Retail therapy that works
March 10, 2010
Research conducted at Cornell University revealed that one’s satisfaction with “experiential” purchases, say getting a deep-tissue massage or spending a week of R&R in Saint Tropez, starts out at a high level and increases. This is attributed to our selective memories and how our experiences are entirely subjective.
Spend money on material items, though, and your purchase might make you feel good at first, but it tends to taper off, making you feel less happy in the end. Seems that we tend to second-guess our buying decisions: Could we have gotten a better price at another boutique, for example, or is this handbag as to-die-for as the one your friend just bought.
Something to keep in mind the next time you’re shopping for happiness. And say what they will — I’m still heading out now to pick up these shoes at Banana Republic.
Entry Filed under: Health, Swellbeing, Travel. Tags: Banana Republic, getaway, happiness, massage, relaxation, retail therapy, shoes, shopping, vacation, well-being.
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1.
agnesl | March 11, 2010 at 2:59 AM
Hmm, this ties in nicely with my plans for “shopping as cardio” (http://mydailyburn.wordpress.com/2010/03/10/slightly-more-exciting-exercises/). Will get a day at the spa instead of that new top I had my eye on…
2. Shopping as Cardio – Expanded « Slow Simmer and Daily Burn | March 11, 2010 at 4:26 AM
[...] of yesterday’s slightly more exciting exercises: shopping as cardio, you might want to read Retail Therapy That Works over at the Health and Swellness blog before you [...]
3.
Material girl « Health & Swellness | April 16, 2010 at 12:51 PM
[...] the study that found the spending money on experiential purchases makes you happier than buying the latest Louboutins (well, technically the study focused on material items, not [...]