The Health Benefits of Consumer Confidence

If you have any extra cash at all this holiday season, your instinct may be to buy yourself a tiny treat. But you'll probably feel best if you get a small extra something for someone else instead.

When people in a recent study spent a profit bonus on someone else or on a charity, they experienced greater happiness than the people who used it on bills or personal items.

Giving with an Inexpensive Twist
Of course, in these hard economic times, who's got any extra fun money, right? So if you're low on cash, try one of these creative but inexpensive ways to give of yourself -- and still feel great.

• Hook up. Time spent with friends, family, and loved ones is its own special gift. So send someone a pretty invitation to get together for coffee after the holidays. Find out how face-to-face time paves the road to happiness all year long.
• Lend a hand. Give a little emotional or practical support to a close friend, family member, or your favorite charity. And check out the health rewards that come with this kind of giving.
• Cook something up. Get together with a friend and make these: Patti's Holiday Chocolate Delights. Bundle them up in brown paper lunch bags decorated with pinecones and bits of evergreen and give them to friends and family.

Learn six more tips for bliss that can make you happy right here, right now.

Spending money on others promotes happiness. Dunn, E. W. et al., Science 2008 Mar 21;319(5870):1687-1688.