What’s more important to you, time or money? Crazy question, right? But science writer Robert Roy Britt reports on numerous studies that demonstrate that, as his title declares, “time can make you happier than money.” Check out his September 2019 essay published in elemental+, a Medium blog.
Britt, “Time can make you happier than money”
- At some points in his essay, Britt frames the opposition as time vs. money; at other points, he states the opposition as one of meaning vs. money. Are these two assertions compatible? How is it that time contributes to meaningfulness but money does not? Explain Britt’s argument. Do you agree? Why or why not?
- Throughout most of the essay, Britt is reporting information—results of various studies—in a factual manner. Only in the final three paragraphs does he shift gears and end by giving advice and advocating specific courses of action. Do you think he should have stated his real purpose earlier in the essay instead of waiting until the very end? Why or why not? Explain your reasoning.
- Britt provides hyperlinks to the research studies that are his They Say, and he offers brief framinginformation about the studies. How effective is Britt’s framing? Should he have provided more information? Less? Why do you think so? Point to specific examples to support your conclusions. (You may want to read or re-read Chapter 3 of your text to help you with this question.)
- Britt presents the issue as largely an either-or matter: you either value money or you value time, one side or the other. Clearly, life is seldom this simple; it’s more likely a matter of proportions as well as circumstances and timing, since expenses that are large or unexpected (or both!) can throw off anyone’s equilibrium. What do you value and in what proportions? How willing are you to “buy time,” as Britt describes devices or services that help you gain more time for pleasurable pursuits? How much money would you need to earn each year to feel that you have “enough”? Reflect on these questions and then write an essay that describes and explains your responses; use Britt’s essay as your They Say.
They Say I Blog 
In the article, I agree that time is more important than money. Money is the root of all evil. While you busy enjoying money you lose insight into important things in life. People value material things nowadays over time and memories. That is what society has become to some. I believe in the value of time and memories. I would much rather work a regular paid job and be happy with my work than work long miserable hours at a place that I don’t enjoy just for a much higher paycheck. I want to enjoy the small memorable things in life. I want to be able to spend time with my children and grandchildren and be able to watch them grow and be a part of their lives. Time does hold more value than money but it is still important to be able to take care of bills and life necessities. More people live life alone and in misery because of money and greed. People tend to let money get in between family and friendships. The studies on this logic are correct in my eyes. But it also is different in opinions and lifestyles of each individual.
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In the article “Time can make you happier than money,” the author Robert Britt argues that time can make you happier than money. He explains how time is something money can’t buy and says that in the long-term, people that value time over money are happier. I agree with the article because I think time is more important than money when it comes to being happy. Money is good for paying bills and buying what we need, and even sometimes just being able to go out and splurge on shopping, but having a lot of it doesn’t always make people happier. What matters more is how we spend our time. When we focus on things like family, friends, and hobbies, we feel happier because those moments are things that money can’t buy. I also like the idea Robert made of spending money to save time. For example, paying someone to help with cleaning or chores can give us more time to spend with family or do things we enjoy. That feels way better than just buying more stuff that isn’t a necessity. The article also makes a good point that people often forget how important time is. A lot of people work too much trying to earn more money, but that means we have less time for the things that really make us happy, which can make us stressed and unhappy. This article is a great reminder to think about how we spend our time. Instead of always worrying about money, we should make sure we use our time for things that bring us happiness. Time is something we can’t get back, so it’s important to focus on that, rather than money.
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Many people believe that earning more money is the clearest path to happiness because money provides security, comfort, and freedom of choice. Robert Roy Britt challenges this common belief by presenting research that suggests time may contribute more to happiness than money. According to Britt, people who value time often experience more meaning in their daily lives because they can focus on relationships, personal interests, and activities they actually enjoy rather than constantly working for financial gain.
I partly agree with Britt’s argument, but I think the relationship between time and money is more complicated than an either-or choice. Time can create meaningful experiences by allowing people to connect with others and pursue personal goals. For example, spending time with family or having time for hobbies often leads to long-term satisfaction that money alone cannot provide. In this way, Britt’s claim that time contributes to meaning makes sense. However, money still plays an important role because having enough financial stability allows people to use their time more freely. Without enough income, people may experience stress that makes it difficult to enjoy free time at all.
One interesting part of Britt’s essay is how he waits until the final paragraphs to give advice. I think this choice is effective because he first builds credibility by presenting research in a factual way. By the time he shares his opinion, readers may be more open to considering his advice. At the same time, some readers might benefit from knowing earlier that the article is moving toward a clear argument about life choices. A clearer signal earlier in the essay could help readers connect the studies to his overall purpose.
