SoylentNews is people
SoylentNews
Many people know that experiences will make them happier, and yet they continue to spend money on material objects because of their perceived greater value.
...
It has been shown by a recent study from San Francisco State University that greater happiness comes from seeking experiences, rather than material objects. Although this may seem like common sense to many readers, reality paints another picture – one in which people most often spend their money on material items because they mistakenly believe that they have greater value.People do this because material items are tangible; they have measurable economic value attached to it; and they're always present, able to be used or seen. Memories of experiences, on the other hand, are fleeting experiences, temporary purchases with no concrete price tag.
And yet, people are never as happy in the long run after spending money on material items than they are after forking out for adventures, travel, and experiences.
Camping out on top of the 15th guard tower on the Simatai stretch of the Great Wall of China and waking up the next morning at the very top of the clouds, the guard towers peeking through, and the sunrise casting everything in golden light and rainbows, was one of the happiest moments of my life. On the other hand, my last laptop, a real Thinkpad, was like an extension of my body and made me feel happy and productive every day for years. So is it really that things can't make you as happy as experiences, or that meaningless consumption of meaningless things can't make you happy?
Original Submission
(Score: 2) by looorg on Sunday June 28 2015, @03:27AM
There must be a difference tho. Having "things" usually mean you have money (or is heavily in debt). With money comes the option of having "nicer" experiences. Nobody really enjoys the experience of crushing debt or a life of poverty. Sure those experiences might be what you hang on to but still it's not really fun. Money might not buy you happiness but it allows for a choice of misery (horrible paraphrase of Groucho Marx as I recall it).
That said I do agree that I would rather spend my money on doing things instead of buying things. There is a somewhat limited amount of things I need (or want -- I could live without most of my things but I still want them). There is a basic amount of things that you need but as a previous commenter said, you probably don't need that super-big-screen-tv-that-takes-up-an-entire-wall; but when you do watch TV it might enhance the experience.
(Score: 1) by Francis on Sunday June 28 2015, @09:44AM
In my experience there's considerable value in having fewer things that are nicer. There's definitely value in being able to pack everything up at a moment's notice even if you aren't into travel. It means less time spent working, managing the items and worrying about securing them.
Living with a couple carry on sized bags is something that everybody should try at some point. They may find that they aren't aware of just how unhappy their things are making them.
(Score: 2) by looorg on Sunday June 28 2015, @01:30PM
I would agree. It's a few years ago now but I once realized that I had an apartment filled with various things that I just never used or did anything with. They just sat or stood there like artifacts of the past collecting dust. There was a purge of items. I just have not taken it to the extreme of fitting into a couple of suitcases (- obvious items to large for suitcases like my computers and furniture). It's not some 10 items or less thing where I'm afraid my items own me tho, I'm still the owner. But I did purge a lot of unnecessary things, most certainly so in the clothing department (it seems just everything sticks around there, even things you have not worn for a decade or so).
(Score: 0) by Anonymous Coward on Sunday June 28 2015, @11:10PM
I would rather save my money and be financially independent in around 7 years. There are plenty of things you can do without paying, but our consumerist society makes people think they have to spend, spend, spend.