Why? The researchers didn’t speculate on the reasons why people who consume less are generally happier – but the research proves that there is a correlation between spending and buying less and higher levels of wellbeing.

“Typically, as people grow wealthier, they tend to upscale their material living standards, thus consuming more and emitting more climate-damaging gases,” said Gibran Vita, the co-first author of the study, told Norwegian SciTech News. “But members of climate initiatives keep their spending low key even if their incomes increase. And consuming less didn’t seem to take a toll on their joy.”

“It’s also something to think about with the upcoming the holiday season,” Diana Ivanova, the other co-first author, added. “The holiday season often encourages overconsumption, materialism and a work-and-spend cycle with negative consequences for environmental and human wellbeing.

Sustainable living: buying less can make you feel happier, according to new research