"Stuff" vs. Experiences

My dad is retired now, so with that extra time on his hands, he and my mom have been discussing the "stuff" that they claim is mine in their basement, and how I have my own basement now and I should take the stuff that is mine (allegedly) to my own basement.  The idea of "stuff" is a theme that has been coming up in my life several times over the past few months, or more specifically the idea of having "stuff" versus experiencing life.  I had talked to Shawn about it a few times and on my drive back from work in Indiana this week, I listened to a radio program that explored this very same topic.  I thought I would share some of the main points from the show......


1.  Everyone believes that the more money we have (or make), the happier we will be.  To some extent that is true, but there is a magic number.....$75,000.  People who make a million dollars are no more happy than people who make $75,000.  It's  a different perspective to think about it in terms of happiness....not financial well being, but what makes us happy in our lives.

2.  Researchers did an experiment where they gave half a group of people $5 to spend on themselves on something they thought would make them happy.  They gave the other half $5 to spend on someone else.  What they found was that the people who spent their $5 on someone else were happier in the long run.  It's the idea of experiencing giving and the happiness associated with doing something for someone else that gave people greater happiness in the long run.

3.  The best example from the show was the idea of planning a vacation.  From the moment you buy the ticket, part of your mind is imagining being in the place you are visiting, and as the trip gets closer, your happiness and excitement levels increase peaking the day before you actually go on the trip.  The trip itself can be good or bad, but as time passes, the memories of the trip grow and 10 years later it is a cherished experience.  The t-shirts and souveniers will be long gone, but the experience is there forever.  It's the same thing as buying a gigantic tv.  You buy this enormous tv and and the end of the day you are there in your house staring at the wall....all the while, there is a whole world outside your door, people who would love to visit with you, things to see and do, places to go....

Finally for me, it might be as I get older I realize I don't need anymore stuff....I need experiences...trips, dinners, performances, hikes or whatever life and the world has to offer.

So, as the holidays approach, think a minute about how much "stuff" you need or how much "stuff" you want to give....maybe some of your time is a better gift for both you AND the recipient.
xo
Greg

(Info from "Financially Fearless"...Sirius XM Radio)