Comments on: Experience, Not Stuff

By: Why We Are So Bad at Buying Happiness

Why We Are So Bad at Buying Happiness — Thu, 26 Aug 2010 00:48:27 +0000

[...] More Experience, Not Stuff Experience, not stuff: I've decided to make this my mantra to live by. It'll be hard, because I [...]

By: Lisa Franceschi

Lisa Franceschi — Mon, 16 Aug 2010 22:28:09 +0000

Memories are always better than things but sometimes thing help me bring back memories….
on that note… where did you get that awesome bag with the "W" inside the doile design?! I love it… I want one! It will help me remember I like this blog!

By: jj1

jj1 — Mon, 16 Aug 2010 17:39:47 +0000

I think that things usually can't compare to experiences because things, esp. technology related, devalue over time. As much as you may love your new iphone, ipad or laptop, it becomes obsolete after 3 years. Experiences, even not so postive ones, tend to magnify over time. I backpacked through Europe in my early 20s; now 20 years later I still remember it so fondly and have forgotten all the hassles of travel such as getting lost etc…

By: Jaime Lila Donovan

Jaime Lila Donovan — Sun, 15 Aug 2010 05:41:39 +0000

I don't quite agree. Buying some stuff has helped my life be easier. Then again I don't own an excess amount of stuff. I do agree that I like spending money on experiences but I also like spending consciously on stuff that I will constantly use. My computer cost around $1600 but I've gotten a lot out of it. I've played games, used IM, I write, I use photoshop, etc. I use it everyday and get a lot of use out of it. I'm very happy with it.

By: Jewelry For Gifts | Well-Heeled Blog

Jewelry For Gifts | Well-Heeled Blog — Mon, 18 Jan 2010 08:19:33 +0000

[...] More Experience, Not Stuff I've decided to make the above my mantra to live by. It'll be hard, because I like nice things (ex: [...]

By: nat

nat — Wed, 04 Mar 2009 11:11:26 +0000

“Experience, not stuff” … I like it As i am currently trying to save for future travelling memories, I am having a big problem with the buying of stuff… I just can’t help it.

But i have to remember that experiences are far far more valuable… thanks

By: Me: 1. Lifestyle inflation: 0. (for now) « Well-Heeled, with a mission

Me: 1. Lifestyle inflation: 0. (for now) « Well-Heeled, with a mission — Wed, 27 Aug 2008 04:33:42 +0000

[...] that I CAN save $1,800 a month. I’ve also found that to align my spending with my values (more experience, less stuff), I need to cut back on buying things and increase spending on traveling. Which I love. Even a [...]

By: fluvial

fluvial — Wed, 11 Jun 2008 19:31:42 +0000

Just wanted to say hi and tell you that I love your blog! I was in Argentina last year and had many of the same experiences. I ended up making a full birthday dinner for the son of the hostel owners I was staying with in Patagonia. Making dinner with an Argentine family and celebrating a birthday was them was FAR more memorable than those tango shoes I bought.

Keep up the good work!

By: Karen

Karen — Sun, 08 Jun 2008 21:50:11 +0000

This is soooo true! Every penny I spent on graduate school was totally worth it. Every trip I’ve ever taken too. The biggest waste of money has always been new cars. Now I just buy the most value-oriented used car possible and try and keep as much money out of cars as possible. Culture/education/life call instead!

By: mapgirl

mapgirl — Thu, 29 May 2008 13:19:52 +0000

Sometimes you have to turn the stuff into an experience. For me, buying a leather coat in Italy while visitin with my mom is one of the best memories of that trip. I learned a lot about her and her bargaining skills that day!

For me, stuff without straight utility has to remind me of a memory. If I can’t figure out who gave it to me, why I got it, etc, it’s akin to trash and can be tossed out.

By: Lo. Price

Lo. Price — Fri, 23 May 2008 06:03:38 +0000

Great thoughts. On the one hand, I’ve always heard that putting a lot money into depreciating assets (like cars, TVs, foosball tables, etc.) can be a bad thing, and you could argue that something like a vacation depreciates the worst of all (when it is over, you can’t sell it to anyone else and recoup some of your money). However, I have also read this concept that people tend to value more and remember better experiences over things and I think it makes intuitive sense. Another way to think about it is that we eventually get tired of “things” (especially as things get older). However, most experiences don’t last long enough for us to get tired of them, so the happy memories still alive at the end of the experience live on with us. Also, for me, I’ve noticed I tend to remember the best parts of vacations and forget the worst, which makes memories even more valuable.

By: Michele

Michele — Thu, 22 May 2008 23:15:25 +0000

This is such a great post on a simple concept! For so long I was an emotional spender, and I just bought so much STUFF to make up for feeling low at points in my life, instead of actually doing something that would make me feel better. I still love well-made clothes, and perfume, and all those random things, but now I recognize that having them is not really going to make me happier. And when I DO buy things, they will be things that I really love and will use (I’m using the future tense because right now I’m on a shopping diet, whether I love something or not!)

By: Jaylin

Jaylin — Thu, 22 May 2008 20:23:29 +0000

Buying shoes can be for an “experience”. If I feel super sexy, confident, and in charge in a pair of shoes, I consider that an experience. Just one that I can put on and take off!

By: julianne

julianne — Thu, 22 May 2008 19:29:10 +0000

It isn’t a matter of not having nice stuff, but making conscious choices. We all have those shoes or jackets or whatever in our closets that we were sure we would wear or use but didn’t. Just about everyone wears shoes, and there is no reason that the shoes you have and wear often shouldn’t be nice ones that you enjoy. Whenever I’m about to buy something, I ask myself a few questions:

1) Do I like this enough to move it?
2) How often am I REALLY going to use/wear it?
3) Where am I going to store this when I’m not using it?
4) Would I rather put the money toward a trip or experience (prioritize)?

It isn’t about doing without, but rather making better choices so that you enjoy what you have and are aware of your priorities prior to purchasing.

By: Small Budget, Big Style Chick

Small Budget, Big Style Chick — Thu, 22 May 2008 15:44:35 +0000

I agree! Clothing trends come and go so its never a good idea to spend too much money on things like that. Traveling also broadens your world view. Your memories from experiences you’ve had are priceless. Besides, you’re only young once!

By: quarterlifegirl

quarterlifegirl — Thu, 22 May 2008 14:53:37 +0000

I totally agree, so make sure to budget for your picture printing!! hehe

The “problem” for me though, (kind of along the lines of what dogatemyfinances mentioned)…how much should you really pay for an experience? I don’t know where to draw that line yet, but maybe I’ll learn as the years go by.

Hmm…I think this calls for a new post…

By: SavingDiva

SavingDiva — Thu, 22 May 2008 14:40:22 +0000

I love your thought process! I’ve been trying to do this too…but I really like things!

Now, I’m trying to get rid of things for my move, and I realize all of the unncessary crap that I spent my money on.

By: mattg

mattg — Thu, 22 May 2008 14:13:59 +0000

Yeah, totally agree. It used to seem like “He who dies with the most toys wins.” Seems like we both think its more like “(S)he who dies with the most experiences/memories/well-lived life wins.”