Want Happiness? Buy Experiences, Not Stuff
If you read Spa, you’ve probably already internalized this little bit of information as one of life’s greatest truths: experiences bring happiness, not stuff. But in case you’ve ever second-guessed that fact, now you’ve got some science to back it up.
According to new research published in the Journal of Personality and Social Psychology, people’s satisfaction with experiential purchases (vacations, going to the movies, etc.) starts high and goes up over time, while people’s satisfaction with material purchases (jeans, gadgets) goes down over time.
So if you want to be happy, save up for a trip to Hawaii, or a membership to your favorite yoga studio, or a day of pampering at your favorite spa. And forget that new pair of shoes … if you can.
Read more about the study at LiveScience.com.
Image: Veer Photography
—Stephanie Kinnear, web editor
