cracking some self-deprecating jokes with friends, betting on NBA playoff games, clearing all your traffic fines.

5. Openness


GIF from "Up."

What it means: You're an imaginative, artistic person with a wide range of interests. You're also very adventurous, ready to explore things you haven't tried yet.

What brings you joy: Visiting a place you've never been to before, learning a new interesting skill, writing about something you're passionate about.

But don't forget: To actually spend your money, you still need to be smart about it.

GIF from "Parks and Recreation."

There's not that much room for happiness if you splurge your supply in one go. You still need to budget, save, and spend wisely.

Just think of this as a handy little cheat sheet. A simple guide to help you figure out the kinds of purchases that'll bring you the most joy.

One of the authors of the study, Sandra Matz, told the Association for Psychological Science, "By developing a more nuanced understanding of the links between spending and happiness, we hope to be able to provide more personalized advice on how to find happiness through the little consumption choices we make every day."

And that should make everyone happy.

All images provided by Prudential Emerging Visionaries

Collins after being selected by Prudential Emerging Visionaries

True

A changemaker is anyone who takes creative action to solve an ongoing problem—be it in one’s own community or throughout the world.

And when it comes to creating positive change, enthusiasm and a fresh perspective can hold just as much power as years of experience. That’s why, every year, Prudential Emerging Visionaries celebrates young people for their innovative solutions to financial and societal challenges in their communities.

This national program awards 25 young leaders (ages 14-18) up to $15,000 to devote to their passion projects. Additionally, winners receive a trip to Prudential’s headquarters in Newark, New Jersey, where they receive coaching, skills development, and networking opportunities with mentors to help take their innovative solutions to the next level.

For 18-year-old Sydnie Collins, one of the 2023 winners, this meant being able to take her podcast, “Perfect Timing,” to the next level.

Since 2020, the Maryland-based teen has provided a safe platform that promotes youth positivity by giving young people the space to celebrate their achievements and combat mental health stigmas. The idea came during the height of Covid-19, when Collins recalled social media “becoming a dark space flooded with news,” which greatly affected her own anxiety and depression.

Knowing that she couldn’t be the only one feeling this way, “Perfect Timing” seemed like a valuable way to give back to her community. Over the course of 109 episodes, Collins has interviewed a wide range of guests—from other young influencers to celebrities, from innovators to nonprofit leaders—all to remind Gen Z that “their dreams are tangible.”

That mission statement has since evolved beyond creating inspiring content and has expanded to hosting events and speaking publicly at summits and workshops. One of Collins’ favorite moments so far has been raising $7,000 to take 200 underserved girls to see “The Little Mermaid” on its opening weekend, to “let them know they are enough” and that there’s an “older sister” in their corner.

Of course, as with most new projects, funding for “Perfect Timing” has come entirely out of Collins’ pocket. Thankfully, the funding she earned from being selected as a Prudential Emerging Visionary is going toward upgraded recording equipment, the support of expert producers, and skill-building classes to help her become a better host and public speaker. She’ll even be able to lease an office space that allows for a live audience.

Plus, after meeting with the 24 other Prudential Emerging Visionaries and her Prudential employee coach, who is helping her develop specific action steps to connect with her target audience, Collins has more confidence in a “grander path” for her work.

“I learned that my network could extend to multiple spaces beyond my realm of podcasting and journalism when industry leaders are willing to share their expertise, time, and financial support,” she told Upworthy. “It only takes one person to change, and two people to expand that change.”

Prudential Emerging Visionaries is currently seeking applicants for 2024. Winners may receive up to $15,000 in awards and an all-expenses-paid trip to Prudential’s headquarters with a parent or guardian, as well as ongoing coaching and skills development to grow their projects.

If you or someone you know between the ages of 14 -18 not only displays a bold vision for the future but is taking action to bring that vision to life, click here to learn more. Applications are due by Nov. 2, 2023.
Health

Artists got fed up with these 'anti-homeless spikes.' So they made them a bit more ... comfy.

"Our moral compass is skewed if we think things like this are acceptable."

Photo courtesy of CC BY-ND, Immo Klink and Marco Godoy

Spikes line the concrete to prevent sleeping.


These are called "anti-homeless spikes." They're about as friendly as they sound.

As you may have guessed, they're intended to deter people who are homeless from sitting or sleeping on that concrete step. And yeah, they're pretty awful.

The spikes are a prime example of how cities design spaces to keep homeless people away.

Keep ReadingShow less
Image from YouTube video.

An emotional and strong Matt Diaz.


Matt Diaz has worked extremely hard to lose 270 pounds over the past six years.

