Money is an emotional issue, especially during economic hard times. Social scientists have always warned that, once a person's basic needs are met, money doesn't buy happiness. But if you're wondering, or maybe even arguing over, what to do with any precious discretionary income these days, a new study suggests how to get the biggest emotional bang for your buck.
Ryan Howell, an assistant professor of psychology at San Francisco State University, found that buying experiences -- such as vacations, going to the theater or renting a sailboat -- gave people more happiness than buying material things. The study, of 154 people ages 19 to 50, showed that experiences increase happiness because they are often social in nature.
