You know what they say: Spend your money on experiences, not things; have stories to tell, not stuff to show. It’s the experiences that ultimately mean the most to us and keep paying dividends. If you’re looking for a special holiday/birthday/graduation gift for your teenager, a one-of-a-kind sailing adventure in France and England would be a great option. To navigate to our home page, just click on our logo in the masthead, above.
From an article on the subject that appeared in Forbes magazine:
Learning Lasts A Lifetime
One of the very best things you can do with money to maximize the happiness return on your financial investment is learning a new skill or hobby. Take a class in woodworking or skydiving or fencing or quilting (yes, quilting.) Buy private golf or tennis lessons. Learn to surf [or learn to sail!]. Enroll in a creative writing class or learn to paint. Get yourself a camera and join a photography club. Not only is the act of learning a new skill fun and rewarding but you will broaden your horizons as a person, giving yourself fun new activities that you can participate in for a lifetime of fulfillment while expanding your social circle at the same time. Spending your time and money on the development of new skills is a fantastic way to meet new people and explore new avenues of life you may never have considered. The thrill of exploration can come from learning to tango, you don’t have to climb mountains. Expanding yourself as a person will expand the ways in which you can experience joy, there is almost no downside. So go attend that transcendental meditation weekend retreat you've been dreaming of, it's money well spent!
With all things in life, there is no guarantee that you will always have a good experience. You may very well return from your epic vacation to the Brazilian rain forest with saber-toothed monkey lice, s*** happens. But nine times out of 10 you’re better spending your money on experiences and other people than on yourself. You’re much more likely to have genuine, fulfilling happiness as a result. So remember: You want be happy? Stop buying things and start buying experiences!
—Ilya Pozin