We often think:<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Oh… if I just got all this for free, I’d be so happy.<\/p><\/blockquote>\n\n\n\n
We wish to get ‘sponsored’ and to get free things. And I think many people desire to get a huge inheritance, etc.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
But in actuality, the best life is in which you pay for everything. Why? By paying for something … you signal what you truly care for. And this also signals:<\/p>\n\n\n\n
You have pride in what you paid for.<\/p><\/blockquote>\n\n\n\n
What you paid for either monetarily, time-wise, or what you sacrificed in life for it!<\/p>\n\n\n\n
So in other words,<\/p>\n\n\n\n
It is good to pay for things to exercise your personal judgement, aesthetics, ethics, ethos and taste.<\/p><\/blockquote>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n
How to have pride in what you paid for<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
Scrutinize over what you desire to buy, and have pride in what you buy. And once you finally figure out what you like, cling to it ferociously and tenaciously.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
For me, I prefer to buy things used\/refurbished<\/a> ‘luxury’ goods. For example, when I bought my Leica M9 and Leica 35mm f\/1.4 Summilux (later traded\/bought it for a used film Leica MP and Leica 35mm f\/2 Summicron) — I bought it all used (huuuuge discounts, in pretty much 90-95% good condition). More recently, I bought my first car since college (a 2003 Subaru Outback Legacy Wagon, 5 speed, 200,000+ miles for only $800 on Craigslist!) And in terms of my tools, my pride in my RICOH GR III<\/a>, my iPad Pro (10.5 inch)<\/a>, my 2017 13” MacBook Pro TouchBar<\/a> (maxed out, bought refurbished from Apple store online<\/a>), and more recently the iPhone Mini<\/a> and iPhone 11 Pro<\/a> (refurbished from Apple online store<\/a>).<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Thus some simple takeaways:<\/p>\n\n\n\n
- Sponsorship is bad, and getting things for free is bad. Even to an extent, getting gifts is bad … how do you know you *really* like it or not, whether you paid for it (skin in the game<\/a>) for it yourself or not? Moving forward, the only gifts I want is meat-related gifts, or food gifts, or coffee gifts.<\/li>
- Be very very wary of ‘free’ things. You will eventually get suckered somewhere. Even with blogging, I prefer the theme I paid for (Genesis<\/a>).<\/li>
- The goal isn’t to get all the best luxury goods and things and items in life. More interesting to be picky, scrutinizing, opt for a more minimalist approach<\/a>, and to make\/build\/create\/customize things yourself than just buy it!<\/li><\/ol>\n\n\n\n
ERIC<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\n\n\n\nEconomics by KIM<\/a><\/h2>\n\n\n