Why ordering takeout or calling the dog walker might lead to a happier relationship

Couples who spend money on time-saving services — like getting takeout, hiring a housecleaner or calling a dog walker — report greater relationship satisfaction, especially during stressful periods, says Ashley Whillans, a behavioral scientist and professor at Harvard Business School. Whillans studies the “tradeoffs people make between time and money.” Not everyone can afford to outsource bigger household chores.