Stop Wasting Your Time

I am obsessed with espresso makers. I didn’t know that you can make espresso at home, I thought this was only possible with expensive equipment from Starbucks.

There are hundreds of DIY solutions — Cafflano Kompresso, Wacaco Minipresso, Staresso, and Flair Espresso. The price varies but not to the point that it breaks the bank.

This morning I asked my wife to help me decide. I presented to her my research and broke down the pros and cons of each option. I was not asking for her permission but I wanted to hear myself out loud.

Thirty minutes into my presentation, she asked me to decide already. I guess she was tired of all my babbling. I couldn’t give her a straight answer. I had all kinds of excuse for why there is no perfect solution to my predicament.

You can’t afford it.

Just like that my bubble burst.

Because it’s true.

This is an easy decision if I have a day job. The amount is negligible, it wouldn’t make a dent in my paycheck. I can even buy a semi-automatic espresso machine rather than experiment with these manual solutions.

“How easy was it for you to buy the French Press, hand grinder or this tumbler?” She asked me.

Didn’t take me that long.

Are you currently in the process of buying a house or a car? Investing capital to start a business?

Tinkering with it far too long?

This is a telltale sign that we can’t afford it. It’s not budgeted and it’s not planned.

Me and my wife are starting up a business. The capital we’re putting up is just a percentage of our net worth. We’re not thinking twice about spending it cause we’re not going to starve if it doesn’t work out. We budgeted this cost years ago.

Take a second and asses your next big purchase. Can you really afford it? If not, then stop wasting your time and move on.

No person has the power to have everything they want, but it is in their power not to want what they don’t have, and to cheerfully put to good use what they do have.

Seneca

Talk to you soon my friend.

You Can’t Afford It was originally published in The Ascent on Medium, where people are continuing the conversation by highlighting and responding to this story.