How We Value Things in Proportion to what We PAY for them

The title for this post is borrowed loosely from an old marketing truism that seems to hold across a wide spectrum of what we encounter in life.

For some-- especially those who believe in an egalitarian world, and a world where everything should be freely available-- the above might be a bit of a controversial assertion.

But what does the statement really mean?

To me, the deeper meaning of "We value things in proportion to what we pay for them" is not necessarily about the price of things, but about a sense of reciprocity and fair exchange. And the attendant sense of accountability that goes with that.

Some examples: I used to have a retail art and gift gallery, many moons ago. As part of a promotion we once did with a radio station, we gave away 103 $20 gift certificates. These were basically "same as money" with no strings attached, that people could use in the shop; no limits, no expiration date. Of the 103 certificates given out only FOUR were ever used. By comparison, 95% of identical "purchased" gift certificates were typically used.

Not long ago, @cosmictriage and I were having a discussion about her coaching and counseling practice. Over an extended period of time, she'd noticed how people who paid "full fare" for their sessions were far more likely to follow her advice than those getting "pro bono" (free) sessions.

On a much broader level, think about how when we buy our own home, we start caring a whole lot more and taking much better care of our surroundings than when we are simply renting a living space from someone else. 

It's not just about money, though. At its root level, it's about our investment in things and projects... it could be time, effort, or other non-monetary factors.

This plays out in many aspects of life. We value-- and take better care of-- things we had to invest a lot of effort or money into, as opposed to things that were free to us, or that aren't ours. Although we don't like to admit to such things, we tend to take better care of our own homes and vehicles than we do hotel rooms and rental cars. We often dismiss our carelessness with platitudes like "Yeah, but it wasn't MINE."

We even see it here on Steemit-- contributors who take the time to post consistent quality content and serve as helpers, nurturers and ambassadors for the community also tend to be more invested in the platform... be it through actual cash investments, or large power-up balances.

Just in case you're feeling a little offended right now, let me add that I am using BROAD GENERALITIES here so you might-- indeed-- be "the exception," but the pattern tends to hold pretty true.

Look around you, as you go through life this weekend and take a closer look at your own and other people's interactions with their surroundings.

What do YOU think? Do you "value" things according to your investment in them? Whereas you might be appreciative of "free stuff," have you ever noticed that free stuff in your life is easier to not care about? Is this simply pride of ownership/stewardship at work? Share your experiences-- leave a comment!

(As per usual, all text and images by the author unless otherwise credited. This is original content, created expressly for Steemit)