Study Reveals Travel Makes People Happier than Material Goods

For years travel addicts have touted spending money on trips, whether weeks-long getaways or long weekends one town over, is a better way to achieve happiness than spending weekends shopping for the latest electronics or clothing.

For the few who may still be in disbelief of this claim, an actual study has proven experiences such as travel make people happier than buying material goods. A Cornell University professor by the name of Dr. Thomas Gilovich spent the past two years investigating the relationship between money and happiness, and has found purchasing items for our closets or homes may make us happier in the short term, but this temporary high will eventually dissipate, a sensation many consumers fail to recognize or accept.

Alternatively, spending money on experiences like vacations can provide longer lasting happiness. The difference, according to Dr. Gilovich, is the eventual loss of luster in material items. When we purchase things, the novelty fades as it becomes part of daily life, and as such our happiness tends to fade alongside the newness. With experiences such as trips, however, memories are developed and ingrained within us, and the thought of those memories after the trip has finished contributes to consistent levels of happiness over time.

What’s more, travel also allows us to connect with other humans, challenge our comfort levels and try new experiences — three activities that also contribute to long-lasting feelings of happiness. With this in mind, it’s time to pack your secondhand luggage, book your discount airline ticket and find your happiness!