Let’s say your bills are paid, and you have a little extra money. What are you going to do with it? Ideally you are going to put it into a savings account, because you know how to have a good time for free.
But let’s be realistic. Sometimes you’re going to reach for your wallet. Whatever you may have in your hand, however, here is something to keep in mind: a new study demonstrates that buying experiences—not possessions—leads to greater happiness.
“Purchased experiences provide memory capital,” says Ryan Howell, assistant professor of psychology at San Francisco State University. “We don’t get bored of happy memories like we do with a material object.”
So instead of dropping your dollar on new clothes and toys, invest in real-world interaction and genuine life experience. See a concert or sporting event, visit a theme park, have brunch with some friends, go camping, take a dance or scuba diving class, make a road trip.
Hands-on experience does more than increase the balance in your memory bank. It fills your deeper personal requirements by connecting you to other living creatures, pushing your limits, and expanding your horizons.
In short, doing something interesting will revitalize your mind more than having something will. So if you’re going to buy, pick what pays.
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