Balance (How to Invest and Spend for Happiness, Health, and Wealth)

Stop chasing money and start redefining success

Sure, money is important. And yes, it can make you happy—but only up to a point. The truth is, science has shown that we each have a set point that links our earnings with happiness; go beyond that point, and your happiness ceases to increase with income.

In this illuminating guide to living a financially healthier, and happier, life, bestselling author and financial journalist Andrew Hallam demonstrates how you can optimize your income for maximum happiness by investing responsibly and living according to your values. You’ll find tips for using robo investors, insights for investing in socially responsible funds, and how to craft a personal budget that aligns your spending with what you hold most dear.

Drawing on behavioural science, evidence-based investing, and environmental science, he shows you how to start framing success in a way that actually brings happiness, not stress, into your life—by balancing your money, connection, health, and purpose.

Whether you’re a broke teenager, a middle-aged millionaire or someone who hopes to retire on a shoestring, we all have one thing in common: we want to enjoy our lives. That means living better and laughing more. It means caring for the environment and helping our children to succeed—while defining “success” the way we really should.