How to Spend Money So It Makes You Happy

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The paper SPECIFICALLY CONCLUDES that spending on cars is the strongest link, followed by leisure activities!!! I don't know if I should find it humorous or sickening that the author says the opposite of this in the first paragraph of the article.
Quoted from Conclusions of the Study:
"In fact, two forms of expenditure are associated with increased happiness—leisure and vehicles—and vehicle spending had the largest association with happiness in our data."
LINK TO PAPER
http://www.happinesseconomics.net/ocs/index.php/heirs/relationalgoods/paper/viewFile/118/72
Do you need an education to write for US News?

Reader of WI 9:53PM August 31, 2010

A new car will lose 20% of its value as soon as you drive it off the lot. Unless you're a car nut, a little imagination will suggest ways of spending that $5,000 (or whatever it turns out to be) which will make you a lot happier.

Jeffrey Borrowdale of OR 3:45AM August 03, 2010

....but it can increase stability. If the amount of money coming in is about what is going out, increasing the former WILL decrease stress. It's easier to spend money on leisure when you're not living paycheck to paycheck.
A new car won't buy me happiness, but I won't constantly stress about the cost of my next repair and if I'll have money to pay for it, and what I'll do if I can't repair my car and have no way to get to work.

Veronica of NH 9:09AM July 23, 2010

I completely agree. I'm over 50 and lucky enough to be retired. I discovered classical music and now attend upwards of 20 concerts a year. I own a small home, drive a compact car-- material things don't impress me, never have. I have time to read interesting nonfiction or rediscover great literature. I have time to volunteer for things that interest me. And I have time for me. And, for all of these, I am truly grateful.
And to "Animals are Adorable", I do give to animal rescue organizations which also makes me feel as if I am doing something, along with having two wonderful, beautiful rescue dogs of my own.

Blackdog2 of FL 2:45PM July 22, 2010

Well my thought is sure, older folks over 50 get pleasure in leisure. But.. when I was younger a new fridge or car made me terrifically 'happy'. It provided a stone in the wall of family foundation. So... I'd really question these results when it was mentioned the target pool of study was 'over 50'.

John P of OH 9:52AM July 22, 2010

As well as the GOP, too, these days!
But really, spend some money on cute and cuddly little animals for a real smile.
Donate to an animal shelter
Help fund a grant for bunny rescue
Spend to spay/neuter a cute rescued kitty
Animals are unconditional, never cut you off in traffic, never rhymes-with-witch at you in the workplace, just to annoy you, and won't spend your money against your will (like the Dems and the GOP).
Spend on a little fur-ball.

Animals are Adorable of IL 10:15PM July 21, 2010

Simple, use other peoples' money! You can spend billions, even trillions and you will feel great the next day, no remorse whatsoever. Hint: Must be someone else's money, we all know spending your own hard-earned money isn't always fun.

Barack, Harry, and Nancy of DC 8:52PM July 21, 2010