So get this: There’s actually an emotion that can help you resist the temptation of spending money.

I recently read an article on how having a little bit of GRATITUDE can help us to spend less. The findings came from a study where a bunch of people were asked whether they’d like $54 today, or $80 in 30 days: a classic test of financial self-control.

But before they made their decision, the participants were asked to write down a personal experience that was either 1) happy, 2) emotionally neutral or 3) generated feelings of gratitude. The researchers found that the happy and neutral participants wanted the money now, but the grateful participants made the better decision by choosing the larger amount in the future. The researchers concluded:

“The emotion gratitude reduces impatience even with real money at stake.”

Woah, you mean I get to feel grateful, become more patient, AND ...