Pay for experiences in advance

You buy new things for a hit of happiness, but find it wears off quickly.

All the evidence suggests that spending on experiences makes you feel better – and for longer – than buying new possessions. With a weekend away or a holiday, you think back to it and get a warm glow. But if you are able to, pay for such breaks in advance rather than after you have returned. This way, you divorce the pain of paying for it from the pleasure of the holiday. Fortunately, it’s straightforward to pay for flights in advance, and it’s often cheaper to pay for a hotel ahead of time, too. The most painful way to do things is to have the holiday, then pay off a credit card afterwards.