9 Reasons Investing in Experiences Will Make You Happier than Buying New Stuff
Science says it’s experiences and not material things the make you happiest. Learn more.
It is experiences and not material things that bring us the most joy. Whether it is a hike with friends, family game night, or taking a drive to see the changing colors of fall, many of life’s best moments are inexpensive or even free. A night out with friends, a long road trip, or concert tickets may cost more but also make you just as happy. Either way, the most satisfied people are those who can squeeze the most experience out of whatever money they spend.
A caveat
There is one critical distinction when comparing material to experiential purchases; some material things crossover into the experiential. For example, that new set of skis I’m trying to persuade my wife to let me buy. Purchases like that can open up the opportunity for more experiences. The point is not to avoid buying material things altogether but to purchase items that will make for more adventures.
Experience Over Stuff
That said, it is experiences, and not things, that make us happy. This may seem counterintuitive as buying an item means that you now have the material object…
