Oddly, I seem to frequently see people touting how much money they’ve spent on something as if it were something to brag about. I’m well aware of conspicuous consumption and all that, but usually that doesn’t include also bragging that you’re a sucker.
Whether it’s a neighbor talking about how much they paid to send their kid to school or the local town hall bragging about how much they’re spending on new infrastructure, the point seems to be lost. It’s not how much you’re paying – it’s what you get for it!
Remember the old adage, “Better, Faster, Cheaper: Pick Two?” The wisdom is that usually deciding between two options means sacrificing one of those three (and if you’re losing on 2, it’s a bad deal). A different landscaper might do a better, faster job than the one you have now, but they’re more expensive. That’s fine to go with, but what you’re supposed to brag about is how nice your yard looks, not how much money you spent!
The Opportunity Machine 