‘I wouldn’t start from here’—money and happiness

Chris Budd

Chapter 7 in Research Handbook on Personal Finance, 2026, pp 107-123 from Edward Elgar Publishing

Abstract: This chapter presents a practical perspective on the role of personal financial planning in happiness. It is typical to start personal finance discussions with goals. This chapter illustrates, through anecdotes and global research, that it is imperative to start by gaining clarity on where happiness comes from for individuals, then applying that knowledge to create happiness, and finally returning to where most people start—by creating a financial plan. This shifts the focus to the accumulation of wellbeing first. Most financial plans start with the assumption that financial security is the objective. The chapter concludes with a focus on how kindness is a common element of happiness for all.

Keywords: Happiness; Financial goals; Financial wellbeing; Kindness; Financial planning; Evolution (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2026
ISBN: 9781035323005
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