It's, "depends how you spend it."
Miriam Tatzel, PhD, of Empire State College, recently presented an overview of consumer behavior and happiness at The American Psychological Association's annual conference.
In it, she examined the link between consumerism, happiness, and even the environmental impact of our buying decisions.
She found that the same things that benefit our mindset may improve our surroundings, as well.
Dr. Tatzel graciously allowed us to republish her slides here.