point Talking

Do we spend too much money making memories?

ARECENT survey revealed parents spend more than £2,000 per year making family memories. Theme parks and zoo trips are popular, and many parents host elaborate kids’ parties.

Money-saving expert Emmanuel Asuquo said: “There’s value in making memories, but this doesn’t always come cheap.”

But do we spend too much?

Emma Tapping doesn’t think so. She appeared on “This Morning” in 2017 because she buys her children more than 300 Christmas presents.

“I work hard for my money,” she reasoned.

“We’re making memories. My kids will say I went all out to give them brilliant Christmases.”

In a 2019 “Medium” article, Sherry Chapman agreed with the sentiment.

“As long as you have the money,” she said, “if the result is a good memory, you’ve bought true happiness.”

Andrew Banks of Buy A

Gift Experience believes “experiences” have merits.

“They provide better memories, extended anticipation time, opportunities to connect with people and greater happiness,” he said.

A “Monevator” article from 2010 argued, however, that we are wasting our money “buying” memories.

“What matters most is structuring your life in a way that’s important to you, and then using money to create not just memories or even happiness in the present, but also a future you can look forward to.”

In 2018, in “Psychology Today”, Utpal Dholakia wrote: “Buying experiences gives pleasure.

“However, it will also lead to worsening of an already precarious financial condition.

“Having money in a retirement savings account will be more useful in a few years than recalling the cry of a baby cheetah.”

And what about the simple childhood joy of playing in the garden or the park with your friends?

Money can’t buy memories like those! ■