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> (...) having every travel decision be a purchase decision is a lot of overhead and is a constant pressure not to go somewhere. That's why doing the math once

> (...) having every travel decision be a purchase decision is a lot of overhead and is a constant pressure not to go somewhere. That's why doing the math once and then no longer worrying about it makes sense. I generally am opposed to paying for what I don't use (prevalence of unlimited data plans in the US drives me nuts), that's why the article resonates with me - I usually frame it as "don't optimize for the edge case". What the post misses to me in the house example is that homes usually at the very least maintain their value, so the added expenses are only related to maintenance (higher property tax, cost of heating, cleaning, etc).

fossuser 6y ago
I think a better model is reduce cognitive load when possible. Unlimited data plans are totally worth it (particularly with visible where it’s only $25/month on party pay). Reducing the amount of decisions you have to make frees you from drudgery - I’d argue it’s one of the best places to leverage money. I don’t believe it’s possible to do the math once and no longer worry about it. Every time you call a ride it’s a purchase decision.
- vladvasiliu 6y ago
  I think it can be considered a one-time decision based on probability. In my case, I know I don't expect to call a ride every other day, at most once or twice a month (even less now when bars are closed – but that's an edge situation). I know the approximate cost of a ride, typically €12, surge pricing may go up to twenty. So at the most, I expect calling a ride to cost me €20 a month. That's less than what resident parking would cost for a car for the same month (a few years ago it was €9 / week). So the ride-sharing wins. I can think about this once and re-evaluate the situation every year. Yes, sometimes I may spend more on rides, sometimes less, but on average it's a cheaper way of getting around. So even though every time I call the ride it's technically a purchase decision in that I can decide not to do it and walk / bike / take the metro (assuming it's still open), it could be argued that I had already decided that in this situation I would call a ride. So no decision fatigue. Note that driving my own car isn't exactly a "decisionless" process. I have to think where I'll go, whether I'll have easy surface parking (free) or whether I'll have to purchase underground parking. Plus, bonus points for underground parking being paid by the hour, so now I have to make a decision every hour about whether I want to stay out (purchase more parking) or leave. Also, with regard to the data plan, we don't have those in France (that I know of). My plan has 40 GB and I've got it because it was cheaper than my older 15 GB plan. I know my usage never has me go above 3 to 4 GB. If an unlimited plan was available for a few more euros, that would be a net cost to me, for no practical gain in peace of mind or anything. I suppose not everybody has a "boring routine-based" life so this approach may not work in each and every situation.
- morsch 6y ago
  It's totally possible. I used to have a monthly ticket for public transport. My situation changed and I roughly calculated my expected trips. If it had been close, I would have gone for the monthly ticket again for sheer convenience and as a very minor risk insurance. It wasn't close. I still take the subway, I don't worry about it at all. The weather is part of the decision, the 2 EUR something aren't. I don't even know how much it is, exactly.
- bialpio 6y ago
  > Unlimited data plans are totally worth it (particularly with visible where it’s only $25/month on party pay). That's highly individual. I pay approximately that much with pay-per-GB data plan. Except now that I'm constantly home, I don't use the data, so my bills are lower. > I don’t believe it’s possible to do the math once and no longer worry about it. Every time you call a ride it’s a purchase decision. Same - it is an individual matter. I can definitely remember cases where I worried about not using something after I paid for it in advance and feeling bad (gym memberships immediately come to mind). Paying in advance makes every moment of your life into a "should I use the things I paid for now or later?" decision.

fossuser 6y ago

I think a better model is reduce cognitive load when possible. Unlimited data plans are totally worth it (particularly with visible where it’s only $25/month on party pay). Reducing the amount of decisions you have to make frees you from drudgery - I’d argue it’s one of the best places to leverage money. I don’t believe it’s possible to do the math once and no longer worry about it. Every time you call a ride it’s a purchase decision.

vladvasiliu 6y ago
I think it can be considered a one-time decision based on probability. In my case, I know I don't expect to call a ride every other day, at most once or twice a month (even less now when bars are closed – but that's an edge situation). I know the approximate cost of a ride, typically €12, surge pricing may go up to twenty. So at the most, I expect calling a ride to cost me €20 a month. That's less than what resident parking would cost for a car for the same month (a few years ago it was €9 / week). So the ride-sharing wins. I can think about this once and re-evaluate the situation every year. Yes, sometimes I may spend more on rides, sometimes less, but on average it's a cheaper way of getting around. So even though every time I call the ride it's technically a purchase decision in that I can decide not to do it and walk / bike / take the metro (assuming it's still open), it could be argued that I had already decided that in this situation I would call a ride. So no decision fatigue. Note that driving my own car isn't exactly a "decisionless" process. I have to think where I'll go, whether I'll have easy surface parking (free) or whether I'll have to purchase underground parking. Plus, bonus points for underground parking being paid by the hour, so now I have to make a decision every hour about whether I want to stay out (purchase more parking) or leave. Also, with regard to the data plan, we don't have those in France (that I know of). My plan has 40 GB and I've got it because it was cheaper than my older 15 GB plan. I know my usage never has me go above 3 to 4 GB. If an unlimited plan was available for a few more euros, that would be a net cost to me, for no practical gain in peace of mind or anything. I suppose not everybody has a "boring routine-based" life so this approach may not work in each and every situation.
morsch 6y ago
It's totally possible. I used to have a monthly ticket for public transport. My situation changed and I roughly calculated my expected trips. If it had been close, I would have gone for the monthly ticket again for sheer convenience and as a very minor risk insurance. It wasn't close. I still take the subway, I don't worry about it at all. The weather is part of the decision, the 2 EUR something aren't. I don't even know how much it is, exactly.
bialpio 6y ago
> Unlimited data plans are totally worth it (particularly with visible where it’s only $25/month on party pay). That's highly individual. I pay approximately that much with pay-per-GB data plan. Except now that I'm constantly home, I don't use the data, so my bills are lower. > I don’t believe it’s possible to do the math once and no longer worry about it. Every time you call a ride it’s a purchase decision. Same - it is an individual matter. I can definitely remember cases where I worried about not using something after I paid for it in advance and feeling bad (gym memberships immediately come to mind). Paying in advance makes every moment of your life into a "should I use the things I paid for now or later?" decision.