Key to happiness? Not stuff

After months of online shopping, many people are forgoing material purchases that could trigger "buyer's remorse", and instead spending big on in-person experiences. While not everyone is ready to buy concert or plane tickets, anecdotal evidence suggests that day trips, movie dates and dinners with family and friends are where people are spending any extra money they've managed to save through the pandemic.

There is a massive body of work in the field of behavioral psychology that suggests the “hedonic superiority” of experiential over material purchases.

If you’ve weathered the pandemic well financially, think about sharing some with those who haven’t fared as well.

You can not buy happiness with money. But the emotion that will give happiness can still be bought. My child is very fond of ice cream. I will never forget these eyes are full of delight and joy. Just buying ice cream, and how much happiness in return.

I'm planning my first road trip with my family. I'm more confident, and less risk-averse. I'm careful, but not as paranoid. I'm taking more walks. This is making me more happy for sure.

I hope you have a good (and experience-filled) weekend.

Source:

https://www.nytimes.com/2021/05/28/your-money/coronavirus-spending-happiness.html