Ignore the myth: if you have to drink a Starbucks, do it.
Why saving $5 is not as exciting as making $5. First playtest this Sunday.
The Starbucks saving myth
Personal finance gurus often quote this myth when they talk about saving money. If you don’t stop at Starbucks every day, that’s $51 saved daily (). So that’s $5 x 365 = $1,825 spending on Starbucks, while making coffee at home cost near nothing. You’re throwing money away, the experts say.
The math is completely correct.
Except you are not buying a cup of coffee. You are buying the boost to your day, like a potion buff in RPG games. Let’s say making coffee at home costs 20 cents per cup. As long as the $5 lattes give you a boost necessary to go and generate $4.80 in value, you are in the green.
Of course, advices don’t always apply. If you buy Starbucks because you see other people do, and then go back to watching Youtube videos, this advice does apply to you. Save your money instead.
Not immortal
Every day, I pick up my copy of Marcus Aurelius’ Meditations and pick a random line to ponder. Here’s the one from today:
“Do not act as if you were going to live ten thousand years. Death hangs over you. While you live, while it is in your power, be good.”
== Meditations, Book 4:17
The interesting part of this line is “be good.” It’s not be successful, or famous, or influential, or powerful. Much simpler task. Not sure if it’s easier.
The other interesting part is the Emperor of Rome said this, while Chinese emperors get wished the exact opposite. Most literal translation I can come up with: “The emperor shall live 10,000 years, 10,000 years, 10^8 years.” Different mindset, I suppose.
Playtest #1
Our esports project will soon launch its first playtest this Saturday night (8pm through midnight). Come check it out if you have a minute: https://www.twitch.tv/CmonEsports
We would love to hear what you think. Please send your feedback to hello@cmon.io.
more like $6 now after inflation but who’s keeping track