As someone raised with Asian immigrant parents, I was taught by example to save. Our family made our own dinners every night. A trip to McDonald’s was a special treat once every few weeks. Clothes were given as hand-me-downs.
As I grew older, my family became gradually wealthier, but these habits stuck and were re-enforced by a lot of advice by millionaires that tell you to live below your means. I thought I was doing the right thing by always opting for the cheap or free option. But I was wrong.
I realized that eating cheap food or free food off promotions, coupons, or deal days usually lead to a habit of eating unhealthy and damaging my body.
I realized that buying the cheap version of products, like phone holders, clothing, or accessories lead to items that were low-quality that broke quickly or added frustration and wasted time to get them to work.
I realized trying to use free or cheap information off YouTube and the web to improve my career, dating life, relationships, communication, social media following, and income often lead to little to no results. I spent hundreds of hours consuming content and even more making YouTube videos or trying to talk to women, only to see little growth or results in the next ten years.
Now, I’m not saying that spending a bunch of money will 100% always solve the issue. This frustration-free path doesn’t guarantee success. I’ve seen others and myself go down this path, only to find that they aren’t taking action that lead to results. Coaches and programs can give you information and open a door, but they can’t force you to do something. You need to choose to take action and listen to what they say. And more expensive doesn’t always lead to greater results, as Buzzfeed’s Worth It series has proven. The most expensive umbrella isn’t likely that much better than a moderate-priced umbrella.
What I am saying is that the cheap or free option isn’t worth it. Investing more, which doesn’t always mean the most expensive option, is so worth it. I’ve bought sweaters and cardigans for a higher price, and they were worth it because they lasted a lot longer, looked better, and felt better. I’ve saved hours of time by paying for the convenience of services, tour packages, or events.
One way you can start taking the frustration-free path more often is to try out MasterClass.com. Instead of trying to figure out how to improve a skill through some YouTuber you’ve never heard of, you can cut years off your learning curve by getting the right advice, in a structured way from someone who is famous and award-winning. They have best-selling authors, award-winning storytellers, communicators, entrepreneurs, celebrities, musicians, directors, chefs, and artists. All for the price of Netflix! What a deal.
So, let me ask you: What is your most recent purchase that was so worth it?
