Rethink Some Purchases
In general, when I’m thinking of buying anything, I try to think about it in terms of its use-value versus its commodity value. If I’m not happy with the balance of the two, it’s time to rethink the purchase.
The use-value of an object is a measure of how useful it is to you. For example, if you need to carry stuff, a bag has a certain use-value, and it will go up or down based on how good of a bag it is for your particular needs. For me, a sturdy backpack has really high use value on a daily basis, where a grocery bag would have a lot less use-value for carrying books and a laptop to work.
Commodity value is the value that the market places on the idea of the object. So if the same backpack has branded, say Gucci, and does the exact same thing as a non-branded backpack, the Gucci bag will be a lot more expensive based solely on perceived value.
This example is an exaggerated one, but you can apply it to a lot of your life: is the name on a pack of paper towels that important to you, or would you rather measure the amount you want to spend in terms of, for example, how absorbent it is. Questioning why you’re buying the things you buy, over time, will likely get you the gear you need, for less money.
The use-value of an object is a measure of how useful it is to you. For example, if you need to carry stuff, a bag has a certain use-value, and it will go up or down based on how good of a bag it is for your particular needs. For me, a sturdy backpack has really high use value on a daily basis, where a grocery bag would have a lot less use-value for carrying books and a laptop to work.
Commodity value is the value that the market places on the idea of the object. So if the same backpack has branded, say Gucci, and does the exact same thing as a non-branded backpack, the Gucci bag will be a lot more expensive based solely on perceived value.
This example is an exaggerated one, but you can apply it to a lot of your life: is the name on a pack of paper towels that important to you, or would you rather measure the amount you want to spend in terms of, for example, how absorbent it is. Questioning why you’re buying the things you buy, over time, will likely get you the gear you need, for less money.