Give happiness

5 great ways to give happiness

By MP Dunleavy
msn.com

A plastic gift card isn't really going to show your best friend you love her. These smart tips help you beat mall stress -- and pick presents your friends and family really want.

1. Think life, not stuff

There's a temptation to believe that the earrings you give Mom or the wallet you give your brother will hold more meaning over the years than, say, tickets to the theater, a snowboarding tutorial or a trip to a monster truck rally.

In fact, gifts that involve experiences are often treasured far more. Mom may lose those earrings, but will she ever forget the beer falling on your head at the truck rally?

2. Connect the dots -- er, people

A ton of research makes one thing clear: People are happiest when they are connected to their friends, family, community -- or a combination of the above.

Instead of spending that $859 on holiday gifts, what if you spent your money on a big ol' holiday open house? Or maybe a weekend getaway with your spouse or a spa day with your girlfriends?

You decide what will bring you closer to your sister or best friend: exchanging plastic gift cards (the top gift choice for 69% of consumers) or enjoying girl talk while the authentic desert-clay mask dries on your face. Do you really need time to think about it?

3. Make someone feel better

Whether it's a gift certificate for a reflexology treatment, a private session with a personal trainer or yoga teacher, or your own best back rub -- gifts that enhance health or well-being add up to a lot more than the one-time event itself.

That's more than you can say about whatever you picked up frantically at Wal-Mart at 11 p.m. on Christmas Eve.

4. Make time stand still

People are always talking about how little time they have, how much time they waste and how badly they wish they had just one extra hour each day. So take the hint and give those you love the most precious gift of all: free time that they can spend on themselves. Video: Fantasizing about the escape

Give your spouse a week without chores, so he or she can spend time doing more rewarding things.

Give the new parents in your life a day or a night off while you handle the diapers and burp cloths.

Offer to help a friend with a project, or retype her résumé or reprogram his new laptop -- whatever will produce a windfall of time. Video: The gift of 'getting down'

5. Give money

Beth, a former member of the Women in Red group that I write about, says that one of her favorite holiday gifts was a financial-planning session with a pro. A few years ago, her in-laws wanted to give their grown children and their families financial peace of mind, so rather than just give cash gifts, they gave each couple a session with a financial planner.

I know: Financial planning ain't exactly festive. But think how much joy there is in knowing you have a rock-solid financial plan.