Experience people versus things people
Are you someone who craves adventure, seeking memories that last a lifetime, or do you find joy in the comforts and luxuries of home? Experience people, things people—two simple paths that hold the key to your financial future.
The power of financial humility
In 2004, we moved into a friend’s “basement apartment.” Now, our friend insists on calling it a “garden-level walk-in,” which sounds like something that should come with French doors and a wine fridge. But let’s be real: it didn’t meet the city’s *official* standards for garden-level status, so we proudly dubbed it “The Basement.” And yes, we still call it that today. The Basement wasn’t exactly luxury living, but for us, it was the financial sweet spot, and we look back on it with gratitude (and a few jokes) because it set us on the path to becoming “experienced” people—or as we like to say, experience people.
At 800 square feet with two bedrooms and two bathrooms, The Basement was a cozy setup in Denver’s Capitol Hill neighborhood, a spot that could not have been more convenient for two committed walkers like us. We were just steps away from 25+ restaurants, bars, grocery stores, and shops, all of which were essential for what we now call “urban exploration” (a.k.a. “not cooking at home”). And all that walkable goodness came with a monthly rent of $850, including utilities, Internet, and satellite TV—a deal that today’s Denver renters would consider nothing short of a miracle.
At the time, though, we were not exactly model money managers. With $51,000 in credit card debt, we needed to make a change—fast. Little did we know that the Basement would be our financial intervention. Soon after moving in, we faced debt like 80s movie characters gearing up for a comeback montage—minus the synthesizer and leg warmers. In about two and a half years, we’d conquered our credit card debt, and by four years in, we were out house-hunting, ready to graduate from basement living to a place of our own.
Today, The Basement isn’t just a fond memory; it’s a testament to how humility and determination can take you from financial chaos to financial clarity, one (garden-level) step at a time.
The power of financial clarity
When we started hunting for a home, we spent as much time soul-searching as we did scrolling through listings. Deep, late-night conversations were had. Big questions asked. Do we want a home or a ball-and-chain disguised as one? After clawing out of significant credit card debt, diving back into debt—now with a mortgage twist—was about as appealing as voluntarily signing up for another marathon of ’90s infomercials. We knew one thing: we didn’t want to be house-poor, trapped in a palace we could barely afford.
Instead, we wanted a life rich in the things that matter to us—like traveling the world and being financially set for our golden years. We’d dipped our toes into travel together and quickly realized we wanted a whole lot more of it. As two people in the financial world, the “retirement savings” mantra was basically our daily affirmation. These priorities gave us clarity. The real goal was freedom, not square footage.
So, when it came to what we wanted in a home, we kept our priorities crystal clear: no sprawling mansion that would come with a full-time maintenance crew and a second mortgage for repairs. We wanted a house that could fend for itself while we were off exploring new places. And decent cars? Sure, but we didn’t need wheels that turned heads or drove themselves. Club hopping? Gone. Filling closets with the latest designer duds? Not in the budget. Somewhere along the way, we realized that freedom looks a lot better on us than any new wardrobe.
This clarity meant we could focus on finding a home that would be our sanctuary, not our financial ball and chain.
The power of spending according to your values
Eventually, we bought a cozy 1,008-square-foot condominium—a fixer-upper that didn’t break the bank, hasn’t drained our wallets in upkeep, and sits safely in a secure building with a property manager who probably knows more about our lives than we do. In short, it checked all the boxes on our “reasonable adults” wish list.
Now, here’s the twist: our condo matches our design aesthetic—a happy accident since finding affordable housing that screams “Atomic Age chic” wasn’t exactly part of our search criteria. Built in 1962, our condo is pure Googie (think The Jetsons meets Palm Springs). Yes, we know a gay couple driving a Mini Cooper and loving mid-century modern. Groundbreaking. But we fell in love with its retro charm, and we’ve gone to work to make it ours. New floors? Check. Kitchen remodel? Done. We’ve even painted and repainted every room so many times that Sherwin-Williams practically has us on speed dial.
But then… there are the bathrooms. Oh, the bathrooms. They remain in their original, untouched 1962 state, with vintage tile from the Cold War era. One bathroom is a dull blue, while the other is a lovely shade we like to call “jaundiced yellow.” They’ve got character, sure—but the kind that makes you squint and wonder what decisions led to such choices.
Here’s the kicker: we realized recently that while these vintage bathrooms stare back at us every day, we’ve been trotting the globe with abandon. In the past eight years, we’ve ticked off England, Spain, Australia, New Zealand, Mexico, and more U.S. cities than a politician on a campaign tour. When we went to Australia and New Zealand, we even splurged on a 30-day adventure for around $15,000, covering flights, hotels, meals, and enough sightseeing to make the jet lag worth it. Here’s the thing: with that budget, we could have remodeled both bathrooms *and* still had $5,000 left for a luxurious, tile-dust-free vacation.
