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The Value of Experiences
Posted by Carol Coletta on February 15, 2009 |
Of all the impacts of this recession, one has received no attention. I've been musing about what people will do with their time when they don't spend it working and shopping. I've seen the impact of unemployment of a family member twice. In both cases, exercise became a positive focus of their lives. And one became a good cook during his time of unemployment.
Then today, I read about a new San Francisco State University study that found money can lead to greater happiness for the person possessing it and those around them, if it is used to buy experiences, not possessions.
The study by SFU assistant professor of psychology Ryan Howell, “demonstrates that experiential purchases, such as a meal out or theater tickets, result in increased well-being because they satisfy higher order needs, specifically the need for social connectedness and vitality — a feeling of being alive."
So experiences are critical to our sense of well-being. The good news is that many experiences require no money at all. Exercise is a good example. A fast walk requires very few resources. The same is true of learning something new, like cooking.
What can cities do to provide experiences? They can…
The Latest on Volunteers
Posted by Carol Coletta on August 17, 2008 |
Apparently, a significant number of volunteers are not happy with their experience, with only 2 out of 3 volunteers in 2006 returning to volunteer in 2007. But the number of people who volunteer more than 100 hours is growing, now standing at 34 percent of all volunteers, the highest level since 2002.
Last year 60.8 million people, or about 26 percent of Americans ages 16 or older, volunteered for a nonprofit. (Political campaigns are excluded.) Women (29 percent) volunteer more than men (23 percent), and women with children volunteer more than those without. College towns are hotspots for volunteering.
One surprise: Busy people volunteer more. Those who don’t volunteer watch more TV.
No surprise: Religious causes attract the most volunteers (35.7 percent), with education in second place (26.7 percent) and social services in third place (13.3 percent).