Whenever I've heard people say "Money can't buy happiness..." my response has always been "...then I'll bet you've never struggled with money."

Because anyone who has ever struggled with money would argue that money can indeed buy happiness. Maybe not in every area of your life. But in any area that is related to money.

Such as having the freedom to:
...Buy a nice car
...Or go on a nice vacation
...Buy a nicer house
...Or fix up the one you already have
...Pay off your credit card bills
...Update your wardrobe
...Give to charity
...Do more fun things with your family
...Sleep better at night not having to worry about money

I know what you're thinking - there are plenty of stories about people whose lives have been ruined by fame & fortune. Those who become child stars on TV, movies, or through music. And those "lucky ones" who hit it big by winning the lottery. And everyone knows some "rich snob" who seems to have it all, but still acts like a jerk.

All good points.

But...

Just because money doesn't buy happiness for everyone doesn't mean it doesn't buy happiness for most people. Right? Maybe? Or am I just way off base on this one?

When you look at the list above, you can see that not all of the points I made have to do with money. Some of them simply have to do with having choices. And all of them are related to having freedom. That's my whole point. And the reason for my response to those who save "Money can't buy happiness."

And the reason why some people's lives take a turn for the worse after they come into a big amount of money. It's NOT the money that ruins their lives. It's the power of choice that does them in. And the power of freedom. I know, its just a difference of a few words. If the money gives them the ability to choose, and the freedom to live their lives differently, then it's the money's fault.

But I do NOT agree.

Just like when bad things happen to good people. I certainly don't wish anything bad on anyone, and I don't blame anyone who has been affected by something awful in their life. But we all have the power to choose. Good or bad. Rich or poor.

But that's just my opinion, it doesn't prove anything. So here's proof. It's a study by the Center for Health and Well-being, Princeton University, titled High income improves evaluation of life but not emotional well-being. And it shows that happiness increase with money.

But there is catch, of course. In the study it showed that happiness increased with money - up to an income level of $75,000 a year. After that, money doesn't affect happiness. As with many things in life, "it's all relative".

For someone living in poverty, or someone living in a third world country, $75,000 is rich. And for many Americans, $75,000 is rich. Yet for others (especially for someone like me, who lives in a relatively wealthy area of the country) $75,000 is barely enough to survive!

Yep, it's all relative.

Maybe I'm looking at this all wrong. Maybe I should be thankful for what I have, because of ... well, just because.

So Virginia, maybe money can only buy happiness for some people. For others, happiness is determined by something more than just money. And freedom is about more than just being able to buy "stuff".

What do you think? Do you agree with the study? Can money buy happiness?

Every year saving money & getting out of debt are two of the most popular New Year's Resolutions. Which means that it's open season for companies offering debt relief!

So if you're one of the many who will be looking for help paying off your debt, BEWARE! Because it is so easy to get ripped off when looking for help. You'll see ads on TV making bold promises about cutting your balance by 50%. You'll see ads in magazines & newspaper telling you how easy it is to get out of debt faster than you ever thought possible. Well, I have 12 words of advice for you:

If it sounds too good to be true then it probably is!

Sure, most companies that offer debt relief are honest and legitimate. But not all of them are. And even those that are not entirely "scams" don't always tell you the whole truth and nothing but the truth. They just tell you enough to get you hooked. So watch out!

How do you avoid getting ripped off by an unethical company?

Here are a few of the warning signs:

1. They don't ask you many questions. Why not? Because they don't want to waste time. They want you to sign up, and get started. Even if the solution they offer is NOT the right one for you.

2. They don't give you many answers. See #1 above.

3. They ask you to sign up for their company BEFORE seeing if it is the right solution for you. Big mistake. There are several different kinds of debt relief out there. And not all of them are right for you.

4. They want a commitment from you ASAP. See #1 above.

5. They make getting out of debt sound SO easy. Probably one of the most dangerous signs. Getting out of debt is not a complicated concept. But changing your spending habits, and paying off years of debts, takes work.

Wow, sounds pretty scary doesn't it? Well, it doesn't have to be. All you need to do is know what to look for, and know which questions to ask, and you can lower your risk of getting ripped off by quite a bit!

Here's how to get the information you need to know. And it won't cost you a cent. Get yourself a copy of my free report The Truth About Debt Relief Programs That They DON'T Want You To Know About. And read if carefully. You'll learn several tips for finding the RIGHT type of debt relief company - and a few lessons on how to avoid the WRONG type of debt relief company.

Even if you're looking to fix your own financial problems without any help, you'll still learn a thing or two. Good luck in making 2011 your best year ever!

