How you spend your money this holiday season can have a direct affect on your happiness.   I challenge you to think a little differently about this year’s giving season.

After being bombarded by a whirl-wind of messages hyping bargains on both Black Friday and Cyber Monday, tomorrow brings yet another holiday shopping slogan…

Worldwide volunteers and non-profits are celebrating GivingTuesday A day to raise awareness about the importance of paying-it-forward during the holiday season. Find out more at GivingTuesday.org

Thanksgiving dinner table 2012, my sister made a recommendation:  “Instead of giving gifts for Christmas this year, let’s donate to Habitat of Humanity – Global Village El Salvador?”

The monies donated helped to support my Feb. 2013 volunteer trip to build homes in Ahuachapán, El Salvador.

This year, we’ve decided to continue this giving season tradition.

Each person must find a non-profit organization, research it, donate, and the report on it at our Christmas dinner.

I recently viewed a TED talk video where a Harvard Professor describes  how “Money does buy happiness.”  Click this link below to watch the video:

Before You Go Shopping Today, Listen To This Harvard Guy Talk About Spending Money And Happiness

HERE ARE MY FAVORITES:

Below are some organizations I have personally worked with and can highly recommend.  Click on the logos to visit their websites.