Instant Gratification Isn’t At All Gratifying
Is having it all ruining our lives?
We traversed our usual circuit through the thrift shop. This had become a weekly excursion as we sought out a single treasure — a new-to-us tournament-size bristle dart board in a cabinet. We had priced new models at around $100, which was about $85 more than we were willing to spend.
Mo and I play darts several evenings a week. Usually over a beer while listening to good music. Our current board was an undersized plastic thing that barely qualified as a kid’s toy. We wanted a board similar in quality to the one at our local pub.
Although we have the $100 to spend, it just isn’t our way to satisfy our desires with an impulsive purchase. When it comes to wants and some necessities, we operate off a simple financial structure, which in order goes like this:
- Can we make it or mend it?
- Can we get it for free (Buy Nothing groups, trade, barter)?
- Can we find it secondhand?
- Can we find the best deal on new?
This has worked for us over our 20-year marriage, allowing us to make the most of our meager resources while also cutting down on our consumption levels in a world that overconsumes.
