We've always heard that money can't buy happiness, and while we laugh about the statement and wish that we had more money, this study seems to reinforce the truism.
- Why might experiences bring more happiness than money?
- What does the author suggest is the "return on investment" for spending money on experiences rather than belongings?
- Is the study sample large enough to convince you that the findings have scientific reliability?
- What would you rather get for your next birthday... something to own, or a shared entertainment experience? If so, what might you enjoy?
Here's the article at LA Times.com...
Money doesn't make us happy but experiences do
http://latimesblogs.latimes.com/booster_shots/2009/02/money-doesnt-ma.html
Here's hoping that this year brings you better experiences AND more money!
-Jeff
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10 comments:
I completely agree with this article. I have always been a believer of the saying "money can't buy happiness". Money is just that, money. It is paper with ink on it that people in time connected value with it. The article stated that memories bring more happiness then materialistic things, which is very true. What is the point of having everything in the world, if you have no one to share it with. The memories people have are priceless. However, as the article states that materialistic things do make people happy, but not as much as life experiences and memories that are made. I really enjoyed reading this article.
Money don’t make us happy...
When one holds a bag of money, it is not the bag of money, but what they can do or have with that bag of money that is important. I have watched many interviews of people that have won the lottery and in very short time they become penniless. They had no sense of value to the money, resulting in poor choices for the use of their money. Often times they will express a since of freedom when they are once again in their economic class before the winning the money. To me, money is a representation or an expression of the individual’s values. I look at money as a tool, the product that we exchange for the value of our time and talent. The more perceived value we place on an individual’s time the more money we anticipate obtaining in exchange. What we do or plan to do with our time (money) represents the value we hold for our time and investment to develop our talent(s).
As a general rule humans throughout history have invented tools to free-up time in our lives. The more freeing inventions the less time there seems to be; an oxymoron, the more time that we free up the more demands we allow on our time. This has lead to greater demands on our time which should mean greater value for what we do with our money. It only makes common since to spend our money on our needs, experiencing life, is one of our life’s needs.
We as a class society appraise one another based on a person’s asset portfolio. Being able to travel is an unspoken fact that one has a solid or substantial assists in order to be able to travel. This fact gives another level of credence to the value of travel.
When one is unemployed, like so many today their perceived value depletes (they have no income, what is their value?). As we have learned in class, life status change causes crisis not only to the individual’s life, but to the family, extended family, friend and community as well. In such cases, past travels may be valued events to help individual through financial crisis.
I have had opportunity to travel both for pleasure and for business, much of the work has left my memory, but the places and people that I was able to experience enriched my life.
I agree with Ryan Howell on experiences bringing us more happiness then material things. By having a vacation you get to relax more, because you are away from home. When I go on vacations I feel completely free from all my problems. I don’t have to work or do any chores. All I’m doing on a vacation is relaxing. You could let your mind go free. If you’re on vacation you might stay at a hotel. The staff will deliver you food, bring you towels, and take care of many other things for you. Basically everything is done for you when you’re on a vacation. You just enjoy yourself and have fun. The study seems true in my opinion, since I feel the same way. Honesty on my birthday I would rather go on a vacation. It would be nice to go to Hawaii; the last time I went there I had such a great time the last time I was there. I was stress free and getting a tan on the beach. It is beautiful over there. I was always in a good mood. It was wonderful having a vacation.
I agreed that experiences do bring more happiness than money. Money is only the tool; whereas the experiences tend to be social and involve all our senses; thereby create happy memories that last for a lifetime. We use money to buy material things or to pay for the experiences with families and friends, but the enjoyment, fun, relaxation and other feelings and memories we get will stay with us long after the money is spent. In previous years, my husband and I have spent our Memorial weekend with other friends camping at Yosemite National Park. We don’t remember how much money each trip cost us, but we remember what we experienced: the spectacularly beautiful nature sceneries, the excitement and fun of hiking in the woods, by the streams and waterfalls, and the enjoyment and fun we had interacting with our friends.
The author, Ryan Howell, said that, “Experiences may also yield more happiness because people are left with positive memories, a sort of return on their investment.” I believe in saying this he suggests that the positive memories we store up from our experiences can serve us well when we need to bring back those memories in time of sadness or when a love one has passed and the good memories we have with them are all that’s left for us to live with. The positives memories of our experiences are “the return on our investment.”
