Value

When people make a decision of any type, they weigh certain aspects of that decision in order to decide. Whether it be pro's and con's, consequences if taken or not taken, risk of taking it versus the reward if taken. Many factors come into play as the brain calculates many minute details subconsciously before spitting out a result. This is all done in the subconscious, too fast for you to even realize all the options that were weight to come to the frame of thought that you realize you are thinking.

If you sit back for a second, and think about everything you do in life, literally everything, you'll realize its all based on a value system. Whether its deciding what clothing to buy, what tv program to watch, or whether to go out with friends that night. Options are weighed and decisions are the result.

The more I ponder about the characteristics as an entity that I possess and cultivate, i realized it all lies within this system.

Do I want to buy that new laptop? At $1,500 it's expensive, but I will use it almost everyday and my work depends on it. Easy choice, it is more valuable to me than $1,500, therefore the purchase is made.

I'm in the grocery store and blackberries went from 3.99 to 4.99. Well I enjoy eating blackberries in my oatmeal, but a banana I also like in oatmeal and are 1/3 the cost and I have some at home. Therefore I will not buy blackberries this at the new price. There value does not exceed 3.99 to me.

I'm invited to go to a football game with my roommate and a few of his friends. The total cost with ticket, food, gas, etc would cost about $100. I am not friends with his friends really, and I breakdown in my head all the other things that would give more value to me than an afternoon at a game that cost less than $100. Therefore, I do not go.

It can even go as far as, I am invited to a movie with a friend, he offers to pay for my ticket and give me a ride AND pay me $5 just for going, but its a movie I do not really want to see. If I go to the movie I won't have time to get to the gym. I realize going to the gym is worth more than $5 and a free movie and wasting 3 hours. So I go to the gym b/c it has more value than the other option.

Many people might disagree with the last example, except personal trainers perhaps. But the whole point is, people value money, a movie, or working out at the gym, more or less than other people. Neither is right or wrong, it just is. And it depends on the person and their beliefs and lifestyle.

You can break down every decision you ever make, into some sort of value system. Everyone places a different value on different things. Therefore it is very hard to determine if someone is cheap or spendthrift because you don't know how much they internally value the item. I use this system to keep my lifestyle above cheap and below spendthrift.