The term "retail therapy" is a bit of a misnomer. Sure, buying yourself something expensive can improve your mood, but the boost is often temporary. In fact, you usually end up feeling worse later on （like when your credit card bill arrives）.

    Fortunately, there are ways to spend your money - even if you don't have much of it - that will bring you true long-term happiness. Over the past 25 years, behavioral economists and psychologists have been examining the connection between money and mood, and they've made some intriguing discoveries. Using their research, Women's Health identified five simple ways to reallocate your budget so that you feel more bliss.

    Spend money on a vacation instead of spa treatments

    In need of some serious R&R? A mani-pedi or massage might seem like the perfect way to pamper yourself. After all, compared to a trip, these things go for chump change. But experts say putting some distance between you and your daily surroundings is a much better way to de-stress and is worth the expenditure. In a study published in the journal Occupational Medicine, researchers found that vacations not only had a positive effect on short-term happiness but also a beneficial impact on people's long-term mental and physical well-being.

    More good news: "It's not just the vacation itself that'll make you happier, but the potential perspective you'll gain on your getaway, which can lead you to a happier life," says Alan Lysaght, a financial psychology expert and coauthor of The ABCs of Making Money. "Breaking free from your usual routine gives you a chance to take stock of your life and figure out the kinds of changes you need to make to be happier." Can't swing a far-flung trip right now? Even a weekend spent at a local B&B can work wonders.

    Spend money on makeup instead of clothes

    It's as simple as this: When you look good, you feel good. But that mood booster doesn't have to be a big-ticket item.

    According to a study conducted by BuzzBack Market Research, beauty products - even the drugstore kind - are a more satisfying purchase than a chic new addition to your wardrobe. As crazy as it sounds, studies have found that during economic downturns, lipstick sales actually spike. （Economists call it the Lipstick Effect.）

    One possible reason: There's something satisfying about adding a little bit of luxury to your life - and even if you're strapped for cash, you can usually fit a lip gloss into your budget. "And unlike a dress you wear every once in a while, that tube of lipstick will provide a daily pick-me-up," Lysaght says.

    Spend money on your bedroom instead of your living room

    Generally, when people splurge on a home upgrade, they focus their expenditure on a room that guests spend time in - for example, they'll buy a sofa for the living room or granite countertops for the kitchen. But those might not be the best places to invest your home happiness dollars.

    One recent study found that the cities where residents got the most restful night's sleep were also the places where people's happiness levels were highest. "The bedroom is where you relax and unwind," says Denis Cauvier, Ph.D., a business consultant and Lysaght's co-author. And when you consider that we spend a third of our lives in bed, investing in a new mattress, soft 600-thread-count sheets, or heavy-duty light-blocking window shades makes a lot of sense. In fact, you'll reap one of the most priceless things of all: a good night's sleep.

    Spend money on a gym membership instead of home equipment

    You might think you'd be a lot more likely to work out if you have a treadmill, stationary bike, or weight machine sitting right in your basement. Not necessarily. According to a recent survey by the Consumer Reports National Research Center, 37 percent of respondents admitted that they use their home equipment less frequently than they expected to.

    One possible reason: Working out with other people at the gym makes those sweatfests more enjoyable - and when people have fun exercising, they're more likely to stick with it, reveals an article published in the Journal of the American Academy of Physician Assistants. What's more, merging your workout with your social life will help you fit two important tasks into your overbooked calendar at once.

    "The gym basically automates your time with friends," explains Laura Rowley, author of "Money and Happiness: A Guide to Living the Good Life" and a financial columnist for Yahoo Finance. "You can see people you really want to see, which makes you happy and makes the expense feel worth it." If that's not enough of a reason to shell out that monthly fee, consider this: While you can slack off on the treadmill in your basement without anyone knowing, that militant spin instructor isn't going to go as easy on you. So in the long run, you'll be much happier with the results, too.

    Spend money on others instead of yourself

    If you want instant gratification, give some of your money away. In one experiment, researchers handed out $5 and $20 bills to students, asking half to spend it on themselves and half to dole the dollars out to other people. Those who gave the cash away reported feeling happier at the end of the day.

    "Not many things contribute to our happiness more than generosity," says Tal Ben-Shahar, Ph. D., a former Harvard lecturer and the author of "Happier." Consider donating $25 per month to your favorite cause （which you can deduct come tax time）. Don't have a cause close to your heart? Check out charitynavigator.org, which catalogs organizations by topic （animals, environment, health, etc.） and even rates charities, so you can be certain your contribution really will make a difference.

    Or do something good close to home: Researchers at the University of Pennsylvania's Wharton School have found that we're more motivated to help others when we have some personal connection to them. Find local charities that strike a chord - food pantries, the humane society, a homeless shelter, or a local museum or library - and write a check to help them out. On a smaller scale, treating a friend to lunch for her birthday or buying your boyfriend his favorite flavor of ice cream can make you feel warm and fuzzy, too.

    关于这个术语"购物疗法",实际上有一点点误称。当然，给你自己买一点贵的东西可以改善你的心境，但是改善只是暂时的。事实上，你事后通常情绪会更加低落（比如你的信用卡账单来的时候）.

