the accumulation of material goods can be engrossing. overcoats that fit well and cost upwards of $600, for example.
the main point i can say is to basically save the vast majority of money and spend, sparingly, on quality items related directly to improving your quality of life.
put another way: do not waste your money on dumb shit. spend on good shit.
minimalism can be a guide. imagine you can only bring two suitcases full of stuff, everything else you spent your money on you have to leave behind. what do you keep? that can be a point to what matters.
the thing is that properly deploying money is a touchstone that you can engage when you then learn to properly deploy effort, time, and other resources. it is almost like if you have one, maybe you can extend to others. if you know how you spend an ideal day, maybe you can figure out whether that $275 coffee maker is 'worth it' for you.
for me, some basic guidelines include:
*do not buy anything
*spend money on value
*deploy on high quality, high density social interactions; avoid cheaping out on people, buy them a drink, a meal, or deliver value some other way
*durable goods
*making the systems that matter in your life more durable
these systems include:
*ability to sleep
*ability to exercise
*ability to socialize
*ability to control time and eventually purchase your freedom
*ability to write
*ability to love
to love and to work are two of the main concepts. if you can figure out who you love, what / how you work, and where you live, i mean...that's huge. it almost does not matter whether you have $40 or $485 sneakers at that point.
when was the last time you felt that joy?