# Do you prefer buying Things or Experiences? **URL:** \ **Category:** In My Humble Opinion\ **Created:** [June 7, 2017, 11:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-you-prefer-buying-things-or-experiences/788401 "2017-06-07T23:46:48Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Quimby](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/q/22d042/32.png) [@Quimby](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Quimby)\ **Post date:** [June 7, 2017, 11:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-you-prefer-buying-things-or-experiences/788401/1 "2017-06-07T23:46:48Z")
What do you prefer to spend your disposable income on: Material things (e.g. Electronics, Collectibles, Books, DVDs etc.)? or Experiences (e.g. Trips, Concerts, Fun Classes like cooking etc.)? Almost everyone gets some of both but which do you enjoy more? Which do you prefer? ---
**Author:** ![snfaulkner](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/snfaulkner/32/433_2.png) [@snfaulkner](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/snfaulkner)\ **Post date:** [June 7, 2017, 11:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-you-prefer-buying-things-or-experiences/788401/2 "2017-06-07T23:48:13Z")
Which does food/beer count as? ---
**Author:** ![Helena330](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/helena330/32/531_2.png) [@Helena330](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Helena330)\ **Post date:** [June 7, 2017, 11:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-you-prefer-buying-things-or-experiences/788401/3 "2017-06-07T23:57:18Z")
I like experiences for memories. My Mom is 78 and I want her to have as much fun as I can afford while she still can. We went to California last year and had a wonderful time, in part because of some great advice I got here! This year we’ll do some local road trips. She’s so easy-to-please and appreciative. Mr. H and I are going to see Pat Benatar in August at a casino about an hour from here. We’ll stay overnight. My mom’s coming, too. She’s thrilled to gamble her $20 and eat while we’re at the concert. 😃 ---
**Author:** ![Dr.Strangelove](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/dr.strangelove/32/6613_2.png) [@Dr.Strangelove](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dr.Strangelove)\ **Post date:** [June 8, 2017, 12:00am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-you-prefer-buying-things-or-experiences/788401/4 "2017-06-08T00:00:20Z")
Neither. I like to buy stuff that enables intellectual activity, like tools (from oscilloscopes to wood saws to CNC machines). If it makes sense to outsource the things, I’ll do that (using a makerspace instead of buying tools). I really don’t want the things at all, just the ability to use them for other activities. ---
**Author:** ![TriPolar](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/tripolar/32/3008_2.png) [@TriPolar](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/TriPolar)\ **Post date:** [June 8, 2017, 12:15am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-you-prefer-buying-things-or-experiences/788401/5 "2017-06-08T00:15:14Z")
> [@Dr.Strangelove](#): > > Neither. I like to buy stuff that enables intellectual activity, like tools (from oscilloscopes to wood saws to CNC machines). If it makes sense to outsource the things, I’ll do that (using a makerspace instead of buying tools). I really don’t want the things at all, just the ability to use them for other activities. Ditto. I buy tools and materials to have the experience of making things. ---
**Author:** ![Scribble](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/scribble/32/3317_2.png) [@Scribble](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Scribble)\ **Post date:** [June 8, 2017, 12:18am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-you-prefer-buying-things-or-experiences/788401/6 "2017-06-08T00:18:41Z")
The line between “things” and “experiences” isn’t always that clear. When I buy a book, I’m not necessarily buying the book as an object. I’m buying the experience of reading and re-reading the book whenever I want. (I’m also buying the experiences of seeing it on my shelf, so I can remember how good the book was, and of lending the book out to others.) I just bought a really good sports bra. But I didn’t just buy the sports bra itself. What I really traded my money for was the experience of doing high-impact aerobic activity without discomfort. So I’d say that I buy experiences, even though some of those experiences might look like things to an outside observer. ---
**Author:** ![Quimby](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/q/22d042/32.png) [@Quimby](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Quimby)\ **Post date:** [June 8, 2017, 12:19am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-you-prefer-buying-things-or-experiences/788401/7 "2017-06-08T00:19:12Z")
If your not sure what it counts as you’re welcome to define it however you want. I suppose in the case of a tool you use for an experience or food/drink you use for an experience it would count as which ever you felt like you were purchasing, the food/tool or the experience. ---
**Author:** ![Brodi](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/cc9497/32.png) [@Brodi](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Brodi)\ **Post date:** [June 8, 2017, 12:20am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-you-prefer-buying-things-or-experiences/788401/8 "2017-06-08T00:20:22Z")
Experiences mean more to me than things. If I was given a million dollars to buy whatever I wanted I’d take a cruise around the world, not buy fancy cars or clothes. ---
**Author:** ![Trinopus](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/2bfe46/32.png) [@Trinopus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Trinopus)\ **Post date:** [June 8, 2017, 12:22am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-you-prefer-buying-things-or-experiences/788401/9 "2017-06-08T00:22:13Z")
> [@Scribble](#): > > . . . When I buy a book, I’m not necessarily buying the book as an object. I’m buying the experience of reading and re-reading the book whenever I want. (I’m also buying the experience of seeing it on my shelf, so I can remember how good the book was, and of lending it out to others.) . . . This: a book is _both_ a thing and an experience. If I go to see a movie in a theater, it’s an experience, but when I buy the DVD, it’s both. As you note, the “thing” advantage is that you can read/watch any time you want, once you own the copy. The “thinginess” of it is seen in your personal access. Most of my non-necessity purchasing goes to books, and I hold them to be “things” enough that I polled for “things” over experiences. ---
**Author:** ![PastTense](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/pasttense/32/14550_2.png) [@PastTense](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/PastTense)\ **Post date:** [June 8, 2017, 12:25am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-you-prefer-buying-things-or-experiences/788401/10 "2017-06-08T00:25:09Z")
All things produce experiences. But a thing usually produces experiences multiple times for one purchase price while for experiences you usually have to do a separate purchase for each experience (buying a TV vs going to a movie theater). ---
