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> research suggests that people are often happier when they spend their money on experiences rather than things I concur.

majkinetor 3y ago
Looks the same too me. I call it sensory consumerism.
paxys 3y ago
There isn't really a clear separation between the two. People can experience physical things exactly the same as an activity or a vacation.
- johnthuss 3y ago
  One big difference is that physical things exact an on-going tax since you have to store them in your house and maintain them. Hence the "does it spark joy?" question. That said, the up-side is that physical goods can provide on-going benefit. For example, I love my AirPods Pro - they bring me joy every day.
  - neogodless 3y ago
    So you bought an ongoing experience instead of a one-time experience. Seems like the objects enable experiences. However, due to hedonic adaptation, you might get less value out of those daily experiences over time. - collectible? one-time novelty object but possible ongoing "look at my things" experience - tech item? possibly ongoing experiences - status symbol? ongoing experience getting admiration of people that care about such things - sharp reliable chisel? ongoing experience every time you partake in your creative hobby - travel itinerary? one-time period of experiences but ongoing photographs, stories and memories It's not clear cut at all, in my opinion, the delineation between experiences and things.
albert_e 3y ago
I don't know. My expensive vacations still feel like too much money spent for too little return. The parts I loved-- meeting old friends, and spending time with own family outside daily routine -- could have been achieved much more frugally and in a relaxed manner without the pressure of making the vacation pay for itself (e.g. limit the duration because hotels are expensive and rush through things). Obviously this is a very subjective experience and also varies based on how wisely we plan out vacations and spend versus our means and mindset.

majkinetor 3y ago

Looks the same too me. I call it sensory consumerism.

paxys 3y ago

There isn't really a clear separation between the two. People can experience physical things exactly the same as an activity or a vacation.

johnthuss 3y ago
One big difference is that physical things exact an on-going tax since you have to store them in your house and maintain them. Hence the "does it spark joy?" question. That said, the up-side is that physical goods can provide on-going benefit. For example, I love my AirPods Pro - they bring me joy every day.
- neogodless 3y ago
  So you bought an ongoing experience instead of a one-time experience. Seems like the objects enable experiences. However, due to hedonic adaptation, you might get less value out of those daily experiences over time. - collectible? one-time novelty object but possible ongoing "look at my things" experience - tech item? possibly ongoing experiences - status symbol? ongoing experience getting admiration of people that care about such things - sharp reliable chisel? ongoing experience every time you partake in your creative hobby - travel itinerary? one-time period of experiences but ongoing photographs, stories and memories It's not clear cut at all, in my opinion, the delineation between experiences and things.

albert_e 3y ago

I don't know. My expensive vacations still feel like too much money spent for too little return. The parts I loved-- meeting old friends, and spending time with own family outside daily routine -- could have been achieved much more frugally and in a relaxed manner without the pressure of making the vacation pay for itself (e.g. limit the duration because hotels are expensive and rush through things). Obviously this is a very subjective experience and also varies based on how wisely we plan out vacations and spend versus our means and mindset.