Personal Finance - Can Money Buy You Happiness?

Are you happy?

When I ask that question, what aspects of your life immediately leap to mind? Do you think of your significant other, smile, and nod yes, you're happy? Do you measure it by how often you've laughed or felt at peace?

Or did you do a quick accounting of your financial well-being as a way to gauge your contentedness?

Can money buy happiness?

We say it can't because, well, that's what we are supposed to say. But turns out a recent Gallup World survey found people do think money can buy happiness.

"Pulling in the big bucks makes people more likely to say they are happy with their lives overall -- whether they are young or old, male or female, or living in cities or remote villages, the survey of more than 136,000 people in 132 countries found."

Okay, actually money can only buy one component of happiness, according to the poll.

"'Yes, money makes you happy -- we see the effect of income on life satisfaction is very strong and virtually ubiquitous and universal around the world,' said Ed Diener, a professor emeritus of psychology at the University of Illinois who led the study. 'But it makes you more satisfied than it makes you feel good. Positive feelings are less affected by money and more affected by the things people are doing day to day.'"

People may initially define their happiness by income because they are comparing themselves to the ubiquitous Joneses--you know, the people who always seem to be living better than you with their nice house, luxury car and trendy clothes. But here's something to consider: Many of the people you envy for their outward appearance of wealth are probably just as jammed up with debt as you are - or a paycheck away from being broke.

The findings from the poll were published in the July issue of the Journal of Personality and Social Psychology. The survey involved detailed questioning in 2005 and 2006 of 136,839 residents age 15 and older.

The study also shows how the United States compared with several countries on the happiness scale.

So have you measured your happiness by how much money you have, and if so, how's that working for you?

"Can Money Buy You Happiness?"

South Africa 2010- FIFA World Cup

Sport is good, and competing in any sports under your country badge is yet superior and double the enormity if you have won a medal and brought a pride for your country.

But sport has it very own meaning these years after millennium, if you want to judge the sport during ancient Greek civilization; which is to halt the war from far arising and to unite every people of the world, very much indigenous ideas.

My Favorite team

What i have foreseen from now on, sports have a great interest among opportunists. It has by all meant created a wealth, not only for the players, but to the great venture of business deal.

Where great opportunity now comes with great deal of profits!

I have read somewhere in FIFA bulletin clearly mention that World Cup 2010 in South Africa has already dwarfing World Cup 2006 in Germany.

And what is this meaning?

It clearly understated that the increase of funds from Private Corporation with an exclusive agreement from rights to broadcast to the official complimentary items and everything from foods and beverages.

FIFA have Six Major Sponsors altogether and Three Innovative Sponsors for World Cup 2010. This summer’s World Cup in South Africa is estimated to make a record $3.34 billion.

My question is! What is the Return of Investment to South Africa states, apart from local tourism? From record breaking profits for World Cup 2010, how much will these benefits the people of South Africa?

Point to ponder!

Official Receipts

It is official to me now that all ECB (European Central Bank) Staff are not allowed in any form of writing any reviews or comments or produce whatsoever publication in any media stream without the approval from ECB's council.

So, no more writing on economics of the world! i'll be devastated! but hopefully you guys are keen enough to get the ECB publication to read my words of art.

I am still a bloody academician deep in my heart, either i publish or i sagging myself for mere entertainment or attention on street.

I find myself walking in the street of Berlin or maybe Frankfurt again. I have already missed New York City. and i missed my darling husband so much!

La Fête du Canada!

formerly Dominion Day ( Le Jour de la Confédération), is Canada’s national day, the federal holiday commemorating the July 1, 1867, enactment of the British North America Act (today called the Constitution Act, 1867), which united two British colonies and a province of the British Empire into a single country called Canada.

The birth of a Canadian national identity was a protracted and lengthy process! Indeed the Canadian Constitution was enacted formerly by Elizabeth II as Queen of Canada brought the act into effect with a proclamation she signed in Ottawa on April 17, 1982. The date Canada became fully independent from The United Kingdom in all legal aspects.

Culture, With a Splash of Cocktails

I am back in NYC for the Sex and the City ala Desperate Housewife- but totally in GAY version! minus the White Gay Wedding Theme! ewwww

It is a mistake, darling if you see me as Carrie, cuzzz i am more Samantha Jones in real life

"BITE ME"

So! as much as i loved the summer here, i feel very much envious over looking the peoples gathering around in-front of the museum garden!

gee i was working like tomorrow never end for G8 and G20 submit, you guys are buzzing your butt hanging out for a piece of sun....wtf

Sophistication is the name of the game at Cocktails@Cooper-Hewitt, a weekly party in the museum's garden, the largest private green space in Manhattan.

