Comments on: Investing in Memories, Ocelot Edition

By: Brett Lee

Brett Lee — Tue, 15 May 2012 10:23:06 +0000

It’s just advice about how to handle the money-spending part of your quest for fulfillment.

http://www.paliadventures.com/

By: Brooks (Gordon)

Brooks (Gordon) — Mon, 07 May 2012 00:52:18 +0000

Perhaps the reason people don’t enjoy the vacation itself as much as the memories is that many people these days see their whole vacations through camcorders and the like. As I like to say, people don’t take vacations anymore; they take vacation documentaries.

By: Vivian Darkbloom

Vivian Darkbloom — Wed, 02 May 2012 13:12:03 +0000

Perhaps, but I still find the emphasis on “buying” somewhat disconcerting. This is, of course, rather subjective; however, I suspect that one of the best uses of money is to *buy* security, either for oneself, one’s offspring, or both. The reduction in stress and anxiety and perhaps the joy of giving that provides surely does count for some measure of happiness. That means not *buying* “things” or “experiences” one cannot afford but having some of that money in reserve “just in case”. There are thus (at least) three things competing for one’s money in the quest for happiness: 1) things; 2) experiences; and 3) savings.

By: Donald Marron

Donald Marron — Wed, 02 May 2012 11:13:20 +0000

A recurring theme in happiness research is that buying things makes people less happy, in the long run, than they expect. The implication, which feels right to me, is that people who are looking to spend money to give themselves enjoyment should therefore focus on experiences, not things (with the proviso about things that are complements to experiences). This is all perfectly consistent with the view that the best things in life are free, money-wise. It’s just advice about how to handle the money-spending part of your quest for fulfillment.

By: Vivian Darkbloom

Vivian Darkbloom — Tue, 01 May 2012 20:44:37 +0000

“So maybe the right advice is to buy experiences or things that complement experiences, but not things that substitute for experiences.”

Why all the emphasis on buying? The best advice is likely that the greatest satisfaction is derived from *creating* experiences or things. This need not , and most often does not entail “buying” anything. I think this is consistent with the opening statement that emphasizes “doing”, not “buying”. Or, is “buying” economist speak for something other than taking money out of one’s wallet?

By: Donald Marron

Donald Marron — Tue, 01 May 2012 10:29:02 +0000

Good point. Sometimes you need a physical durable in order to get the memory durable. Certainly my nature explorations go better with binoculars and a camera. So maybe the right advice is to buy experiences or things that complement experiences, but not things that substitute for experiences.

By: joxn

joxn — Tue, 01 May 2012 03:21:43 +0000

I bought a convertible, only a couple of weeks before I read some other blog post to the effect of “don’t buy things, buy experiences”. However, it all turned out well, because I’ve bought an unknowable number of days of driving with the top down and the wind in my hair — I feel like I got a real bargain.