Comments on: Want to Buy Happiness? Do Something.

By: Gail

Gail — Wed, 04 Nov 2009 18:27:14 +0000

Great post! While I’m admittedly far from being able to call myself a non-materialistic person, I do give myself credit for making thoughtful purchase decisions on consumer goods. This means only spending money on material things I truly desire and can afford without compromising my financial goals.

By: hella

hella — Fri, 27 Feb 2009 03:02:52 +0000

I think their finding are overly simplistic…and I am very much an experiential purchaser. I generally don’t covet other people’s things. On the other hand, I just got an email from travelzoo about a trip to the Galapagos Islands for under $2k, including airfare, that I would LOVE to be in a better position to take. Ever since I got the email my passport has been burning a hole in my pocket…[$2k for the Galapagos!!! So tempting to raid part of my emergency fund…but I digress.]

However, can’t “stuff” be experiential? I love movies. Replacing my early 90’s 27inch TV with a bigger screen TV would certainly enhance my movie watching experience. I finally broke down and replaced my walkman with an ipod because it’s easier to walk the dogs with the ipod in my pocket rather than carrying a bulky walkman with me. Plus I can download books on tape (ok mp3) from my library rather than driving there (at least in the winter…in the summer I tend to walk) to pick them up. For someone who loves to cycle, a new bicycle that makes the ride more enjoyable would be experiential as much as it would be stuff. Similarly, a serious gamer’s computer would be experiential for them. I think they need to differentiate between the purchase of stuff for the sake of acquiring stuff, vs the purchasing stuff because I will enhance a type of experience.

By: K-money

K-money — Thu, 26 Feb 2009 03:20:17 +0000

All my research on this topic has been in the nature of a case study on myself. The best money I ever spent was on a couple memorable vacations that live as shining beacons in my memories. The worst money I ever spent was of a bunch of “stuff” that I ended up sending to Goodwill because it took up space and made me feel unhappy.

I have learned that buying stuff does not make me happy and it was when I was most unhappy that I spent the most money. I do buy things now but only with careful consideration of how the stuff will be good for my life and not to fill a void inside me.

By: Mr. ToughMoneyLove

Mr. ToughMoneyLove — Thu, 26 Feb 2009 02:47:47 +0000

Beef: I have family members in that situation as well. One is slowly coming to the realization that the spending is not solving the underlying problem.

Beth: Thanks for your comment. I’m no psychologist but I’m guessing that their response to your point is that there may be a difference between enjoyment and happiness, the latter being a more profound and permanent condition. And I agree that there are some purchases that do contribute to a feeling of contentment and happiness – we have a few of those things ourselves.

By: Beth

Beth — Thu, 26 Feb 2009 02:32:39 +0000

I dunno if I agree. We’ve bought some things that I enjoy every time I use them — a nice TV, a nice computer, a modest house I fell in love with. We could afford those things and I still get a lot of pleasure out of having them. I think the difference is, I didn’t buy them to fill some sort of void in my life.

By: Rick Beagle

Rick Beagle — Wed, 25 Feb 2009 18:25:53 +0000

Agreed.

Good post.
-Rick Beagle

By: Beef Up Your Piggy

Beef Up Your Piggy — Wed, 25 Feb 2009 15:23:42 +0000

I have done a lot of research on this topic myself. From what I have found, people who tend to shop more than they can afford to are trying to fill a void. Whether that is too much extra time, boredom, or unhappiness. We have a dependent mother-in-law who is as sweet as pie but tends to have some depression issues. She does not have any money so we help her financially and it gets very frustrating when you see how much she shops for things she doesn’t need nor can afford. In her defense, I really don’t think she realizes what she’s doing. It is an uphill battle that I hope she will one day realize herself.

The end result: She is unhappy with having to be financially dependent, yet her habits keep her in that vicious cycle.