Retail therapy that works

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.

3 Comments March 10, 2010