Value of a thing isn’t the same as cost of a thing. Value is the importance we give to a thing. Cost is purely a monetary indicator. Two people can value the same thing differently.
One may spend extravagantly on luxury accommodation while the other may like the idea of camping.
One may like to fly business while the other is happy with economy.
One must have the luxury sports car while the other is happy in any ordinary car.
One may want to build the mansion while the other is happy with a studio apartment.
Identifying what you value is very critical. No matter what it is. Also, identifying what is not much of a value to you is equally important. This helps you spending money without any guilt on things you like as you don’t end up overspending on things you don’t value at all.
Cost is not always directly proportional to the value. Thing with a nominal cost can have immense value. At the same time, an expensive thing can mean nothing to someone.
But you have to be vigilant how you see and label what others value. Money is still a taboo topic to talk about. We often judge others and even ourselves in relation to how and what we spend money on. A person with the mansion may be okay with the Toyota and a guy with the studio must have the Mercedes. In this scenario, a guy with the mansion may ridicule the one with the studio on spending so much money on a depreciating asset. And a guy with the Mercedes may ridicule the one with the mansion for spending too much money on housing. Its very important to realise that both value things differently or both value different things. Neither of them is right or wrong.
I value flying 4 times in an economy more than flying in business once. I am happy to live in a small place but would not drive a car that doesn’t fly when I put my right foot down. I value good pair of Jeans that I can wear everyday over having a designer wardrobe overflowing of clothes.
Spend unapologetically on things you value and trim down on what you don’t.
In a hindsight, realise that, in the end — no thing has any value and what you value the most in life is not a thing.
