Can Money Make You Happy?

Money can’t buy happiness. But it sure does help. And we’re not the only ones who think so. In a recent interview with Marketplace, Gretchen Rubin, author of "The Happiness Project" talks about the instances when money can, in fact, help bring you happiness.

But don’t go charging all the Louis Vuitton purses you can find on your AmEx just yet. Rubin says you’ve got to use your money on things like strengthening relationships, "things that are going to bring you more happiness."

So, if you’re doing things like "buying a plane ticket to go visit your sister, or buying pizza and beer to have your friends over for a New Year's Eve party, something like that, then that is something that is going to tend to make you happier," Rubin tells Marketplace.

Making money can also lead to happiness. But it’s much more than just the paycheck. "Work is a very, very important part of happiness," Rubin says. We spend a lot of time there, our sense of purpose comes from what we do for a living and of course, it’s what pays the bills and gives us a sense of stability. "So if you're not happy at work, it's hard to be happy with your life," she says.

Rubin lists a number of other things that will help keep us happy like exercising and getting enough sleep. This is all great, but it doesn’t answer one nagging question: If cupcakes bring me more happiness, can I buy (and eat) as many as I want?

Photo courtesy rkbcupcakes via Flickr.