We Need $75K to Be Happy

Study finds people trade happiness for other benefits

(NEWSER) - Money cannot buy happiness, but most people would choose it anyway, says a new study of more than 2,600 people published in the American Economic Review . For example, if the choice is between a job that pays $80,000 a year and lets you get seven and a half hours of sleep a night, and a job that pays $140,000 a year but allows for just six hours' sleep, most people pick the higher-paying job. Other questions asked about salary versus living close to friends, going home for Thanksgiving versus saving for a vacation, and similar choices. More»

Eight tips for purchases that will boost your pleasure

(NEWSER) - Money may not be able to buy happiness, but if you spend wisely, you can at least avoid purchases that make you unhappy. SmartMoney lists eight tips for happy spending, based on new research published this month:

• Buy experiences, not things: People overwhelmingly report that they get more happiness out of things they did than things they bought.
• Buy lots of little things, not one big thing: Because we can so quickly grow tired of new possessions, or at least get used to them, it's better to focus on frequency than intensity. Think new underwear instead of a new TV, or a day trip instead of a weeklong vacation.

Study of 2,276 people returns surprising result

(NEWSER) - Here's a less-than-intuitive finding: Happy teens are more likely to end up divorced than unhappy teens. The tidbit came out of a larger study of happiness, in which researchers looked at data on 2,276 people—that had been collected since they were born in 1946. A number of their conclusions aren't very jarring: Those who were happier and better adjusted in childhood were more likely to report that they were socially active adults with good mental health and job satisfaction. More»

(NEWSER) - If you think blogs are useless, think again: Scientists have developed a “hedonometer,” or happiness gauge, that analyzes personal online statements to pinpoint the overall contentment of the US population on a given day, the Discovery Channel reports. The program looks at sentences beginning with “I feel” and then grades the statement based on what follows. “Triumphant” gets an 8.87; “hostage” scores a 2.20. More»

Rapid thoughts can make people feel happier

(NEWSER) - Happy people think fast thoughts, say researchers at Princeton and Harvard. They asked two groups to perform the same tasks—problem-solving, reading, and watching TV—at different speeds. Those forced to move along briskly felt more elated, creative, even powerful, Scientific American reports. The findings suggest a crossword puzzle or brainstorming session can release mood-enhancing dopamine in the brain, and help cure the blues. More»