Women love shopping. Buying yourself something expensive can improve your mood, but the boost is often temporary. In fact, according to a Women´s Health magazine article, you usually end up feeling worse later on (like when your credit card bill arrives).

Fortunately, there are ways to spend your money, that will bring you true long-term happiness. Over the past decades, behavioral economists and psychologists have been examining the connection between money and mood, and they've made some intriguing discoveries. Using their research,  Women´s Health magazine identified five simple ways to reallocate your budget so that you feel more bliss.

A vacation
Go to a trip instead of a spa-treatment. Breaking free from your usual routine gives you a chance to take stock of your life and figure out the kinds of changes you need to make to be happier. Even a weekend spent at a local B&B can work wonders.

Makeup
Buy beauty products instead of clothing. Looking good makes you feel good. According to a study, beauty products are a more satisfying purchase than a chic new addition to your wardrobe. Studies have found that during economic downturns, lipstick sales actually spike, because of the little bit of luxury it adds to life.

Something for your bedroom
Generally, when people splurge on a home upgrade, they focus is on a room that guests spend time in—for example the living room or kitchen. But according to a recent study, happiness dollars should be spent on bedrooms where you relax and unwind. And when you consider that we spend a third of our lives in bed, investing in a new mattress makes a lot of sense. And a good night's sleep will keep you happy.

A gym membership
Instead of an expensive piece of home equipment, spend on a gym membership card. According to a recent survey, 37 percent of respondents admitted that they use their home equipment less frequently than they expected to. One possible reason: working out with other people at the gym makes those sweatfests more enjoyable— and when people have fun exercising, they're more likely to stick with it, reveals an article published in the Journal of the American Academy of Physician Assistants. Merging your workout with your social life will also help you fit two important tasks into your overbooked calendar at once.

Others
Give some of your money away. Find local charities (food pantries, the humane society, a homeless shelter, or a local museum or library) and write a check to help them out. In one experiment, researchers handed out $5 and $20 bills to students, asking half to spend it on themselves and half on other people. Those who gave the cash away reported feeling happier at the end of the day. On a smaller scale, treating a friend to lunch for her birthday or buying your boyfriend his favorite flavor of ice cream can make you feel warm and fuzzy, too.