So, that glorious tax refund is finally in your hands. Congratulations! Tempting as it may seem, splurging frivolously on something random may not be the best option there is. There are many smart ways to spend your refund money—pay off a debt, invest, start a business or save it for the rainy days; the choice is yours really. But never has it been a better time to do something just for you. They say that money can’t buy happiness, but science validates that spending your time and money on experiences (not things) can indeed make you happier. According to Kumar and Thomas Gilovich, professors of psychology, “People are more inclined to talk about their experiences than about their material purchases, and they derive more happiness from doing so”. Traveling on an off the beaten track adventure or on a relaxing luxury break either by yourself or with the people you love trumps over any purchase you make in a shopping centre any day. "Our experiences are a bigger part of ourselves than our material goods," says Gilovich.
