What makes you happy? For people in this day and age, top of the list would probably be an iPod, Playstation, cell phone, XBOX, TV show or movie, and/or other electronic gizmos that occupy the time in your life. For others, what really makes them happy is spending time with good friends and doing things that they enjoy together. Last time I checked, that didn’t cost a dime. My friends and I are in that group people. We love hanging out with each other, no matter where we are or where we go. The time we spend with each other hanging out makes us way happier than any electronic appliance could. An event that I will never forget (that was conveniently free), was traveling to Mellon Arena to sit outside Gate 3 and watch the hockey game on the Jumbo Tron outside the building. It cost us nothing to get in, and even though we forgot to bring lawn chairs, we made the best of our situation. We stood in front of a tree and had a GREAT view of the screen…and it was free. When people I know go to the mall with me, we rarely leave the place with bags, because we get too distracted by things happening to even buy stuff. Not being superficial is a great quality to have if you want to achieve this happiness, because you won’t care if you have the priciest clothes or the newest laptop, you’ll just be happy because you are with your friends. Most high school kids rarely have money because of gas prices and car insurance, so spoiling yourself with the presence of your friends will be easy on the wallet and a great boost for your ego. I’m not saying to not go out and spend money; I’m saying that money is not a necessity for being happy. Even if you don’t want to go to someone’s house for a certain reason (they/their house smells bad, their parents are mean or awkward, take your pick), you can always just meet somewhere and hang out. You can still spend money (obviously gas isn’t free), but don’t always feel pressured to spend money every time you go out. Never let money make or break plans with your friends, because the best times I’ve had with my friends were times that I’ve spent little or no cash at all. If you’ve been having a bad week, the iPod touch you just spend hundreds of dollars on will entertain you, but only the feelings you get from being around the people you care about can make you feel ultimately better. You will feel way happier sitting in your friend’s basement laughing at a kid’s movie rather than sitting alone with an Playstation 3 and a big screen TV. Just think before you go to bed tonight: what makes you happier? Being with your friends or the expensive items that rule our society today? What makes you smile more, a lame joke and a good time or some pricey material objects? Most people will smile over something that happened in downtown Pittsburgh with their best friends more then they’ll smile over that new XBOX game.