“It’s nonsense to say money can’t buy happiness. But people exaggerate the extend to which more money can buy more happiness.” Daniel Kahneman, Nobel Prize in Economics
Sometimes I feel a little guilty about the money we spend on traveling. FM NEVER gives it a second thought ~ he’d travel every free moment he had from work if he could. I think to myself: should we be spending the money on household items or clothes to replace our well-worn current items. But, in the end, I end up going with the travel and skipping the shopping. That’s why we haven’t had curtains put up in the last two places we’ve lived. Did we miss the curtains? Not really. But I do have incredible memories of all our travels in both Germany and in the Pacific.
I recently read a great article in Money magazine(September 2007) which interviewed Daniel Kahneman, Nobel winner in Economics, about why people continually make the same wrong moves when investing or spending their money. The question (and answer) I liked best was the one which completely justifies my wanderlust: Can buying things make us happier? Here’s his answer which, for me, are words to live by:
“There’s an important difference between pleasures and comforts. Pleasures are the things like flowers, feasts, vacations ~ investments in family, friends and memories. Comforts are material goods like a big new car or a giant plasma TV or ~. Comforts always seem like a better idea before you buy them than afterward. Trust me, you will get more durable satisfaction out of the money you spend on pleasures.”
That said, it’s time for me to start planning some pleasures: a couple of mini-trips for the fall, a dinner party, margarita fridays…
Displaced Beachbums 
L is happy she gets her “Daddy – Only” weekend and we are also planning on going to the Halloween Party – so we will see you there! 🙂
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tljess: We’re planning to go to Ohio for the Halloween party so we won’t make it this month.
Alice: So true about downsizing especially if you have to move all the stuff often!
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I have come to find that the more you have the more you have to maintain. Big house = lots of cleaning. Lots of cloths = more laundry. 2 acre yard = more mowing. All of that maintenance takes time away our fun. Whenever we think about making big purchases we have to stop and think, what is this really going to cost us?
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When I was younger, much younger, I would wish I could live in the place where I was visiting – never leave, and it didnt matter where I was visiting. . . . today, I crave adventure but look foward to coming home. hmmmm – after just celebrating a birthday I suppose its age that just made me say that! HA!
J and L are going to visit Ohio the last weekend in Sept – if you decide to wander that direction let me know and R and I will join them – L wanted a “daddy-only” weekend – however, if R and I sit in the back of the van and are very quiet maybe we can hitch a ride! 🙂
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I read something similar that said money can buy you happiness as long as you’re not buying things. You have to buy experiences. Things like vacations, get-togethers, lessons or schooling to learn something new, etc. I totally agree and never feel bad about what we spend on vacations. It’s our splurge.
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That snippit reminds me of something I learned when my grandmother died several years ago. She had some very nice material possessions that I’m sure my mother and her siblings anticipated could cause problems. But what they ended up fighting over the most were all of the many pictures she had stored away–the old movie reels and books and books of photos. I guess it’s all about the memories. 🙂
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Travel is so much fun! I get all giddy just thinking about hopping in the car on weekends when we get back to the states just to see more places. And we’re busy little bees over here this fall. Things on the travel agenda…. I hope you guys have some fabulous mini-breaks!
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Heidi: I did purchase two silk curtains at the Spouses’ gift shop in Guam ~ they fit the laundry room window and the bathroom window. To be honest, it’s not so much the money keeping me from putting up the curtains but I have no clue what I really want. I need you to come help me decorate 🙂
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What about those silk curtains? Did you ever go get them?
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