Good morning! It’s Daniel de Visé with your Daily Money.

Maybe you can buy happiness, after all.

About 59% of Americans consider the highest measure of success to be happiness – and being able to spend money on things or experiences that bring joy, Felecia Wellington Radel reports.

People in a recent study were asked to select the top three measures of success they valued most. To see how they responded, read the full story.

More holiday shoppers in stores

Black Friday may not attract lines of customers wrapped around buildings, as in years past. Yet, the number of holiday shoppers who went to stores and made online purchases this year nearly broke records.

Before the five-day Thanksgiving weekend shopping period, from Thanksgiving Day through Cyber Monday, the National Retail Federation had forecast that 183.4 million consumers would shop in stores and online, Betty Lin-Fisher reports.

Here's how the actual numbers came in.

📰 More stories you shouldn't miss 📰

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📰 A great read 📰

As 2024 draws to a close, we're looking back at favorite stories from our colleagues. To start things off, here's one from Jessica Guynn.

What do remote and hybrid workers do all day?

They often brag about how productive they are, with no gossipy colleagues to distract them or time wasted on long commutes.

But a 2024 survey offered fresh insights into how remote workers really spend their time. Spoiler alert: It’s not all white papers and PowerPoint presentations.

About The Daily Money

Each weekday, The Daily Money delivers the best consumer and financial news from USA TODAY, breaking down complex events, providing the TLDR version and explaining how everything from Fed rate changes to bankruptcies impacts you.

Daniel de Visé covers personal finance for USA Today.