3 Gifts That Will Earn You Brownie Points

You might have heard of the “experience economy.”

If you’re not familiar, it refers to the purchase of experiences over things. We all get a kick out of buying or receiving new stuff, but the feeling of joy is always fleeting. With a unique experience, well, that stays with you forever.

After being locked down for a massive chunk of the year, most of us are looking for any excuse to leave the house. Dining out and doing activities have become a cracking novelty again. So, why not treat your loved ones to a craft brewery tour, a sunset river cruise, or a casual 15,000ft free fall? Or, take the lazy smart route and let them choose their own adventure with a voucher.

There are dozens of experience-providers in Australia. You can either book direct or use an aggregator site to browse thousands of activities in one place. A quick Google search will provide you with plenty of great options.

You know those people who have a super unique skill or hobby, like pottery or cheese-making? The ones that kind of make you feel like you’re the least interesting person on the planet? Well, they only carry that level of esteem because they invest time (and often money) into their craft.

Humans have a natural inclination to learn new things. Well, things that interest us, anyway. I personally have no inclination to learn algebra. That’s why you should consider taking a class or organising one for someone else. You would be blown away by the variety of skills and talents people are willing to share. Glass blowing, cocktail mixing and acrylic pouring are just a few of the activities that you’ll be able to flex at your next dinner party.

You might think $150 for a sushi-making class is a bit of a stretch. But remember this: you’re not paying for the hour-long class – you’re paying for the years of training and practice it took for that sushi chef to become an expert.

It’s been a while since we’ve been able to travel freely, and let’s face it, things are still pretty touch-and-go. But if you’ve been living with cabin fever for the past two years, even a quick weekend away might be enough to refill your cup. Many of Australia’s domestic airlines are heavily discounting flights to get travellers back in the air. If you’re flexible with your dates, you can nab a sweet midweek hotel deal in a lot of places too. 

If you have your heart set on a bigger trip, the world will soon be your oyster (or so we hope!). We’re beginning to see more countries open up to Australian travellers as vaccination rates rise and health care systems get on top of the virus. You’ll probably find that airlines and hotels offer more flexible terms and conditions than in pre-COVID times, which might give you some much-needed peace of mind.

Travel is one of the most enriching, life-affirming experiences you can have. And after being stuck inside for far too long, we know people are simply itching to get out there again. If your next international sojourn simply can’t wait, you might consider a Wisr travel loan to get you there sooner.