<p>"New studies of consumption and happiness show, for instance, that people are happier when they spend money on experiences instead of material objects, when they relish what they plan to buy long before they buy it, and when they stop trying to outdo the Joneses. "</p>
<p>[NYT:</a> Happiness is side effect of new frugality - Business - The New York Times - msnbc.com](<a href=“http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/38614402/]NYT:”>http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/38614402/)</p>
<p>Is this the JournoList talking points for the fall election? We know things are bad out there, but you are really happier being broke and, besides, it could be worse…</p>
<p>No, I wouldn’t be happier being broke, but I’m very happy saving what I do have instead of buying material things with it.</p>
<p>Not sure I believe that a couple with an income of $24,000/year
</p>
<p>“…people are happier when they spend money on experiences instead of material objects”</p>
<p>True, Nsm! For about $600, DH and I can have a romantic wine-tasting weekend in Napa, 2 RT plane tix included, OR I can get a pair of low-end Manolos that I will not be able to wear to anywhere. Tough choice ;)</p>
<p>I would downsize my house in a heartbeat, but don’t think my family would go for it.</p>
<p>I have heard several different people mention recently they have friends or relatives who have chosen to live in an RV, permanently parked somewhere. These people are not traveling, they live there. Am I just waking up to something or is this a new phenom?</p>
<p>Skyhook - it is not a new phenomenon:</p>
<p>[Real</a> Estate | The liveaboard life: small space, small price | Seattle Times Newspaper](<a href=“http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/html/realestate/2012485416_realliveaboards01.html]Real”>http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/html/realestate/2012485416_realliveaboards01.html)</p>
<p>Take a little look at the tiny house movement…</p>
<p>[Living</a> large: A look inside the tiny house movement | Need to Know | PBS](<a href=“http://www.pbs.org/wnet/need-to-know/culture/living-large-a-look-inside-the-tiny-house-movement/2522/]Living”>http://www.pbs.org/wnet/need-to-know/culture/living-large-a-look-inside-the-tiny-house-movement/2522/)</p>
<p>The article appeared in today’s NYT. This just goes against a recent article in Time magazine about hoarders.
and a recent article.
</p>
<p>You might say that most New Yorkers are already spending more on experiences than material things. Everybody living in Manhattan is paying a hell of a lot to live there, and it isn’t because the apartments are so fancy! Living in Manhattan is all about the experience, most of which happens outside the home. Of course, there are plenty of NYTimes readers outside of the city, but that is their #1 audience.</p>
<p>The main things I miss about making law-firm money are (1) watching it pile up in the retirement account and feeling more secure as a result and (2) buying really nice gifts for my family. Both of those, from my point of view, are experiences. I’m not looking to live on a sailboat without a shower, but there’s a lot to be said for thinking about whether X purchase will really make you happy.</p>
<p>Gaaawd, Idad.:rolleyes: Not everything is a talking point pertaining to the fall elections. Really it’s not!</p>
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<p>When I was making a couple thousand less than $24k, I had money for travel vacations almost every year. (I usually went every other year.)</p>
<p>The thing about experiences bringing more happiness than things really resonates with me. I’ve found once I buy something expensive or “special”, it remains special for a short time and then becomes “just ordinary.” Just something that’s there, not fully appreciated like it was when you wanted it but didn’t have it. A lot of it eventually ends up in a corner, a cupboard, or the back of the closet, utterly ignored. I’m clearing out my apartment right now, in preparation of moving, and I’m amazed by how many things I have stashed away that I’d completely forgotten about.</p>
<p>can’t resist- we’re trying, but the housing market is stilll lousy (anyone want to buy a house that’s too big for 2?)…</p>