How Buying Expensive Stuff Saves Money (Cheap is a Trap)

October 6, 2021 — Buying cheap can seem like a good way to save money, but it actually ends up costing more in the long run.

When I started my 365 Comics challenge in 2019, I wanted to get a nice drawing tablet with a screen, but $650 seemed way too “expensive,” so I bought a $70 Wacom Intuos.

It was HELL to illustrate with, because I had to draw on this tiny pad while looking up at my computer, and after a couple weeks, I started fantasizing about an iPad Pro.

Again, it seemed like “too much.”

So I snagged an old Wacom Cintiq for $300.

Drawing on the 16” screen was a big improvement, but I HATED the clunky interface, and the ancient display made my bright yellow comics look like dinosaur piss.

In August, I went on vacation, “forgot” the tablet at home, and had to drop $800 on a new iPad Pro. In retrospect, I’m 99% sure this was my brain telling me…

Hey, dummy, STOP BUYING CHEAP STUFF. You’re driving us broke!!

Hack: Best or Nothing

Especially when you don’t have much money, it’s tempting to buy cheap products. They “hurt” less to purchase.