钱不是万能，可是最新研究指出金钱可买到快乐，或者最少可花钱换取更多空间或时间而带来快乐。这项研究是由英属哥伦比亚大学（University of British Columbia）和哈佛商学院（Harvard Business School）的研究人员合作进行，研究结果发现，用钱买时间例如付钱请人打扫家居、煮食等等，都可以为生活带来更高的满意度。

New research is challenging the age-old adage that money can’t buy happiness.

这项新研究对“金钱不能买到快乐”的古老格言作出了挑战。

“People who hire a housecleaner or pay the kid next door to mow the lawn might feel like they’re being lazy. But our results suggest that buying time has similar benefits for happiness as having more money.”

有些人付钱请人清理家居或付钱给邻家的孩子剪草，可能会被视为懒惰，但我们的研究结果显示，花钱买时间和拥有更多财富与幸福有类似的好处。

Respondents were asked if and how much they spent each month to buy themselves free time. They also rated their life satisfaction, and answered questions about feelings of time stress.

受访者被问及每个月花多少钱为自己买空闲时间。他们也评价了自己的生活满意度，并回答有关时间压力感的问题。

Respondents who spent money on time saving purchases reported greater life satisfaction, the effect of which held up even after controlling for income.

花钱买时间的受访者表示拥有更高的生活满意度，甚至在控制收入后也会持续有影响。

Sixty adults were randomly assigned to spend $40 on a time saving purchase on one weekend, and $40 on a material purchase on another weekend. The results revealed that people felt happier when they spent money on a time saving purchase than on a material purchase.

60名成人被随机分配在一个周末花费40加元（约134令吉）买时间，以及在另一个周末花费40加元购物。结果显示，大部分人花钱买时间比花钱购物更开心。

“Although buying time can serve as a buffer against the time pressures of daily life, few people are doing it even when they can afford it.”

虽然花钱买时间可以缓冲日常生活的时间压力，但即使负担得起，也很少有人这么做。