**Author:** ![SpoilerVirgin](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/4491bb/32.png) [@SpoilerVirgin](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/SpoilerVirgin)\ **Post date:** [June 8, 2017, 12:39am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-you-prefer-buying-things-or-experiences/788401/11 "2017-06-08T00:39:49Z")
Things by a very wide margin. But I’m working on it. One of the changes I made was that I opened up my budget to allow significant spending on experiences, so that I don’t feel that I’m choosing between the two. Since then I have had a number of enjoyable experiences, but I still struggle to elevate experiences to a higher value in my life. I’m aware that some high quality experiences are free, but rearranging the budget still makes a difference in my attitude. I count anything that I need to find a place for in my home (such as a book or a DVD) as a thing. It’s only an experience if it doesn’t take up space (a Kindle book, for example). ---
**Author:** ![monstro](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/ba9def/32.png) [@monstro](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/monstro)\ **Post date:** [June 8, 2017, 12:48am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-you-prefer-buying-things-or-experiences/788401/12 "2017-06-08T00:48:32Z")
I like things that enhance experiences. ---
**Author:** ![Jackmannii](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/jackmannii/32/311_2.png) [@Jackmannii](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jackmannii)\ **Post date:** [June 8, 2017, 1:43am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-you-prefer-buying-things-or-experiences/788401/13 "2017-06-08T01:43:22Z")
I like trips I can take to buy things. ---
**Author:** ![kopek](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kopek/32/337_2.png) [@kopek](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kopek)\ **Post date:** [June 8, 2017, 4:03am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-you-prefer-buying-things-or-experiences/788401/14 "2017-06-08T04:03:55Z")
Amusement parks; most of our trips revolve around them. Even when the Old Wench went to England, it was for a like 14 parks in 12 days extravaganza. PS – she returned with a lot of images but only one magnet as a souvenir. ---
**Author:** ![Ulfreida](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ulfreida/32/8014_2.png) [@Ulfreida](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ulfreida)\ **Post date:** [June 8, 2017, 4:06am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-you-prefer-buying-things-or-experiences/788401/15 "2017-06-08T04:06:42Z")
I mainly seem to buy stuff for my animals – what are my animals? Experiences? Things? They sure cost a lot, and they aren’t strictly necessary. ---
**Author:** ![jtur88](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/e9c0ed/32.png) [@jtur88](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/jtur88)\ **Post date:** [June 8, 2017, 4:35am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-you-prefer-buying-things-or-experiences/788401/16 "2017-06-08T04:35:15Z")
Obviously, expriences. The only things Ive bought in the past three years were several round the world airline tickets and a replalcement pair of shoes. ---
**Author:** ![Snowboarder\_Bo](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/snowboarder_bo/32/229_2.png) [@Snowboarder\_Bo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Snowboarder_Bo)\ **Post date:** [June 8, 2017, 4:41am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-you-prefer-buying-things-or-experiences/788401/17 "2017-06-08T04:41:47Z")
> [@Scribble](#): > > The line between “things” and “experiences” isn’t always that clear. When I buy a book, I’m not necessarily buying the book as an object. I’m buying the experience of reading and re-reading the book whenever I want. (I’m also buying the experiences of seeing it on my shelf, so I can remember how good the book was, and of lending the book out to others.) > > I just bought a really good sports bra. But I didn’t just buy the sports bra itself. What I really traded my money for was the experience of doing high-impact aerobic activity without discomfort. > > So I’d say that I buy experiences, even though some of those experiences might look like things to an outside observer. Well said; thanks for writing that so I didn’t have to. I spend (a lot of) my money on music (so I can hear it) and instruments (so I can make more music to hear). ---
**Author:** ![Foggy](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/foggy/32/1082_2.png) [@Foggy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Foggy)\ **Post date:** [June 8, 2017, 4:42am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-you-prefer-buying-things-or-experiences/788401/18 "2017-06-08T04:42:25Z")
> [@Quimby](#): > > What do you prefer to spend your disposable income on: Ha Ha, What disposable income?!:(😉 Material things: Food, household things, clothes, and other things that I need. Experiences would require me to leave my room and hang out with people, two of my least favorite things to do. I don’t like crowds, I hate traveling, and I’ve never been to a concert. Right now I need new sneakers, socks, shirts, sheets…, further down the list is a cat, and way down the list would be a new computer. ---
**Author:** ![KatTP](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/9dc877/32.png) [@KatTP](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/KatTP)\ **Post date:** [June 8, 2017, 9:02am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-you-prefer-buying-things-or-experiences/788401/19 "2017-06-08T09:02:16Z")
I like to buy material so I can make clothes that I’ve designed. I like the experience of creating something and also having more clothes. However when it comes to stuff, if I had to choose between a new widget or a trip, the trip wins. We travel quite a lot, and tend to stay in cheaper accommodations so that we can spend money on museums or fancy dinners or stuff like that. ---
**Author:** ![elbows](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/b3f665/32.png) [@elbows](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/elbows)\ **Post date:** [June 8, 2017, 11:32am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-you-prefer-buying-things-or-experiences/788401/20 "2017-06-08T11:32:53Z")
Experiences. Hands down, by a mile! We love to travel and have adventures, so that’s what we do. Second hand car, furniture, clothes, etc. No game consoles or games, but 2X 8wk holidays in SEAsia in the last three yrs! Full passports, because that’s what we choose over more things. [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-you-prefer-buying-things-or-experiences/788401.md?page=2)