*Spittle* *drool*
I’m sorry, my mouth was ajar. Could it really be this simple?
Down in the dumps? Hocus mofo pocus. Just reach into your wallet and count your money for an instant pick-me-up.
Huh. I’ve heard stupider things before. Maybe I’m overestimating our immunity to The Green.
I’m also no psychologist. Or a banker. Or a circus clown.
But yes, those wonderful wizards over at Time.com (may they forever write useful fluff articles that allow lazy bloggers like myself to avoid coming up with original ideas) have relayed to us the science of counting money to increase your happiness. Studies have been done that show that counting money can not only decrease anxiety and distress, but actually alleviate physical pain.
They end the article with (hopefully humorous) suggestions of counting money before going to a job interview, or going into a bar to pick up chicks.
Stunning.
Well, since I’m totally that type of insecure person who needs an occasional spirit booster, I’m planning on writing an iPhone app that continually flashes pics of high denomination bills being folded into a photo of my bulging wallet.
Oh wait. I don’t have an iPhone.
Pbbbbttt.
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July 29th, 2009 at 5:36 pm
My guess is that this is more effective in economic hard times when money lends a greater sense of security to people. If this study were done 5 years ago, the results may be different.
Of course, humans are comforted by representations of things. Transitional objects (teddy bears, security blankets) provide comfort much as a real person does. Money is just a a representation of security and power. Just as sleeping with a teddy bear gives a child comfort even though it’s an inanimate object, counting money may give an adult who is worried about the future comfort even though the cash itself doesn’t ensure a secure future.
July 30th, 2009 at 3:22 pm
What a funny article. I have to agree, though. Well, sort of. If I reach in my wallet and count my money, I will be more depressed (given that I only have like, 2 dollars in there). So when I need financial reassurance, I pick up my savings envelop and count that money. It’s not a huge amount, but it’s enough to make me feel like I’m going to be okay.
I never used to do this before the eek-conomy though.
October 1st, 2009 at 6:58 pm
I don’t physically count my cash, since I never carry it, so I guess the equivalent would be checking my back account online upwards of 5 times a day?
Love this site, by the way.