Give Money, Be Happy

A newly published survey of 944 millionaires shows that those who give 10 percent or more of their income are actually happier than those who hang on to it. Not only are they happier, but in the long run they build a higher net worth, says Thomas J. Stanley, author of Stop Acting Rich...And Start Living Like a Real Millionaire. This may seem counterintuitive, but Stanley claims that those who give more to charity spend less on “impediments to building wealth,” such as over-the-top cars, clothes, and homes, instead focusing on investments. “They seem to get more satisfaction from accumulating wealth and giving than from consuming more,” Stanley said.