Here’s a new way to make fun of misers. People who feel more loved and accepted by others place a lower value on their physical possessions, according to a new study published in the Journal of Experimental Social Psychology.

Researchers found that people who reported feeling less secure would place a value on specific objects, like a pen or a blanket, at five times the level of placed by those who felt more loved and secure.

So no need to feel jealous about those who have a bunch of stuff and greedily hoard it, counting their gold over and over. Inside, they’re the impoverished ones.

The More Secure You Feel, the Less You Value Your Stuff [Science Daily]

Want more consumer news? Visit our parent organization, Consumer Reports, for the latest on scams, recalls, and other consumer issues.