In an online survey just released by global research experts, GfK, three out of 10 people (31 per cent) said they’d  prefer to have more time than more money – compared to only nine percent who firmly disagree with that.

And over four out of 10 (44 per cent) firmly believe that experiences are more important than possession – compared to just three percent who firmly disagree with that.

GfK asked 22,000 people across 17 countries how strongly they agree or disagree with two statements: “I would rather have more time than more money” and “Experiences are more important than possessions”.

Internationally, three times as many people firmly agree than disagree that they would rather have more time than more money. And well over 10 times as many people firmly agree than disagree that experiences are more important than possessions.

This preference for more time over more money is especially important for people in China (41 per cent), Brazil (37 per cent) and Argentina (32 per cent). And agreement with experiences being more important than possessions is highest in Mexico (57 per cent), Argentina and the USA (both 53 per cent).

Income plays a factor in consumers’ mindsets, but possibly not to the extent that may be imagined. There is only an 11 percentage-point difference between people in high income households and those in low income households, when it comes to the numbers who would prefer to have more time than more money (38 per cent versus 27 per cent).

A similar picture is seen in people’s perception that experiences are more important than possessions. Half of people in high income households agree to this (50 per cent) compared to 38 percent of those in low income households.

Money becomes relatively more important to those over 60.

There are also some differences to be noted between different age groups. Internationally, those in their twenties and thirties have the highest percentage of any age group that would prefer more time to more money – standing at over a third (36 per cent) each. And they also have the smallest percentage of those strongly disagreeing with that (seven per cent each).

In contrast, for those aged 60 and over, there is a much tighter difference in the numbers favoring more time to more money (19 per cent) versus those indicating they would rather have more money than more time (13 per cent).

When looking at the perceived value of experiences versus possessions, age does not make a significant different in outlook. Those in their twenties are thirties are the most in favor of experiences over possessions, with 46 per cent firmly agreeing with this, dropping to 40 percent for teenagers (15-19 year olds).

GfK’s findings clearly show market potential for brands that can associate themselves in consumers’ minds with giving quality time back into people’s lives, or with making daily tasks simpler and faster. Brands can also raise themselves above close competitors by identifying ways to turn their purchase process into more of an experience for the consumer.