300 ways to find happiness on a budget

Appealing to all five senses will make you happy! Yes it will! Recently someone asked me what makes me happy. I quickly rattled off a list of things in my life, which make me happy including time with my hubby and kids, writing, reading, playing guitar, a fantastic meal, cooking, working on a project, a sunset, Russian fudge, a glass of wine, an amazing run along the beach and a bike ride with the wind in my hair. I realised there are so many things in life that make me happy and that happiness is much to do with being grateful and appreciating all the little things in life that can make one happy.

But everyone’s version of happiness is different. Money makes a lot of people happy. Some people find happiness in buying a BMW and driving it around a rich neighbourhood. Other people enjoy the pleasure of living in a mansion where the drawers in the kitchen glide open with ease. I admit, that a kitchen like this would make me happy! But for now I’m happy with my little renovation challenge at home because it presents us with such a challenge both in time and money! I do admit that having more money would make most people happy!

Academics define happiness in a variety of ways. Scientists might say there are mix of factors, which might combine a persons biological and psychological state. While the arty and philosophical types might see happiness as flourishing in a good life through working on the higher senses. There are plenty of theories out there, all of which would hold some ground.

After reading a lot of these theories I got thinking about the five senses, and how we move through the day. We use our five senses to feel, hear, see, smell and taste daily. If I cuddle my daughter I rub my hand through her beautiful hair. This makes me happy. When I’m driving to work I turn a great song up extra loud and sing to it. This makes me happy. On the way home from work I might see a beautiful sunset at the beach. This invokes the emotion of happiness in me. Finally, when I smell a roast cooking in my oven, this makes me happy.

Once I started thinking of happiness in terms of the five senses, I decided to put together a long list of the kinds of things we feel, hear, see, smell and taste daily which can envoke feelings of happiness. I felt that there are too many theories out there that seem impractical in there application.

So this is my big list of 300 ways to find happiness! Keep this list handy and add to it using the Happiness Printables in the Savings Room. Create your own list of what makes you happy and refer to it daily to be more grateful and appreciate life more. Take photos of what makes you happy and post them on Facebook. Over time you will have a wonderful collection of what makes you happy according to the five senses. Be sure to check out my Pinterest Board on what makes me happy! Whether you love a bubble bath, a baby’s giggle, a rainbow, the smell of vanilla or tasting blue cheese, you will find inspiration here!

Keep this list handy if want to appreciate life more and be grateful. Add your own items to this list to personalise it. We have a sheet in PRINTABLES you can use to document times when you feel happy.