Woman with Cash

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Researchers have spent decades examining the big question of whether money buys happiness. Studies from huge international surveys, including interviews with villagers in India and samples of Americans from all walks of life, point to the same conclusion: Money is, indeed, a small but important contributor to happiness. One way you can derive happiness dividends from your dollars is by making sure you spend your discretionary money—even in small amounts—in ways that are more likely to produce a sense of well-being.