So why haven’t we made bathrooms a priority? Maybe it’s because we can’t hang a postcard of “new bathroom tile” on the fridge and reminisce about it. Or maybe, just maybe, our jaundiced-yellow bathroom reminds us that quirky imperfections are part of the charm—and that our money is better spent on memories than on grout.
The difference between Experience people vs Things people
We pondered this deeply, dissecting our priorities like amateur philosophers over a glass (or three) of wine, and came to a grand revelation: there are two kinds of people in this world—“things people” (TP) and “experience people” (EP). Neither is better, more enlightened, or superior in taste or wisdom. They simply… are.
Most of us, sadly, can’t have it all—nor do we really need to. Reality has this funny way of keeping us grounded. Stretching ourselves too thin to live like a TP and an EP usually leads to financial peril, stress, and the realization that the grass isn’t always greener… sometimes it’s just expensive Astroturf.
For us, the EP path has always called our name. Rarely a week goes by without us talking about a past adventure, a future destination, or some wild dream vacation. We’re travel fiends who love immersing ourselves in different places—wandering the streets, exploring local haunts, befriending baristas, and taking too many photos of doors (why do Europeans have such interesting doors?!).
Take, for instance, our recent anniversary trip to San Diego, where we strolled over thirty miles in three days. And then there was Ibiza and Sitges, Spain. We walked so much that we actually lost weight—despite treating sangria as a legal requirement. (In Spain, it might be.) These trips are our idea of bliss: moving, tasting, and meeting new people. And if we can walk there, all the better.
Even back home in Denver, we’re “walking to the local bar” people, not “spending $100 on a new toilet seat” people. In fact, our patience was rewarded when we found a perfectly matching seat for $20. See EP wisdom at work!
Now, here’s where it gets interesting: we EPs share this world with our beloved counterparts, the TPs (and no, not the TP associated with bathrooms). TPs often value the tangible—their homes might be bigger, their bathroom tile less… jaundiced-yellow. They may drive newer cars or have a closet that doesn’t include the same shirt they’ve had since 2008. TPs enjoy having those extra comforts that EPs are happy to skip. They might even have children, pets, or other wonderful “things” we admire from afar, usually on our way to the airport.
There’s no right or wrong in the TP-EP dichotomy. But here’s the rub: when either TPs or EPs overdo it—splurging too much on things or experiences—they can quickly find themselves in credit card debt or veering away from their most meaningful financial goals. At the end of the day, it’s not whether you’re a TP or an EP; it’s how well you balance your “thing” or your “experience” with what you want out of life.
So, whether planning your next big trip or carefully selecting the perfect backsplash, just remember: choose wisely, live fully, and maybe save enough to replace that toilet seat when it’s time.
The 4 freedoms for happiness
Let’s be honest—deep down, we’re all chasing the Four Freedoms, whether we know it or not. We want the kind of life where we can make choices without checking the bank balance (Financial Freedom), love our people without stress (Relationship Freedom), pick where we want to live without worrying about the job market or rent spikes (Location Freedom), and actually *use* our vacation days without that “I should be working” guilt (Time Freedom).
Sure, achieving all four might feel like hunting unicorns, but imagine a life where you survive and thrive.
- Financial Freedom? That’s when you can stroll down the grocery aisle and buy the name-brand cereal *and* the fancy cheese.
- Relationship Freedom? It’s getting quality time with your loved ones without side-eyeing your calendar.
- Location Freedom? Think “work from anywhere” really means “beach, mountains, or favorite cafe,” not “bedroom desk.”
- Time Freedom? Let’s just say it’s finally living the motto “work to live, not live to work.”
So, let’s keep aiming for these Four Freedoms—and remember, a life that’s genuinely yours is worth the journey, cereal upgrades and all.
Which are you, an experience or things person?
What matters most to you? Like us, are you part of the “Experience People” crew, or do you find yourself squarely in “Things Person” territory?
If you haven’t had that heart-to-heart with yourself—or maybe with your significant other—about what you truly want to achieve personally and financially, now’s the time. We’ve learned (often the hard way) that trying to have it all is a fast track to financial burnout. And, spoiler alert: most people can’t have it all. If you’re not clear on what you want, life has this sneaky way of keeping you from ever getting it.
Once you dig deep and identify what you want most in life, you’ll likely discover you’re either an EP or a TP. Knowing where you stand isn’t just self-awareness; it’s financial strategy. It gives you the focus to make sound decisions that help you succeed on your terms—whether that means sipping sangria in Spain or installing state-of-the-art bathroom tile.
For more tips on striking the perfect balance between experiences and things—and avoiding those sneaky guilty pleasures that drain your budget—check out our video on finding financial clarity. Whether you’re a weekend wanderer or a dedicated decorator, knowing your true priorities can lead you to the life you’ve been dreaming of… and maybe even a new toilet seat.
Get more help to align your money with your values:
Read the full article here
