In a recent article by Travel and Leisure a study by Thomas Gilovich, Ph.D., professor of psychology at Cornell University shows that spending money on experiences rather than material items may make you happier. “people not only express more gratitude about events and experiences than they do about objects; it also found that this kind of gratitude results in more generous behavior toward others. To examine these patterns, Gilovich and his colleagues looked at 1,200 online customer reviews—half for purchases made for the sake of doing (like restaurant meals, show tickets, or vacations), and a half for purchase made for the sake of having (like furniture, jewelry, and clothing). They weren’t surprised to find that reviewers were more likely to bring up gratitude in posts about the former than the latter”. This is believed to be because of the social impact of making a purchase. When you purchase a material item you are more likely to compare that item with what someone has. When you purchase and the experiential item you are less likely to seek a comparison.
Purchasing an experience creates more gratitude because it always requires you to live in that moment and enjoy yourself and those around you. That is something many people, if not all, are looking for in life. The study also show that people who experience more gratitude are more charitable. “the researchers performed two exercises to determine how purchase-related gratitude might affect how people behave toward others. In both, participants were asked to think for a few minutes about a meaningful purchase, either experiential or material. A few minutes later, they were given a seemingly unrelated task of dividing $10 between themselves and an anonymous recipient. Which group was more charitable? Those who had been tasked with remembering an experience or event gave away about $1 to $2 more, on average, than the material group”.
Having the ability to make a purchase that fosters a sense of gratitude is a wonderful thing, and being able to share that with family or friends is even better. Luxury experiences such as private jet travel have that opportunity to create a profound sense of gratitude and appreciation. So grab your friends and let triumph Jets help you create a one of a kind experience.
