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IMO if you primarily think in terms of cost per use, you're missing a big step in "financial maturity", because for expenses that are in the reasonable range, I

IMO if you primarily think in terms of cost per use, you're missing a big step in "financial maturity", because for expenses that are in the reasonable range, I think switching to evaluating based on their value to you is much more effective. Is the $8 Starbucks Frap worth the cost per use compared to a $2 drip coffee? Probably not, but it makes me happy, and the value on that is VERY high, and that value additionally rises proportionally as my income grows.

kepano 3y ago
This fits into the "cost per smile" heuristic lower down in the essay: > How much joy can you get out of each dollar? Some things bring lots of joy for a small amount of money: ice cream, sunsets, nature walks. A cheap date can bring many smiles per dollar.
- nisegami 3y ago
  I think about this whenever I'm spending money on my cat. Some of the highest smiles per dollar I can think of tbh.
vorpalhex 3y ago
That only holds when you have unused money. Eg the "cost" of spending $8 doesn't remove another source of happiness, like a few days in Bora Bora. I have a buddy who is constantly buying shit. Every day is a new "thing" and he talks about how he just buys what he wants. Then I'll go on a nice trip or buy an expensive item and he'll be a bit jealous about it - but I actually spend less per year than he does on these things.
the_third_wave 3y ago
Financial maturity... now there's a euphemism. You can also turn this around by stating that you have fallen for the marketing ploys which attempt to connect subjective emotions - happiness, fulfilment, accomplishment - to consumption in general and the consumption of 'premium' products in particular whereas others look past such attempts at emotional bribery. Is that $8 Starbucks Frap worth the cost per use compared to four $2 drip coffees? Not if you've seen the Fnords [1]. [1] https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fnord https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fnord

kepano 3y ago

This fits into the "cost per smile" heuristic lower down in the essay: > How much joy can you get out of each dollar? Some things bring lots of joy for a small amount of money: ice cream, sunsets, nature walks. A cheap date can bring many smiles per dollar.

nisegami 3y ago
I think about this whenever I'm spending money on my cat. Some of the highest smiles per dollar I can think of tbh.

vorpalhex 3y ago

That only holds when you have unused money. Eg the "cost" of spending $8 doesn't remove another source of happiness, like a few days in Bora Bora. I have a buddy who is constantly buying shit. Every day is a new "thing" and he talks about how he just buys what he wants. Then I'll go on a nice trip or buy an expensive item and he'll be a bit jealous about it - but I actually spend less per year than he does on these things.

the_third_wave 3y ago

Financial maturity... now there's a euphemism. You can also turn this around by stating that you have fallen for the marketing ploys which attempt to connect subjective emotions - happiness, fulfilment, accomplishment - to consumption in general and the consumption of 'premium' products in particular whereas others look past such attempts at emotional bribery. Is that $8 Starbucks Frap worth the cost per use compared to four $2 drip coffees? Not if you've seen the Fnords [1]. [1] https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fnord https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fnord