JUST TRYIN TO HELP YOU OUT! IF ALL ELSE FAILS GIVE ALL YOUR MONEY TO ME!

FIVE FINANCIAL HABITS TO MAKE YOU HAPPIERAlthough it's difficult for most of us to increase our income significantly (especially in this economy), we do have control over our money-handling habits. Here are some of the good habits to adopt:1) Balance your checkbook. It may seem like quaint advice, but it's not. People who balance their checkbooks monthly are happier -- perhaps because they don't worry that the next check they write will bounce. Or maybe seeing that figure on the bottom line curbs the impulse to spend.2) Save 5% of what you make. Financial planners often say it's important to save at least 10% of earnings. In reality, you just need to cross the 5% threshold to see a significant boost in happiness. Once you've shown yourself you can save 5%, you'll find it easier to save more.3) Make a will. Americans have made progress in writing wills. The last big piece of research to measure how many people don't have wills put the number at 70%, according to Consumer Reports. That's still not enough, especially because having a will results in less financial worry in the long run.4) Give to charity. Whether you write checks to your favorite cause, volunteer your time or give away your no-longer-useful belongings, the act of giving is good not just for your beneficiary, but also for you. Why? It makes you happier.5) Talk to your spouse/partner about what you plan to charge. One of the hottest buttons you can push in a marriage is borrowing money without a spouse's knowledge. Many people don't realize it, but that's precisely what you're doing each time you charge on a credit card. So before you slide that Visa through the electronic slot, have an honest chat first.