    幸运的是，现在有一些方法可以花钱--即使你并没有很多钱--来带给你长期的幸福感。在过去的25年中，行为经济学家和心理学家曾做过一个实验，检验金钱和心境之间的纽带。他们发现了一些有趣的调查结果。根据他们的研究，《女性健康》发现可以通过五种重新分配你的预算方法来达到更多的幸福感。

    把钱花在旅行上，而不是矿泉疗法

    因为一些事情的需要，一次修甲或者按摩看起来是对自己的一种款待。毕竟，和旅行相比较，这些事情所需要的钱较少。但是专家指出，离开你周围日常的环境，到远方去旅游一次，是一种更好的减压方法。而且，它值得你为它支出。在一项刊登在《职业病学》杂志上的研究表明，旅行不仅对营造短期的幸福感有积极地作用，而且对人们长期的身心愉悦有很好的促进作用。

    更有甚者，"并不仅仅是旅行本身可以给你带来愉悦感，起作用的还有你在旅途中得到的那些潜在可以把你带往一个更加幸福的生活的看法，"金融心理学家、《赚钱ABC》合着者艾伦·莱萨特说道，"从你的常规中挣脱出来可以带给你一个预估你生活和计算你需要去做的、能够使你变得更加幸福的改变的机会。" 不能决定一次遥远长期的旅行？其实在当地的家庭旅馆消磨一个周末也可以产生神奇的效果。

    把钱花在化妆品上，而不是衣服

    这和如下的话一样简单："当你看起来很不错时，你就确实很不错。但是神经兴奋并不一定需要高昂的代价。"

    根据巴兹巴克市场调研机构的一向研究表明，美容产品--即使是从药店买来的--比起一件流行新款，你更青睐于选它作为你橱子的新成员。和它本身听起来一样疯狂的是，研究已经表明，在经济萧条期，口红常常会卖疯（经济学家称之为口红效应）.

    一个可能的原因是，给你的生活增加一些奢侈品可以产生满足感--即使是手头有些紧张，你也可以在你的预算中增加一支唇膏。"而且，不像裙子，你可能只是偶尔才穿一次，唇膏可以使我保持一整天的兴奋。"莱萨特如是说。

    把钱花在卧室上，而不是客厅

    一般来说，当人们在家居装修上挥霍时，他们会在客人们消磨时间的房间里投入更多的注意力。举个例子，他们会给客厅买个沙发，或者是给厨房买个花岗岩台面板。但是那些地方或许并不是投资拟家庭幸福指数的最好的地方。

    最近一个研究表明，居民睡眠质量最高的城市，往往也是居民幸福指数最高的城市。"卧室是你休息和放松的地方，"商业咨询顾问、莱斯特的合着者丹尼斯 ·居维叶博士说道。当你考虑在你的床上花费三分之一的时候，比如买一床新的床垫，600针的床单，或者重型遮光窗帘就非常有意义。事实上，你将会获得一样无价之宝：一个好的睡眠。

    把钱花在健身房里，而不是家庭设备

    你可能认为，如果你的地下室里有一架跑步机，一辆定位脚踏车，或者一架地秤，你会更有劲头去工作。而事实却不是非得这样。根据美国消费者报告国家调查中心的一项最新的调查显示，37%的被访者承认，他们并没有如他们预期所想地那样频繁使用家庭健身器械。

    《美国科学院医学助理》杂志上刊登的一片文章提出，一个可能的原因是与其他人一起在健身房运动可以使流汗的感觉更爽--同时，当人们享受到运动的趣味性时，他们会更有可能坚持下去。更重要的是，将你的社会生活与健身练习这两个重要的任务相合并可以立刻使你适应你已经超出过多的日程安排。

    "健身房可以基本上自动安排你与朋友们的时间，"《金钱与幸福：幸福生活指南》的作者、雅虎财经的专栏作家劳拉·罗莉解释道，"你可以看见你真正想见的人，而这个可以使你感到愉悦并使你的花费物有所值。"如果这还不够成为支出这每月的"零花钱"的理由的，那么你可以考虑一下这个：当你一个人在你地下室的跑步机上松懈时，那个好战的飞速转动的教练却对你并不宽容。所以从长远来说，你也会对这个结果感到更加幸福。

    把钱花在别人身上，而不是你自己

    如果你想要的是即时的满足感，那么请把你送掉你的一些钱。在一个实验里给每个学生都发了5到20美元，并要求他们一半花在自己身上，一半捐给其他人。一天结束后，那些把钱给别人的同学表示感到更幸福。

    "比慷慨更能带给我们幸福感的事情并不多。"前哈佛讲师、《更幸福一点》的作者泰勒·本-沙哈尔博士如是说。试想，每月捐出25美元给你最喜欢的事业（你不妨从税收里扣除）.你有一个打心底喜欢的事业吗？请参考一下charitynavigator.org,上面按照主题（动物、环境、健康等等）罗列了各种组织的目录，以及各种慈善机构，因此你可以确信你的付出会起到作用。

    或者在家附近做一些好事。宾夕法尼亚沃尔顿商学院的研究者发现，我们会更积极地去帮助那些跟我们有人事关系的人。找到当地能够引起共鸣的慈善机构 --餐具室，人道协会，流浪汉之家，或者是一个当地的博物馆或图书馆--然后寄去一张支票帮助他们。小规模上的，给朋友办一个庆生会，或者给你男朋友买一款他最喜欢的冰淇淋也可以使你感到温暖和朦胧。