I know people always say that money cannot buy happiness, and I do partially believe in that. Although when I discussed the topic with one of my best friends, he jokingly replied, like the materialistic person he truly is (Iโm kidding- heโs not that materialistic), with โIโd rather dry my tears with $100 bills than tissue paper.โ
Back to the issue at hand, yes, material things cannot simply rid you ofย your misery. You can buy all the designer clothes, high-end cars and state-of-the-art gadgets out there, but that wonโt guarantee you eternal euphoria.
Iโve found out that I get my moneyโs worth and feel ten times more satisfied when I treat myself to new experiencesย notย objects. Iโd rather spend money on travelling from country to country or attendingย the concert of my favourite band than on anything else- I love to spoil myself with experiences and hereโs why you should do the same:
Memories Last; Objects Become Outdated:
Apple can definitely vouch for that one given: how they release a new iphone almost as often as we blink our eyes. Memories, or rather, strong, unforgettable memories of the things you encounter and the feelings you get when you try something new, can never become obsolete.
Money Spent on Experiences Is Hardly Regretted:
Whenever we splurge on an item, thereโs a chance weโll get โBuyerโs Remorseโ- we might experience regret because the object has failed to live up to our expectations.ย You can devalue an object, but itโs a lot harder to do the same for an experience, because at least you got to know or see or feel something new!
Challenge What Youโve Always Been Taught about Financial Investment:
Growing up, weโve always been told to place a price tag on things- to associate economic value with objects. Thus, it makes more sense to us to invest in assets rather than experiences. I believe itโs high time we started challenging that view, especially after aknowledging that by investing in new experiences, we can surely be investing in our own happiness.
The Only Person You Need to Impress is You:
Certain objects have become status symbols, that help you show off and boast about your, perhaps, sense of style or luxurious lifestyle. In an increasingly materialistic world, people are investing their money in trying harder and harder to impress others. What we need to realize, however, is that our own happiness is much more important than the image we strive so hard to maintain.
Immediate Gratification Fades:
Whenever we buy a new object weโve been obsessing over, we feel an instant and very temporary happiness, whichย gradually fades away as the object becomes more familiar. As Dr. Thomas Gilovich, a Psychology professor whose research has focused on the correlation between money and happiness, put it โwe buy things to make us happy, and we succeed. But only for a while. New things are exciting to us at first, but then we adapt to them.โ
To conclude, consider this article a general invitation for you to debateย the general societal status quo that preaches the importance of assets. Consider it your permission to spend your money on heading to novel destinations or revelling in new experiences. Go ahead, I can guarantee that you wonโt be lying on your death bed regretting the iwatch you didnโt buy when you were 20!
