The relativity of values causes us to use money irrationally. I go to the supermarket to buy a $15 pen, and the clerk smiles and says, “You can buy this pen for $7 if you walk 5 minutes from here.” Then, most people walk five minutes and buy a $15 pen for $7. But if you want to buy a $1,000 jacket and the clerk smiles and says, “You can get a $992 jacket in five minutes from here,” most people simply buy the $1,000 jacket. Reasonably, walking for 5 minutes equals the effort, and the profit of $8 is the same. However, people might go to a store that sells pens cheaper, but not for the jacket, because the discount rate is too low. In other words, the relativity of comparing values makes us act irrationally. The pen’s discount rate is 55%, and the jacket’s is only 0.8%. Yet, the total amount is the same for all $8, and the effort to gain that profit is identical. Attitudes and misconceptions about consumption influence how we build wealth. - Joseph’s “just my thoughts”
Salt is a crucial ingredient we consume daily, neither from animal products nor from vegetables. The salty taste plays a major role in determining what we find delicious. When restaurant food is overly salty, customers often complain, but if it’s not salty enough, they typically remain silent and don’t revisit after their meal. Salty taste serves as a standard of flavor and is essential for life. Salt must maintain a specific concentration in our blood, known as osmolality, to support our existence. This necessity also explains why we may dislike or spit out food that is excessively salty. Essentially, our reaction to saltiness stems from an instinct for survival. Thus, it goes beyond mere pleasure; it is a critical aspect of our survival. - Joseph’s “just my thoughts”