Long-time readers will no doubt recall, and wisely continue to use, the UaKS guide to better holiday gift giving through science, in which we discussed a few principles for giving better gifts so as to avoid the "deadweight loss of Christmas." Although it was not one of the three numbered principles in the UaKS guide, we did mention that "recipients actually tend to derive more happiness from experiential gifts (like UVA basketball tickets or a dinner out), which have the added benefit of anticipating the event as well as experiencing it."
I recently read a terrific review paper from 2022 by Amit Kumar which goes into more detail as to why experiential purchases (for yourself and others) provide a "brighter path."[1] Essentially, experiential purchases give greater satisfaction than buying material goods before, during, and after the event/purchase.
First, buying experiences promotes "anticipatory utility," that is, "people tend to anticipate what's to come with great delight." Think vacation planning and figuring out where you're going to eat and go during the trip.
Second, research shows that experiences also lead to more happiness in the moment than spending on material items.[2] This is in large part because experiences (vacations, dining out, sports and entertainment, outdoor activities) are more likely to be done with others, which adds in the social component that is vital to having a good life.
Third, people tend to look back on experiences with more gratitude and also have better stories to share about the time they spent, usually with others, doing the thing. And even if an experience isn't 100% sunshine, that can also lead to some funny stories and good memories, even if wasn't so delightful at the time. (This is what's known as Type II fun.)[3] Whereas if you buy a bad trinket, there's nothing fun about having the crappy item around until you finally get rid of it.
Kumar sums up the extensive research literature on this topic as providing the following "simple lesson people can apply to improve wellbeing in daily life: shifting spending in the direction of doing rather than having would likely be psychologically wise."[4]
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[1] Kumar, A. (2022). The unmatchable brightness of doing: Experiential consumption facilitates greater satisfaction than spending on material possessions. Current Opinion in Psychology, 46, 101343.
[2] Kumar A, Killingsworth MA, Gilovich T: Spending on doing promotes more moment-to-moment happiness than spending on having. J Exp Soc Psychol 2020, 88:103971.
[3] An article at rei.com describing the fun scale says Type I fun is "enjoyable while it’s happening. ... Good food, 5.8 hand cracks. Sport climbing, powder skiing, margaritas." Type II fun, by contrast, is "miserable while it’s happening, but fun in retrospect. It usually begins with the best intentions, and then things get carried away. Riding your bicycle across the country. Doing an ultramarathon. Working out till you puke, and, usually, ice and alpine climbing. Also surely familiar to mothers, at least during childbirth and the dreaded teenage years." Then there's Type III fun, which actually "is not fun at all. Not even in retrospect. Afterward, you think, 'What in the hell was I doing? If I ever come up with another idea that stupid, somebody slap some sense into me.'”
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You know my love of dishes that are high on the taste and nutrition to time spent cooking ratio. The denominator on this one is a mere 17 minutes, and the numerator is excellent too. Just be ready to sponge down your cook top after making this one.
Quick Tomato, Chickpea, and Arugula Curry
Adapted from Cool Beans (2020) by Joe Yonan
Time: ~17 minutes
27 grams (2 tablespoons) extra-virgin olive oil
2 pints Sungold or other cherry or grape tomatoes
½ teaspoon Diamond Crystal kosher salt, plus more to taste
¼ teaspoon freshly ground black pepper
1 teaspoon Madras (hot) curry powder
1 (15-ounce) can chickpeas, drained and rinsed
113 grams (4 cups) arugula or other peppery baby greens, such as mizuna or mustard greens or a mix
Water, if needed
1. Warm the oil in a large skillet over medium heat or a notch higher. Stir in the tomatoes. Cook, stirring occasionally, until the tomatoes start to brown and wrinkle, about 5 minutes. The tomatoes will sputter and oil will fly: be careful stirring and now may be the time to use a splatter guard if you have one; turn the heat down a tad if necessary.
2. Carefully pop and mash all of the tomatoes, preferably with a potato masher if you have one, but a fork or long-handled wooden spoon will also do; be careful of flying tomato juice and take the pan off the heat while you’re doing this if necessary.
3. Stir in the salt, pepper, and curry powder. Cook for 30 seconds until fragrant.
4. With the pan over medium heat, stir in the chickpeas and arugula. Cook just until the greens are wilted, a minute or two. If the mixture seems dry, stir in a tablespoon or two of water. Taste for seasoning. Serve promptly. Serves 2 or 3.
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