Setting Financial Priorities

Can money buy happiness?

It's a question that has been gnawing at humanity through the ages. Those without it would undoubtedly say yes. Those with plenty to spare might just as easily say no.

Modern science offers an answer that falls somewhere in between. It turns out that money can buy happiness, but only if you spend it in the right way. Spend it in the wrong fashion, and it's likely to make you even less happy.

If that surprises you, keep reading. That's just one question among many we'll examine in this five-part series exploring contemporary spending habits, values and priorities. We're going to take a close look at the sometimes mysterious psychological forces that govern our spending behavior, and the societal and familial pressures that can exacerbate financial problems.

We'll also take a decade-by-decade tour through life's financial priorities, giving you a guidepost to rely on from your 20s to your 50s. Financial priorities shift radically as we age, and it's critical to take these changes into account when planning for the future.

Financing a child's education with retirement money is becoming increasingly popular these days - a development that bears close scrutiny. We'll examine the nuts and bolts of this process, and how to navigate it with minimum financial distress.

At the opposite end of the spectrum, recent college graduates must contend with their own conundrum: Should I pay down student loans, or start saving for retirement? We'll explore the optimal strategy to pursue in this scenario, balancing short-term pressures with long-term goals.

Can conspicuous consumption make you happy? It seems like plenty of people are dead set on finding out. We'll take a look at the reasons why people engage in the "material goods arms" race, and why dropping out may be the smartest strategy of all.

It's all part of our comprehensive look at the spending habits and financial values that have come to define us.

If you've ever wanted to take a closer look at the factors influencing how we spend and save, keep reading.

We've got some important things to discuss.