happiness

8 Ways That Money Can Buy Happiness

"If money doesn't make you happy, then you aren't spending it right." So say researchers who have studied decades of research on the connections between money and happiness. How can you be sure to spend your money in a way that maximizes happiness? Follow these eight steps.

Are You Happy? Ben Bernanke Wants to Know

The Federal Reserve chairman said Monday that gauging happiness can be as important for measuring economic progress as determining whether inflation is low or unemployment high.

The 10 Happiest Countries in the World

Once again, 24/7 Wall St. has examined the OECD's report on life satisfaction. And once again, the United States fails to make the top 10 happiest nations in the world. Which countries do? Some may surprise you.

America's 11 Most Miserable States Revealed

You might think that with the economy on its slow climb back to health, Americans would have gotten a little bit happier in 2011. In fact, they got a bit more miserable. And some states have more reasons to be down in the dumps than others.

Hill Harper's 'Wealth Cure' for Owe-verwhelmed

CSI: NY actor and author Hill Harper dispenses can't-buy-happiness philosophy in his new book The Wealth Cure: Putting Money in Its Place. It's a guide that doesn't promise to get you rich quick, but to quickly help your life get richer.

The Joy of Contracting: Many Employers, No Safety Net

Job growth in the traditional market is tepid, but among contractors, freelancers and e-lancers, hiring is booming. Of course, if you go that route, that means you have to handle a host of things your employer used to, but there are ways to make it less of a chore -- and new companies looking to help.

Freedom, Not Money, Makes Us Happiest

Collective hand-wringing about the economy and poll after poll showing that Americans are pessimistic about their finances misses a key point: Money can't buy you happiness.

Does it Even Matter if Louisiana Is the Happiest State?

When studies suggest some states are happier than others, tempers flare, even during the holidays. The latest one places some states with the wealthiest populations near the bottom and some of the poorer ones near the top. But other surveys have come to far different conclusions.