Money really can buy happiness.  Okay, so there’s no store where you can purchase happiness directly (it’s a little tough to find retailers that deal with intangibles these days), but what you purchase can have a direct and measurable effect on your happiness level.

Spend Money on Others

It’s been found that when people spend money on others, they report feeling happier than if they had bought something for themselves.  For some people, the initial parting with their money might feel questionable or make them feel slightly bad depending on the amount being spent.  But it’s really the result of spending that money that creates happiness in the spender.  Donate to your favorite charity and you’ll be able to see people in need finally receive valuable help.  Buy a gift for a friend or family member, and you’ll see their face light up, which is more rewarding than buying something for yourself only to experience buyer’s remorse.

Buy an Experience

People who spend money on an experience also report feeling happier than if they had bought material things.  Even the souvenirs purchased during a trip don’t seem to bring as much happiness as the memories attached to it.  You can relive memories again and again and experience the same emotions without getting tired of it, whereas the initial thrill of a material possession will eventually die out, and you’ll get bored with it.  And it doesn’t have to be a big vacation that brings happiness.  A small gesture like going out to dinner with a friend on a stressful night, when you really just need to vent, can bring more happiness than if that same friend had bought you a silly card to cheer you up.

Invest Internally

If you do spend money directly on yourself in an attempt for happiness, you’ll get greater results if you spend it on something that will benefit you for an extended period of time.  For example, if you invest in exercise and eating healthy, you’ll feel better physically which will result in feeling better emotionally.  Never underestimate the positive effects of treating yourself well.  If you eat a lot of junk or not-so-healthy food on a regular basis, try eating well for one week and you’ll notice how much better you feel on the average.  And there’s nothing that compares to the sense of accomplishment that comes with finishing a workout!

Money will not buy you happiness, though, if you’re constantly on a shopping spree or spending your life in search of more money.  If you do increase your income, your money will probably just find another place to disappear to and you’ll be back in the same spot, feeling miserable and setting a new monetary goal.  Try not to think about the money itself.  Instead, consider the experience you’re looking for and the results that it will produce for you or someone else.  Then put the necessary money toward it, and feel the happiness roll in.

It’s inevitable that your home is going to need repairs, and whether you do a simple repair or take the opportunity to spruce things up a bit, you’re probably looking to do your home improvement at a discount.  Here are a few tips to get you going:

• It’s obvious, but consider doing it yourself.  You could save hundreds or even thousands of dollars simply by not having to pay for labor.  Depending on the task and your experience level, the project may take you longer than it would a professional, so be sure to factor that into your decision.  But do-it-yourself is a pretty common practice these days, and you can find a wide offering of help through books and websites, and you can even walk into stores like Home Depot and Lowe’s and ask for advice or attend mini-workshops.
• Try bartering services.  If you search on websites like craigslist, there are plenty of people willing to trade.  Perhaps you need part of your kitchen remodeled, but you’re better at fixing cars.  It’s very likely that there’s someone skilled at remodeling kitchens that needs their car fixed.  It’s all about getting the word out.
• If you go with a contractor, don’t be afraid to simply ask for a discount or to do a little negotiating with pricing.  Offer to pay for the materials yourself, for example.  This way, you can avoid any possible mark-ups that the contractor might be charging you.  Talk to them about exactly what your expectations are for your project; don’t skimp on even little details.  They’ll be able to set you up with the right materials, and they’ll know whether or not the more expensive ones are worth the initial investment in order to save you money down the road.

Be sure to prioritize your home improvement needs, especially if you’re embarking on more than one project.  You might want to consider cutting corners when the result won’t be easily visible or potentially cause structural damage to your home, and then splurge on the visible aspects that you need to withstand time.  Try to work with what is already available to you, as well; don’t tear apart anything that is still working well.  Take time to consider all of your options for your particular project and make sure you understand every detail so you can analyze the full cost and learn where you should cut back or hold off.

Rule number one of negotiating a higher salary: If you don’t ask, you will not receive. Of course, the opposite of that is not always true, especially in the current economy. Your employer has most likely been forced to make cutbacks, and you are feeling the direct effects of that. Your workload has probably increased significantly, and you might assume that a raise isn’t possible right now. But if you hit the right areas when you ask, you might have a good shot.

The Right Time to Negotiate

First, do take a good look at your company’s situation. If the cutbacks they’re making involve significant salary cuts and extremely tight restrictions on company spending, you may want to hold off. Timing is important when negotiating a higher salary. If your company is still struggling despite cutbacks and you ask for a raise, you could appear selfish and insensitive not only in regards to the company but also your fellow employees. They’re all in the same boat, and unfortunately, the fact that it’s getting tougher to pay your bills isn’t a good enough reason to justify a raise for most employers.

Point Out Your Accomplishments

However, if the company seems to be hanging on just fine, and you have the right evidence to support your case, go for it. You may be handling your increased workload so well that your manager may unintentionally not notice all of your accomplishments–he or she may just be content knowing that there aren’t any gaping problems. Use that to your advantage. Approach your manager with proof of things that you’ve done that have had a positive effect on the company, no matter how big or small.

Research Salary Possibilities

Do some research on the average salary for your position, too. Your manager likely already knows, but especially once you’ve shown how valuable you are to the company, he or she may be more inclined to set your salary at or close to the average. Knowing this will also prevent you from asking for a salary that might appear unreasonable. If you did start too high (even without knowing it), depending on your manager’s disposition, you may be denied a raise entirely due to your seemingly brash request.

Your other option is to ask for a review in 3-6 months if a raise isn’t possible now. You’ll know your manager will be paying close attention to you, so you’ll have a great opportunity to show off what you can do. Remember it’s all about timing, and once you find the right time, don’t wait for your manager to offer. Go ahead and ask!