Feeling Guilty About Spending Money on Travel? DON'T!

Let’s face it – travel can be expensive.  So why should you spend your precious pennies on a vacation?  Is it really worth it? 

As it turns out, travel is the BEST way to spend your money!  Of all the things you can buy, the experience of traveling gives you, by far, the most bang for your buck. The following fantastic elements of travel have been proven to make people happier.

EVERY part of the travel experience before, during, and after is more satisfying, more enjoyable, and has longer-lasting positive effects than buying stuff.

BEFORE
For me, planning is one of the most exciting parts of a vacation.  When planning, you get to make progress and take steps towards realizing your dream.  Each step is actually part of the adventure itself.  Anticipation and thoughts of where you are going to go, what you’re going to see, and all the adventure that awaits give you something to look forward to and happiness.

DURING
The travel time itself comes with a bunch of obvious benefits: you get to spend time with people you love; you get to see new things and try new things; you get to relax away from the pressures of work and everyday life; you get the thrill of fulfilling dreams you may have had for a long time.

AFTER
After you take an amazing trip, you have the memories of good times together that can never be taken away.  Every time you think of that trip, or you see something that reminds you of it, your brain registers those joyful times and releases mood-enhancing chemicals that make you feel like you’re re-living the happiness of the experience itself. It stays with you, and you get to access it whenever you want.

In 2003, Thomas Gilovich published his landmark study called “To Do Or Have That Is The Question” a study that, more than a decade on, continues to influence social psychology and the study of what brings us true contentment. Gilovich looked at how economic choices affect well-being and analyzed the differences between experiential and material purchases on human happiness. His unexpected discovery has changed the way we look at our buying habits: Across the board, doing things makes people happier than having things.

In fact, travel trends over the last few years show an increase in the popularity of "experiential travel".  People are choosing to travel not only to see the things on their ultimate bucket lists, but to experience unique opportunities that they will never forget.  The new mindset - collect memories not things.
 
My family may not have the biggest house on the block, the fanciest car or a closet filled with expensive clothes.  But – we have traveled a lot and no one else has the priceless memories of beautiful adventures with our family.  Travel makes us happy and for us, the experience is much more valuable than anything we could purchase.  I am lucky to have a husband that loves to travel as much as I do and together we have made it a priority in our life.  Are we crazy to spend money on travel rather than things?  No, I think it’s worth every penny.

A few articles to inspire you:

7 Reasons Why Spending Money on Experiences Makes Us Happier Than Buying Stuff

The Secret to Happiness?  Spend Money on Experiences, Not Things

​Please share your thoughts below!