Money Can't Buy Happiness, Says Science. Except When It Can.

According to a new scientific study, the old adage bandied about by poor people -- you know, that money can't buy happiness or whatever -- is true. Freedom and personal autonomy are way more important to people feeling happy, reports the American Psychological Association, which based this finding on a sample of 420,599 people in 63 countries. Of course, how do you get freedom and personal autonomy? Well...money doesn't hurt. But, the researchers insist, "Providing individuals with more autonomy appears to be important for reducing negative psychological symptoms, relatively independent of wealth" and that "money leads to autonomy but it does not add to well-being or happiness." Doesn't that make you feel grand when you look at your paltry little bank account? [EurekAlert]