Jazz is the preferred soundtrack, views are of Central Park, and this summer's parties are themed to the museum's ongoing National Design Triennial—"Why Design Now?"—open during the event. $15 per entrance.

Oh darling! don't be fool by the outer color of the museum, it is everything but posh and elegant from outside!

Let me introduce what inside the building really are?

awwwww, so cute!

thank you Richard Patterson, for nice pics

j'adore ! comme d'habituuuuude !

Je me lève

Et je te bouscule

Tu n'te réveilles pas

Comme d'habitude

Sur toi

Je remonte le drap

J'ai peur que tu aies froid

Comme d'habitude

Ma main

Caresse tes cheveux

Presque malgré moi

Comme d'habitude

Mais toi

Tu me tournes le dos

Comme d'habitude

Alors

Je m'habille très vite

Je sors de la chambre

Comme d'habitude

Tout seul

Je bois mon café

Je suis en retard

Comme d'habitude

Sans bruit

Je quitte la maison

Tout est gris dehors

Comme d'habitude

J'ai froid

Je relève mon col

Comme d'habitude

Comme d'habitude

Toute la journée

Je vais jouer

A faire semblant

Comme d'habitude

Je vais sourire

Comme d'habitude

Je vais même rire

Comme d'habitude

Enfin je vais vivre

Comme d'habitude

Et puis

Le jour s'en ira

Moi je reviendrai

Comme d'habitude

Toi

Tu seras sortie

Pas encore rentrée

Comme d'habitude

Tout seul

J'irai me coucher

Dans ce grand lit froid

Comme d'habitude

Mes larmes

Je les cacherai

Comme d'habitude

Mais comme d'habitude

Même la nuit

Je vais jouer

A faire semblant

Comme d'habitude

Tu rentreras

Comme d'habitude

Je t'attendrai

Comme d'habitude

Tu me souriras

Comme d'habitude

Comme d'habitude

Tu te déshabilleras

Oui comme d'habitude

Tu te coucheras

Oui comme d'habitude

On s'embrassera

Comme d'habitude

Comme d'habitude

On fera semblant

Comme d'habitude

On fera l'amour

Oui comme d'habitude

On fera semblant

Comme d'habitude

Can the USA and Europe cut their way to economic prosperity? Probably not.

If British voters thought they had replaced the dour visage of Labour Prime Minister Gordon Brown with an optimistic one in fresh-faced Tory David Cameron, they were sadly mistaken.

On June 7, the new PM Cameron brought down the hammer, telling the British public that the most urgent issue ahead "is our massive deficit and our growing debt.

How we deal with these things will affect our economy and our society, indeed our whole way of life." With a deficit set to top 11 percent of gross domestic product this year, and a debt of $1.12 trillion and rising,

Cameron prescribed a harsh regimen of spending cuts and possible tax increases. Tony Blair's motto was "Cool Britannia." Cameron's is likely to be "Austerity Now!"

most developed economies responded to the global financial crisis in 2008 and '09 with stimulus: They increased government spending and cut taxes.

In slack times, the government needs to fill in for diminished private demand. But 2010 is shaping up to be a year of parsimony.

To win support for an international bailout, Greece enacted a tough package of budget cuts and tax increases.

Spain's left-wing government at the end of May slashed civil-servant pay by 5 percent and froze pensions—even though one in five Spaniards is out of work.

Recently, German Chancellor Angela Merkel unveiled a $144 billion package that would raise taxes on airline flights and cut defense spending and public works—and Germany's deficit is a manageable 5 percent of GDP.

We're not hearing that kind of rhetoric in the United States yet, but the new austerity has crossed the pond.

Even though unemployment remains at 9.7 percent, a proposed jobs bill out of concern for the deficit. President Obama recently called for federal agencies to identify cuts of up to 5 percent in 2012.

States and cities are slashing budgets and raising taxes! Paul Krugman has called "the pain caucus" is in the ascendancy.

Many, especially slow-growing, highly indebted countries in southern Europe see austerity as a way to avoid the fate of Greece. Others are reacting to fears of stimulus-induced inflation.

So, my simple piece of word would be " Lets avoid the WAR!"

People ain't learning anything that WAR will and never would brings any balanced in their social life. and i better stop here.