Does Free Mean Cheap? (Day 1 of 30)

As I write this post, there’s lovely jazz playing in the background. Not from a music player, I’m at the Michael Joseph Centre at the Safaricom House listening to The Smithsonian Jazz Orchestra, a once in a lifetime opportunity. Well, I am blogging because today is Day 1 of my 30 day writing challenge, it’s just got to happen.

I however almost didn’t come. This evening as I watched the rain clouds gather, I almost took the other way home. My thinking was after all, it’s a free event so there was nothing much to lose by not going. If I had bought tickets for the concert, I doubt the debate in my head would have been there.

This got me thinking: by using money as a measure of value for certain experiences, aren’t we robbing ourselves of potentially good free experiences, and overspending on things we shouldn’t be paying for?

How do you determine the worth of your experiences? Is it about the money you spend, or the experience you gain from them?
Would a walk at The Arboretum feel more valuable if it was organized around a social event at a hefty gate charge?
Would Karate lessons be worth more if you claimed to have learnt Karate at a high end gym, than if you learnt it free of charge at The Japanese Embassy?

For me this was a huge lesson. Many a time I let enjoyable stuff pass by, thinking that since they’re free, I am not missing much. Other times I pay for stuff, end up not enjoying them, but feeling obligated to feel like I have enjoyed them, just so that the money isn’t wasted.

This weekend, do at least one free (or almost free) activity and treasure it