“We found that participants were less satisfied with their material purchases because they were more likely to ruminate about other options they might have chosen,” authors of the study wrote.

In one test, participants were asked to recall one material purchase and one experiential purchase of equal value. They rated their purchases on level of importance, past and present satisfaction and regret. Each time, experiential purchases were ranked more important and more satisfactory.

Researchers think this may be because it is more difficult to evaluate material choices foregone than experiences missed. They say there is likely to be a hint of remorse in any decision, but it is much more distinguished when buying things that can easily be replaced.

“Mentally exchanging an experience involves deleting a part of the self, something that people are understandably reluctant to do,” authors of the study explained. “(They) tend to be experienced, remembered, and evaluated more in their own terms, and less in terms of how they compare to alternative experiences.”

As for that tax return, consider carefully before committing to a new ottoman. A happier you is a healthier you, and a weekend getaway might be the ticket (no pun intended). If you can’t quite budget a vacation in Venice or a tour of Tahiti, a movie or dinner out will do.

The study can be found in the Journal of Personality and Social Psychology.

Black widow venom causes fever, severe pain and stiffness, but these symptoms may not appear for a few hours. A brown recluse bite has similar symptoms, but is most distinguished by a large, fluid-filled blister. When the blister drains, it leaves the victim with a gaping ulcer. These bites have been known to cause death in very rare cases, but are otherwise easily treated. Contrary to popular belief, most spider bites are harmless.

Use these tips from Mayo Clinic to minimize spider bite discomfort:

Identify the Spider
Knowing what type of spider bit you will help you properly treat the bite. Some spider bites, such as those of a recluse, are more serious than others and may require immediate medical attention.

Clean the Wound
Infection is one of the most common complications of a spider bite, and can be worse than the bite itself. Use soap and water or a cleansing solution to disinfect the area. Applying antibiotic ointment will provide further protection against infections.

Keep It Cool
Applying a cold compress can help ease some of the discomfort of a bite. It will reduce swelling, as well as soothe itchiness or burning. A cold, wet cloth or bag of ice will also do.

Isolate the Area
In the event of a black widow or brown recluse bite, cut off circulation from the affected area by cinching with a belt or tie. This will help stop the spread of venom until medical assistance arrives.

Stay Alert
On rare occasions, a person may experience a severe allergic reaction to spider bites known as anaphylactic shock. Shock can cause the throat and nasal passageways to close, making it difficult to breathe. Nausea, rapid heartbeat, dizziness and low blood pressure are other symptoms. Call 911 as soon as possible. In most cases, doctors will administer an injection of epinephrine to stop the reaction.

While bites and cobwebs are at the top of our list of gripes against spiders, they do play an important role in human wellbeing. In addition to keeping disease-carrying insects at bay, the common house spider has been known to eat more dangerous varieties.

Spider venom is also used to produce medicine for treating stroke. Keep that in mind the next time a spider gives you a case of the creepy crawlies and save a spider!

Professor David van Heel of Barts and The London School of Medicine and Dentistry led a team of international professionals that examined genetic material from 9,451 people with celiac disease. Researchers found that people with celiac disease had disturbances in how the body’s T cells react to wheat proteins, how the thymus gland eliminates these cells, and how the body responds to viral infections.

“We now understand that many of these genetic risk factors work by altering the amounts of these immune system genes that cells make,” van Heel explained in a press release. “The data also suggests that celiac disease is made up of hundreds of genetic risk factors. We can have a good guess at nearly half of the genetic risk at present.”

Gluten is found in products made from wheat, barley, and rye. When a person with celiac eats foods that contain gluten, the villi in the small intestine are damaged or destroyed and cannot absorb nutrients. Symptoms include stomach pain, vomiting or nausea, diarrhea, and unexplained weight loss.

The only way to treat celiac disease is to adopt a gluten-free diet. If left unmanaged, it can cause malnutrition, fatigue, osteoporosis, and anemia. Understanding these risks could help doctors predict and detect celiac disease before these complications arise.

This research could provide insight into other autoimmune diseases. According to van Heel, there may be reason to believe the same immune disturbances used to detect celiac disease could also potentially be used to predict type 1 diabetes.

The study appears in the February 28 edition of Nature Genetics.