Washington: Families should utilise vacations to develop happy ties with loved ones, which is what really matters.
"Psychological research has shown... that what truly makes people happy is not money, not stuff, it's time with people you spend," says Martha Wadsworth, associate professor of psychology, Denver University, who led the study.
Wadsworth's research focuses on coping processes in children and families exposed to overwhelming stress, including financial stress.
She suggests that families take this opportunity to build in new family traditions that are more about spending time with each other and less about money, says a Denver release.
Wadsworth says some families have started giving traditions, where they plant trees, donate to a local shelter or volunteer in a soup kitchen. "Giving of your time and your energy can be very satisfying," she says.
IANS
First Published: Saturday, November 14, 2009, 13:26