Before you declare bankruptcy, follow these six relatively easy steps. Just take a moment and consider other options before making a huge mistake. If you're experiencing major debt right now, I highly suggest further investigation on what options are available whilst you complete the following six steps.

1. Lay out your debt: how much debt do you have in total? How much of it are secured versus unsecured loans? What are their interest rates? How many months are you behind on their payments? Also list your current monthly expenses from bills like insurance, food, power, telephone (including mobile). In addition, log in detail all your gratuitous spending habits, including theatre spending, gym memberships, restaurant dining, etc… Once all that is complete, compile with the aid of your credit cards all your accumulated debt in each aspect where bills occur.

2. Stop your bad spending habits: With all your bills staring back, you have a general idea what you need to reduce your spending on. Although the greatest part won't be your gratuitous spending, for some people, it might just be it. With a strict budget plan removing all unnecessary expenses, you can get a better handle on your expenses and avoid bankruptcy.

3. Get the family involved: speaking to the family might help reduce the stress, that they can carry it with you. You can ask relatives for assistance as well and altogether, you can save as much money as possible whilst reducing gratuitous spending.

4. Liquidate your assets: with equity, you may be eligible to pay off your debt through refinancing or through a secured loan. If you don't cash this out after you declare bankruptcy, you won't have that privilege anymore. You could even sell the stuff you have lying around the home, like antiques, collectibles, fancy designer old stuff. You should write down all that you have available in the house of monetary value, and estimate. There are all sorts of channels you can use to sell your stuff, for example: eBay, Amazon, Facebook, Craigslist, and even garage sales.

5. Counseling Services: look for an online or local credit counseling agency that is able to provide advice for free, but they'll probably want to continue with them. These agencies provide debt management counseling and may even negotiate reducing your interest rates and overall debt, guide you towards a better situation away from bankruptcy.

6. A second Part-time Job: a second part-time job is important right now because it will add additional income to your household. No matter how small, you can do the best you can to earn as much as you can with it.

Bankruptcy has devastating consequences including the incredible length of time it would require for you to repair your credit rating (5 years). It's clear there are alternatives, you can follow them and it won't be an impossible scenario after all.

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This is a guest post. Sufi M and his staff operate The Glaring Facts, one of the leading and densely populated websites involving psychology, media-related material, history of science, and money management. We are certain you will find something that will fascinate you.

So, are you wondering how you could have saved much more this year than last year? Luckily, you can start afresh in 2011. Every year people make resolutions, so this time you should take some extra care of your personal finances. It is really important that you have proper control over your finances just so that you can feel good about them when you look back next year. Here are a few personal finance tips that will do you good. Take a look:

How to take care of your finances this New Year!

The moment you ignore your finances, chances are good that they may go haywire. So, always keep a strict eye on your money and invest and save wisely. Here are 6 of the top personal finance tips that you can benefit from:

1. Assess your wealth: This would be the first step in any savings plan. You first need to find out how much you have, how much you owe, and how much you will have to spend on your basic needs. Finally you must analyze how much money you can set aside for savings. You can use online ledgers or make one of your own so that you can keep a track of your finances.

2. Set long-term goals: When you want to save money, you need to set long-term goals for yourself and your family. Some of these goals could be your child’s marriage, their education, your retirement, or buying a house in the future. So, start investing some part of your earnings in a savings, money market, or other investment account. Whatever it is, just get started saving for the future. You will have to start planning now if want to save for your future.

3. Create a cash buffer: By this we mean that you must have at least 3-4 months of expenditures available in your savings. It is important that you save regularly and have money set aside for emergencies. This is why a cash buffer is very crucial.

4. Regular savings: This may require a lot of discipline but again save regularly. Put aside a fixed amount each month or each paycheck and do it very strictly. Even when you think in some months that you cannot do it, still save the amount. That's where an automatic deposit comes in handy, so you don't miss the money and aren't tempted to use it on other things.

5. Teach your children: When you want to keep your personal finances on track, it is very important that your family gives this importance too. Teach your children the value of money. Let them know that it is your hard earned money and that it is not to be squandered away. This way, even they can help you save or maybe they can learn to save at an early age.

6. Shop before the New Year: If you want to buy something that costs a lot, then buy it now. This is so that you can avoid the new and increased VAT that will be introduced in the New Year. (A great tip for our readers in the UK).

It is your money and you need to save & invest wisely. So, take care right now and start managing your finances for 2011!

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This is a guest post from Jonny at FinanceWand.com. His experience, knowledge and network of financial professionals makes him a more valuable resource for individuals and small businesses, while trying to improve their current financial position as well as their future prospect. Check out his blog on personal finances and budgeting.