Buying Things Only Provides Temporary Satisfaction

Money can buy short-term happiness or satisfaction. Nearly everyone has experienced a high when they’ve bought something they’ve been desiring. But those feelings of satisfaction are usually temporary. They may last a few weeks before they fade away, and that new thing is no longer interesting or exciting.

Science has confirmed that we derive more satisfaction from our experiences than from buying things. Experiences can be more meaningful, and they don’t have to cost a lot, either.

Getting together with a few friends you haven’t seen in a while, for example, may give you far more satisfaction than buying that big-ticket item you’ve been eyeballing. An evening with your friends could create a great memory that could last a lifetime. The big-ticket item you buy will eventually wear out and need to be replaced.

Where’s the fun in that?