The Cost of More
There’s this sneaky kind of dopamine hit I feel every time I fill up my cart and make a new purchase.
Even the research building up to that final click feels absolutely liberating. I have to admit, a full cart offers a great feeling.
Sadly, that sweet thrill wears off. Sometimes the 2-day Amazon delivery keeps the feels alive with expectation. But eventually, it fades. It always does.
There’s the shirt in the closet with the proud sale tag still dangling. The new car smell that has settled to the stale fast food air. And the bookmark still waiting on page 8 inside that book you couldn’t wait to read.
Is It Worth It?
After a lifetime of living the emotional rollercoaster on repeat, I’m realizing that behind every purchase is a trade off.
And it leaves me asking, “Is it worth it?”
The trade off doesn’t show up right away so don’t be frustrated if you missed it. It took me 44 years to put it all together. And even now, in my blissful youth, I am just getting started.
But here’s what I’m finding.
After every successful checkout is less money in my bank account and less time to spend on the people and things that matter the most.
Like I said, it’s sneaky. I didn’t realize it was happening until enough stuff had piled on my counters and clogged my mental bandwidth. I was bursting at the seams.
Hidden Costs
Buying the new car meant adding on the car wash. The car wash had a deal to add another car at half off so naturally I upgraded. An extra $35 a month.
The Oura ring came with a lot of baggage I didn’t even notice at first. A yearly $79 subscription, another new app to my crowded iPhone pushing me to upgrade my iCloud storage to the $9.99 tier, another charger hanging off my bed stand, and new shiny notifications blowing up my screen.
It was so easy to buy - my Health Savings Account (HSA) covered the initial $350 purchase so why not?
Sounds familiar, right?
As you can image, the trade offs multiply over time. We just accept them as a rite of passage into adulthood.
Let me ask you, “Is it worth it?”
Last month, I canceled my Oura subscription. I know it’s small, but passing on that tiny ring has lifted a huge weight off my shoulders.
And last night, I deleted other apps off my iPhone which moved that $9.99 iCloud storage fee back down to the $2.99 tier. (I got my eye on you, $0.99 tier!)
Maybe you feel the weight of stuff too. Getting control can feel like righting a wayward ship.
Maybe you feel too far gone to course correct. I get it. Thankfully, small steps eventually take you to the top of the mountain.
If you’re ready to take that first step, what’s one item or subscription you can let go of by the end of the day?
Let’s start there.