Throw an epic b-day party or give an awesome gift? Hmmm, the decision can be a tough one! Especially when it comes to our kiddos! As parents is it smarter to throw our kiddos a party or use that money to go towards an awesome gift?  This was the dilemma the hubs & I were dealing with recently. So, like the nerd I am I did a little research. Here are my findings….

Experience vs. Material Good

The Thrill of Purchases Fades

Recent research from San Francisco State University found that people who spent money on experiences rather than material items were happier and felt the money was better spent. The thrill of purchasing things fades quickly but the joy and memories of experiences, from epic adventures to minute encounters, can last a lifetime. (Source, https://www.forbes.com/sites/ilyapozin/2016/03/03/the-secret-to-happiness-spend-money-on-experiences-not-things/#5272bec939a6 )

The Experience begins at Anticipation

While experiences are designed to be fleeting, they provide high level of arousal & memorability thanks to anticipation. Example, you hear your favorite artist is coming to town so you mark your calendar not only for the date of the show, but also when tickets go on sale. You’re anticipating purchasing tickets and then attending a show after you’ve secured your tickets. Going to this show is an entire experience, not just a singular moment!! (Source, https://www.entrepreneur.com/article/294163 )

The Experience Boosts our Happiness

A 2014 study by Thomas Gilovich, a psychology professor at Cornell University, found that experiential adventures — such as travel, a concert, or viewing exhibitions — were far more powerful in shaping our lives and boosting our happiness than any commercial, material goods. (Source, https://blog.mindvalley.com/experiences-make-us-happier/ )

Nah-uh…was my first “adult” thought upon reading all the studies, Lol! So I took it a step further and wracked my brain trying to remember what I received as my b-day gifts as a child at my McDonalds b-day party, at the awesome party my mom threw at home, or the 3 epic parties my mom threw at the Hilton (my b-day is in January…she got two rooms and I invited 6 friends to swim, a swim party in January, it was LIT!), nothing!  I legit have no idea what I received as gifts at any of my b-day parties…I can remember the parties like it was yesterday, not so much the gifts.

AN EPIC B-DAY PARTY IT IS!!!

I’m so excited! Per the research I did our experience starts now at the anticipation phase!!! We have booked Frogtown Exotics for my son’s b-day party! He already can’t wait to hold the 2nd biggest species of frog in the world and feed it a 3” hissing cockroach!

What is Frogtown Exotics? The owner, Jake, has had a lifelong passion for herpetology & is eager to share his passion via educational fun, hands-on, and memorable experience for the kiddos by bringing an upwards of over a dozen different live reptiles & amphibians for kiddos to get up-close and personal. Sweet, right!?!

Frogtown Exotics

Phone: 419-350-7453

Website: https://www.facebook.com/ToledoFrogtown/

Email: Frogtownexotics@gmail.com

I can’t wait to share our experience with you all….stay tuned!

FYI- Frogtown Exotics travels to parties, schools, daycares, libraries, churches, summer camps, scout groups, or any special event with their animals to educate all the guests with amazing facts of each critter and have an opportunity to pet/hold most of these animals.