But his proudest moment came in March 2015 when he decided to film himself with his shirt off to prove an important point about body positivity and self-love.

Keep ReadingShow less
@davidcsmalley/TikTok

But can she start it?

David C. Smalley, a comedian and podcaster, regularly gives us some generational humor by exposing his 19-year-old daughter Talissa to relics of the past. You know, things like CDs, phonebooks, remote controllers…feeling old yet?

Recently, Smalley challenged Talissa with navigating a standard U-Haul storage truck. She had to 1) unlock the door 2) roll down a window and 3) start the engine.

For those of us who grew up before the 90s, this might sound like the easiest challenge ever. But apparently, for Gen Z, it’s like being asked to maneuver a horse and buggy.
Keep ReadingShow less
Joy

Drive-thru worker at Chick-fil-A rescues customer's daughter from choking on a coin

The mom was franticly screaming for help before the worker ran over and pulled the girl out of the car.

Drive thru worker rescues choking little girl

Every parent has made that split decision to grab a quick lunch or dinner by pulling into the nearest drive-thru. You're going through your mental check list of all the tasks you have left to complete when you realize it's been a few hours since you've fed your tiny human. So instead of switching stations in your brain to mentally flip through what's in your cabinets, you pull into a fast food place and call it dinner.

Most people aren't expecting a life changing experience while in the drive-thru but for one mom, it was. Liliana Leahy pulled into the Chick-fil-A drive-thru to grab lunch when her daughter started to choke. Leahy explained that she panicked when her daughter struggled to breathe and was unable to communicate what was wrong. The mom began began screaming.

"So I started like screaming, like hey help me. Somebody help me. My daughter is choking. Just panic," Leahy tells 11Alive.

Keep ReadingShow less
Family

15 healthiest dog foods

Invigorate your journey to optimal health with these wellness-enhancing colostrum supplements.

Editor's Note: Upworthy earns a percentage of revenue from items purchased on this list.


In the quest for optimal canine well-being, selecting the right nourishment is paramount. With the pet food market expanding rapidly, it's crucial to make informed choices. Astonishingly, around 56% of dogs in the United States are overweight or obese, underscoring the significance of a wholesome diet. Furthermore, considering that pet owners spend approximately $31 billion on dog food annually, the stakes are high for both our four-legged companions' health and our wallets. In this article, we unveil a comprehensive guide to the 15 healthiest dog foods, equipping you with the knowledge to prioritize your dog's vitality and longevity.

15 healthies dog foods

  1. Pupper Fuel Dog Fuel
  2. Sundays Air Dried Food for Dogs
  3. Fruits N Beggies Superfood Meal Topper
  4. Badlands Ranch Superfood Complete Premium Air Dried Dog Food
  5. Instinct Raw Boost Skin & Coat Health Grain - Free Recipe
  6. Red Barn Whole Grain Land Recipe Dog Food
  7. NOW Foods, Colostrum Powder
  8. Dr. Marty Nature’s Blend Essential Wellness Freeze Dried Raw Dog Food
  9. Stella & Chewy’s Superblends Raw Blend
  10. EasyRaw Grass Fed Dehydrated Dog Food
  11. Kibble of the Sea Dog Food
  12. PetKind Dog Food
  13. Zignature Salmon Limited Ingredient Formula Dry Food
  14. ACANA Limited Ingredient Diet Grain Free Dry Dog Food
  15. Grandma Lucy’s Freeze Dried Dog Food
Keep ReadingShow less
Pop Culture

A-ha's stripped-down, slowed-down performance of 'Take On Me' is a must-see

The slower tempo and simple instrumentation creates a sadder, more haunting version of the 80s monster hit.

A-ha performing live for MTV Unplugged Summer Solstice

According to NPR—and the ABBA blaring from my young adult daughter's headphones—we're in the midst of an 80s music revival. As a Gen Xer who came of age in the 80s, I think most of that decade should stay locked in a time capsule, but there are a few songs that have managed to remain timeless despite the synthesizers and bad hair.

A-ha's "Take On Me" is one of them. Despite its consummately-80s sound, the song with the famous sketch animated video is still enjoyable (if not a little earwormy—good luck once it gets stuck in your head).

But a lesser-known 2017 arrangement of the song is actually, miraculusly, even better. A-ha performed "Take On Me" for an MTV Unplugged Summer Solstice album, and it's significantly different than the original. The Norwegian band filmed the performance live on the island of Giske, dropping the electric piano as well as the tempo for a stripped-down version that has become a fan favorite. As of this writing, the video has 97 million views on YouTube.

Keep ReadingShow less