Here’s something researchers have found over and over: when people spend money on experiences instead of things, they tend to report feeling happier — and not just in the moment. According to research covered by NPR and published by psychologists including Ryan Howell at San Francisco State University, people consistently say experiences bring them more happiness than objects do.
What’s really interesting is the timing. A University of Texas at Austin study found that people are happier with experiential purchases than material ones no matter when you measure it — before the experience, during it, or after it’s over. So it’s not just nostalgia kicking in later. The happiness starts early and sticks around. That’s different from buying something physical, where the excitement tends to fade pretty quickly once the novelty wears off.
What counts as an experiential purchase? Think concerts, road trips, going out to eat with people you care about, taking a class, seeing a movie — anything where the point is doing or feeling something, not owning something. According to Greater Good at UC Berkeley, experiences like traveling or grabbing a meal tend to beat out buying the latest product you see on social media when it comes to lasting happiness.
There’s also a bonus finding worth knowing: research cited by PubMed Central suggests that spending money on other people tends to make you happier than spending it on yourself. So combining both — doing something with someone else — might be a double win.
One thing to keep in mind: everyone’s situation is different. These are general patterns researchers have found across many people, not a guaranteed rule for every person or every purchase. But as a starting point, it’s a useful question to ask yourself before you spend: am I buying a thing, or am I buying an experience? For a lot of people, the experience ends up giving them more lasting happiness for their money.