BE HAPPY TODAY!

***FOUR SMALL REASONS TO BE HAPPY***

People everywhere are struggling right now. The economy's in the toilet, jobs are being slashed and the cold weather isn't helping matters. Even die-hard optimists are having trouble staying upbeat.

That's why we're giving you four small reasons to be happy . . .

#1.) CHEAP DATES ARE POPULAR AGAIN. During a recession, it's more acceptable to be careful with your money. That means expensive dinners and opera tickets are out . . .

--And cheap dates involving board games, a bottle of wine, and movies on the couch are in. And you KNOW you're more likely to hook up when the date ends at someone's place.

#2.) GAS PRICES ARE LOW. In fact, gas prices are down almost 60% since reaching an all-time high last summer. That means road trips are suddenly affordable again. Check out websites like GasBuddy.com to find the cheapest gas in your area.

#3.) STORES ARE HAVING MAJOR SALES. People aren't spending money, and there's A LOT of leftover stock from the holiday season. So, if you DO have a few extra bucks to spend, check out the sales racks, because they're overflowing.

#4.) A NEW YEAR MEANS MORE PAID VACATION. Assuming you still HAVE a job, a new year means vacation days to burn. When you need to get away, sites like Expedia, Travelocity and Orbitz have great deals on vacation packages right now.

--Just make sure you don't use up ALL your vacation days before the end of February. The way this year's going, you might need another break when summer gets here. (Cosmopolitan.com)