I’m a research analyst by training. I love research insights.

Particularly research insights that tell us how to live a better life. And most particularly around money, since money is women’s #1 source of stress. And also because, you know, Ellevest.

That’s why I perked up when I saw some research in Harvard Business Review that says savings are more important than earnings for happiness.

This backs up Ellevest’s own research, which says that the act of saving and investing is the #1 driver of women’s confidence in our financial future.

So saving and investing takes money and turns it from women’s #1 source of stress to women’s #1 driver of confidence.

(For those of you knee-deep in remote kindergarten, yes, that’s the equivalent of “taking that frown and turning it upside-down.”)

Earning more is glittering. It’s the thrill of the raise. It’s playing offense. It’s telling the story of “how I did it” over a socially distanced glass of wine. It’s high fives all around. Give “earning more” a personality test and it would definitely be an extrovert.

Saving more and investing more is “earning more’s” quieter younger sister. It feels more like playing defense. There’s not such a dramatic story to tell over that glass of wine. It’ll never be a best-selling book and glamorous book tour. It’s the introvert of the family.

But still waters run deep. Saving more can make you happier.

Hey, it’s just science.

Disclosures