How you spend your money

I read two article recently that touched on how most of us spend our money and what comes of that.

The first article mentioned that the majority of American consumers report being unhappy with 80% of the things they purchase. Every new little gadget that we get -- As Seen On TV!! -- promises to change our life but only winds up adding to the clutter. The solution? Obviously, buy another gadget! "And the circle will be unbroken, by and by, Lord ..."

(There is a whole industry of rental storage units where people can keep all the stuff they don't really use but cost too much to toss.)

That article was actually about a study of Americans who live frugally, and it noted that although they bought less, they reported a high satisfaction level with the things they did buy. They thought about what they wanted to buy beforehand and liked what they bought when they did buy it. Result: Happiness with what they owned and no tripping over unwanted stuff.

The other article suggested that people who spend less on stuff and more on experience -- travel, concerts, movies (it doesn't have to be highbrow or anything) -- are happier than those who put their money into stuff.

Makes sense to me. And I have friends who put money into travel, visiting all sorts of places I would love to see. They are not wealthy, but they choose to spend their time and money on things that build memories -- shared memories -- that will last forever.


And they send me postcards to make me envious. Well, I don't think that is why they send them, but I do envy them (in a loving and supportive way, of course.)