In my own experience as a student, time and money often feel connected rather than separate. Students may work part-time jobs to afford school, which reduces the time available for studying or relaxing. This shows that the balance between time and money changes depending on life situations. For some people, “buying time,” such as paying for convenience services, may increase happiness, but only if their basic financial needs are already met.
Seen this way, Britt’s argument is valuable because it encourages people to think about what they truly value. Happiness may not come from choosing time instead of money, but from finding a balance where money supports a meaningful use of time rather than replacing it.
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Like Nicole, I agree that time is considerably more valuable than money. The saying “money always comes back” is mainly true, for the most part. The article makes great points when weighing out time vs. money making us happy overall. Paying for a service to enjoy spending time with those you hold dear is important. For example, let’s say you are paying to watch a movie at the theater with your family or friends. That is quality time that you’re paying for, which makes it worth the spending. To me, memories are what make people human. What are considered better memories to make than with the ones you love? The author points out that time-stress can spike anxiety and depression, making it important to recognize buying time isn’t a bad thing. If anything, spending even more time worrying about your lack of time makes no sense. Being with friends, doing an activity you love, or volunteering are all ways to use your time and feel like you did something valuable with your life, which in-turn will make you feel like you have used it wisely and have more of it. When at the end of life, looking back, most people refer to how full their life was with memories and how they spent their time throughout life. Being happy with what you have done with the time you can’t get back and feeling like it wasn’t wasted matters. It’s important to remember that money remains superficial while time remains valuable in the grand scheme of things.
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According to Robert Roy Britt, those people who put time before money will usually be happier as they are inclined to pick up relationships, activities, and even jobs that seem to be meaningful rather than pursuing a larger salary. While I am in agreement with the general idea stated by the author, I disagree that one can distinguish between money and time entirely. Money cannot bring happiness on its own; however, a lack of it can bring stress and make leisure time hard to enjoy. As for my personal attitude to the issue under discussion, it is about finding a balance and not choosing one over another.
For this stage of my life, I will rate time and money as forty percent and sixty percent respectively. Time will be considered relatively more important since I cannot get time back once it elapses. I need enough time to sleep, interact with those I care about, pursue my education and enjoy my hobbies. Having a job that pays highly, but leaves one with no time for leisure will not be of great importance to me. On the other hand, having limitless free time, but no way of meeting my basic needs through income would also not suit me.
For the sake of buying myself some time, I can do so if prices are reasonable and the time gained will be beneficial for me. I can invest some money in faster transportation, delivery of food when a week is especially busy or even a device which can make household chores easier. However, I will not invest money in every luxury. There may be cases where thinking of how to save money by spending less time on the task is reasonable.
The sum of money which can be considered sufficient for me also largely depends on my place of residence and my responsibilities. In Southern California, I think that earning something around $80,000 per year will allow me to meet all my needs, save some money and enjoy my life without stressing over each and every purchase. I do not have to be rich, but stable enough to enjoy some freedom of choices.
This is precisely Britt’s point about money being a means of making life easier and not an end in itself. The perfect solution is having enough money to protect your time, but not investing all your time into earning more money.
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I agree with Robert Roy Brit’s main argument that people who value time over money are often happier, but I also believe the article shows that this choice is much easier for some people than for others. Time can create happiness because it allows people to develop relationships, pursue hobbies, rest, volunteer, and participate in activities that give life meaning. Money is necessary for survival, but after a person’s basic needs are met, additional income may not provide the same satisfaction as having control over how one spends the day. The article supports this idea by explaining that graduates who valued time were more likely to choose careers and activities that provided “intrinsic satisfaction rather than merely seeking compensation.” This suggests that happiness is connected not only to what people possess, but also to whether their choices reflect their interests and values.
However, the article’s discussion of student debt is extremely important. Telling people simply to choose time over money can sound unrealistic when they are struggling with rent, medical costs, family responsibilities, or loans. A graduate with significant debt may need to accept a higher-paying job even if the work provides less personal meaning. In that situation, valuing money does not necessarily mean the person is materialistic. It may mean that financial security is necessary before time can actually be enjoyed. The article acknowledges this limitation when Ashley Whillans suggests that graduates with more debt might initially feel happier choosing money because they need to pay their bills.
I was also interested in the research about “buying time.” Paying someone to complete an exhausting task can create more satisfaction than buying another object because it gives a person freedom to spend those hours elsewhere. Still, this solution mainly benefits people who can afford it. For many workers, the deeper problem is not poor time management but a lack of control over work schedules and wages.
Ultimately, I agree that time is one of the most valuable resources people possess. Money can provide security and create opportunities, but it cannot replace meaningful relationships, personal freedom, or experiences. The healthiest approach may not be choosing time or money completely, but earning enough for stability while refusing to sacrifice every meaningful part of life for a larger paycheck.
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