Spending that helps you get outdoors more, makes you healthier, helps you socialize more often, or helps you exercise your mind, body, or soul in some way.

Keeping up is more often about meeting societal expectations than competing with the neighbors. As Adam Smith predicted an increasing number of things would be considered necessary that one would be ashamed to live without on account of societal expectations and social cues.

Unlike stepping out into a bright light – a situation we know will lead to our eyes adapting in a few moments – we lack the insight that hedonic pursuits will lead to adaptation.

Sometimes we purchase convenience that detracts from happiness and makes us more sedentary or robs us of opportunities for healthy living.