Reader Question: Spending on Items vs. Experiences

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Today’s post is answering a question from a sweet reader, Sylvia:

Hi Katherine, can you share what you can disclose about how much you spend on experiences (travel, activities) versus clothes and fashion? Do you wish you spent more on one or another?

I thought this was a fairly easy to answer question… and I found the answer pretty quickly, too. It just took some digging around in my “annual reports” from American Express and Visa, and I got my answer. My spend on travel (which is where I spend the bulk of my “experience” money), versus clothes/accessories? Almost 50%, exactly.

Combining my two favorite interests – travel (in Paris) with shopping (of the window variety, at the Hermes flagship)

I was surprised that it was such an even split, but wasn’t surprised by the fact that the two were close. They’re my two biggest frivolous expenses…yes, more than food! Amazing!

Now, as to whether I wish I actually spent more on one area, versus another? No…I’m very happy with the split. I know that there may be some people who wish that they spent more on travel versus other items, and a bunch of articles out there talking about how experiences are way better than things, and how all of us who lust after physical items should be banished to a remote island with other materialistic narcissists, where we wait for enlightened yogis to come save us.

But for me? I love travel, and new experiences. I also love things…especially beautiful items. I enjoy both, depending on what they are, more, less, or equally to each other. And I feel incredibly fortunate that I’m able to have the choice.

How about you? What’s your breakdown like, between time/resources spent on experiences, versus “stuff”?