The study’s sample of 154 people ages 19 to 50 is a large enough group to convince me that the findings have scientific reliability not only because of the result of the study but because I can also draw from my own experiences. The subject matter is universal and anyone can relate based on their experiences of what makes them happier – money or life experiences.
In conclusion, my next birthday wish would be to have a shared experience – maybe a trip to Canada with my husband a few close friends. I haven’t been to Canada and have been thinking of making a visit. It will cost us a considerable amount of money, but the joy, excitement and happiness I’ll get from the experience will last me a lifetime and I’ll be happier.
I would have to say that I have to agree to disagree on this one. The reason being that it takes money to go on vacations. Poor people across the world don't travel, they usually don't go on vacations either. I do agree that being materialistic comes a little short of producing real happiness. I think that the reason people seek material items is because of the media and television are constantely pushing it on everyone. People who live in the ghetto don't want to go check out the Louve in France, they want to get a bentley with some spinners on it. Everyone is convinced that if you have a bunch of expensive crap that everyone is going to respect you and that your gonna be happy. ANother thing that is interesting is the people who go to Vegas all the time , I always thought that it kind of sucked. THe world is huge and people should be more open to experiencing different places.
I totally agree with this article. I use to do the same thing every week, making the same money as I do now. Party and enjoyed my weekends is where my money went but really didn't get much satisfaction out of it. I met my boyfriend in October, since I've experienced new ways of having fun and being happy: bike riding, fishing, picnics with family and all with not much money needed. Although money is begining to accumulate in back, I am beginning to enjoy what life is truelly for and that experience is worth living for.
jessica byamukama money don't make us happy once you buy something there's no reason to hold that memory,but with a lite experience you can't take anything home. the only thing you can take with you is memory and we tend to focus our memories on the intense emotion, we felt during the experience or on how it ended.memories have an inherent bias and you remember the best part of life experience. as people drop closer to the poverty line they tend to get more satisfaction with material things the effect of purchasing life experience probaby becomes strong as you become wealthy.a
I also agree with this article that it is the positive experiences in life that brings us more happiness. A positive experience can change our perception, our outlook in life, our own attitudes. It is the experience that can improve one's own self esteem. The experiences make happy memories to last a lifetime which the author says is the return of investment. The study only included 154 participants so I wouldn't consider this study "scientific" but I would hypothesize to say though that if the study stretched to include more participants and span the globe that the findings would more than likely be the same. I honestly could not tell you what I spent my tax return on last year but I could recount the joyful memories spent up in in the mountains with my husband last summer. I definitely have grown to love to experience new things and to appreciate a good adventure. Every year my girlfriends and I meet up for our birthdays to visit a new place. The budgets have been small but the experiences and fun are priceless. The weekends are filled with laughter and even tears when we talk about some of the harder situations in life. It's those experiences that I treasure and wouldn't trade for any amount of money.
This article is very true! So many times people find themselves starving themselves in between paychecks to afford an expensive purse, or that designer outfit that is the latest trend, that when they actually attain it they realize it's not as satisfying as they thought it would be. yes, money can buy a lot of materialistic happiness, but in reality that happiness is only momentary.
Life experiences however, are lifelong. I personally had the opportunity to travel to Europe right out of high school and I believe that was the most eye-opening, fun-filled experience that I have had in my life. Being able to EXPERIENCE something new and being able to live it rather than BUYING something that only gives you a rush for the moment, is worth more than words could express.
And this author was right in sayin that experiences such as vacations make your life full of unforgettable memories! It would be very nice to never have to worry about bills or financial issues, but nothing can replace the life experiences that exploring the world around us can give us!
I have heard comments of people saying "they must have a lot of money," or "he/she must have a good job," when they see other people taking good vacations or because they have experiences with nature. Indeed, money allows people to buy experiences and have some happiness.
Furthermore, I see people that give more value to material things and they may spend more money on new cars, and the newest technology. Meanwhile, they put aside other important basic or social needs, such as buying healthy food, investing for a house or social events, because they have a lot of bills to pay for these material items. Looking at the good experiences of others may be an opportunity to examine our values, and how this brings happiness.
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