Money is an emotional issue, especially during economic hard times. Social scientists have always warned that once a person’s basic needs are met money doesn’t buy happiness. But if you’re wondering, or maybe even arguing over, what to do with any precious discretionary income these days, a new study suggests how to get the biggest emotional bang for your buck.
Ryan Howell, an assistant professor of psychology at San Francisco State University, found that buying experiences — such as vacations, going to the theater or renting a sailboat — gave people more happiness than buying material things. The study, of 154 people ages 19 to 50, showed that experiences increase happiness …Â More info
Chris Fischer, 26, has been in a funk since construction crews turned Vista’s skatepark into dust last summer to make way for a multimillion-dollar civic center.
“Some of the best days of my life were up at that skatepark,” Fischer said in a letter to the City Council last month in which he pleaded for a replacement.
He may soon have reason for optimism.
City officials confirmed last week they’re in negotiations to buy land for a skatepark…Â More info
Matthew McConaughey, 39, was photographed using his skateboard in an innovative way yesterday.
The actor/surfer dude went for a ride using a wheeled stick to balance himself and go even faster as zipped along the sidewalk, accompanied by his dog BJ…Â More info
Skateboarders with boards — but no appropriate place to ride — have a few weeks left to apply for a Tony Hawk Foundation skateboard park grant. The deadline for the annual grant-making process is March 2 for the awards to be announced in April.
Skateboard star Hawk’s foundation has awarded more than $2.3 million to partially fund nearly 400 skatepark projects nationwide in the past six years…Â More info