Money really can buy happiness

Forget the adage: Money really can buy happiness--you just have to spend it in the right places.


Recent research has shown that spending your discretionary income on life experiences--whether climbing Mt. Kilimanjaro or taking salsa lessons--yields greater happiness than buying material possessions. Now, a new report published in the Journal of Personality and Social Psychology concludes that the key is to bring others along for the ride when you drop that loot.

"If you take our research seriously, then it doesn't matter what the activity is," says study author Harry Reis, PhD, a professor of psychology at the University of Rochester. "As long as you're doing it with someone else." Indeed, Reis and his colleagues initially set out to prove that material possessions "tend to be more solitary in nature." And after four separate studies on more than 2,200 people, they not only reached that conclusion, but also found that where experiences are concerned, you'll get more bang for your buck if you let friends in on the fun.

There are myriad ways to squeeze every last ounce of enjoyment out of your dollar. "It could be going to a movie or taking a hike together," Reis says. "It could be going shopping together. Anything that involves pleasurable interaction with another person." And though their new report found that it doesn't matter if you spend $20 or $10,000, a thrifty approach means you can afford more experiences--all the better for your social life, and your wellbeing. Here, a few ideas to get you started:

Sign up for a local race. Whether a 5K run or a fundraising walk, you'll wring lots of joy from your money--particularly if you spend months training with a partner before race day. In fact, the study concluded that experiences yield greater happiness, in part, because they can be "reconstructed favorably in memory." (Ready to lace up the sneakers? Make it easy with our Zero-To-5K Plan.)

Cook dinner. Pick one night a week where you don't settle for a quick sandwich or reheated pasta. Team up with your dining partner to write out a grocery list, trek to the store, then come home and cook up a storm while dancing away to your favorite record. (Resolving to eat better in the New Year? Stay on track with these 25 Tasty Detox Recipes.)

Go to the movies. 'Tis the season, after all: Oscar nominations will be announced January 10th, so pick the flick you've yet to see--whether a foreign documentary or that Spielberg movie you've heard so much about--and follow the show by discussing its cinematic merits over a cup of tea or a glass of wine.

Go for a hike. Fresh air, a change of scenery, and an opportunity to catch up with your friends in a scenic setting. Could it get any better? As a matter of fact, recent research has linked outdoor time with enhanced creativity, reduced stress, and improved immunity. (Find out more about How Nature Brings Out Your Inner Artist.)

Buy a board game. Okay, so we're cheating a little bit. Technically, that new Scrabble board is a material possession, but Reis notes that "money spent on material purchases that were clearly intended for a social activity ended up being just as good." After all, there's no greater joy than proving to your husband, once and for all, that you've always had the better vocabulary.

From: MSNLiving.com/ Posted by Mags