"But why? Why is it that spending our money on others—prosocial spending—makes us happier? It’s partly because giving to others makes us feel good about ourselves. It helps promote a view of ourselves as responsible and giving people, which in turn makes us feel happy. It’s also partly because spending money on others helps cement our social relationships. And people with stronger social ties are generally happier. So if prosocial spending makes us feel good, how come we tend to think personal spending will make us happier?"
Why Spending Money on Others Promotes Your Happiness — PsyBlog
