A new study suggests that having a positive outlook on life could be a powerful tool for building your savings, especially if you’re living on a tight budget.
Key Findings
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Optimists Save More: People who view the future positively tend to save about 17% more money than those with a pessimistic mindset.
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Biggest Benefit for Low-Income Earners: Optimism makes the most difference for people with lower incomes, helping them overcome financial stress and set aside money even when resources are scarce.
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Global and Lifelong Impact: This optimism advantage holds true across different countries and at every stage of life, making it a universal psychological resource for financial health.
What the Research Shows
Researchers from the University of Colorado Boulder and the University of New Hampshire tracked the financial habits of over 143,000 people from the US, UK, and Germany. They found that those who were optimistic about their future consistently saved more money. For example, someone with average savings of $8,000 could have an extra $1,350 if they’re optimistic; for those with $62,000 saved, optimism could mean over $10,000 more in the bank.
Lead researcher Dr. Joe Gladstone explains, “Optimism isn’t just about seeing the world through rose-colored glasses—it can actually help people save, especially when money is tight.”
Why Does Optimism Help?
Saving money requires believing that the sacrifices you make today will pay off in the future. Optimists are more likely to take this leap of faith, which motivates them to save even when it’s hard. The effect is most pronounced for people struggling financially, who often face more barriers to saving.
Does Income Matter?
Yes. The study found that optimism has the greatest impact on saving habits among people in the lowest income brackets. For high earners, optimism made less of a difference, likely because they save more automatically through things like retirement plans or mortgage payments.
Cultural Differences
The link between optimism and savings was seen in every country studied, though the strength of the connection varied. In places with strong social safety nets, optimism had a smaller effect, since people didn’t need to rely as heavily on personal savings.
Study Details
The research combined data from eight large studies, using both self-reported savings and actual bank records. While optimism was linked to higher savings in both types of data, the effect was stronger in self-reports. The researchers note that while optimism seems to encourage saving, it’s also possible that having more savings boosts optimism.
Takeaway
If you’re looking to boost your savings, cultivating a more optimistic outlook could be a surprisingly practical strategy, especially if you’re working with a limited income.