There are several popular sayings that play on the theme of cheap and expensive. But the question is: is expensive really expensive? If we compare the outlay of money we will make for a quality product with the one we would make for several products of lesser quality, which would be the higher amount? And speaking of durability, which one would cover your need or desire for a longer period of time? I know! I've already told you that I'm an accountant by profession, and this mathematical thing comes almost naturally to me. That minimalist way of thinking has been a part of me for several years now.

I am one of those who prefer to buy the best in the store, the newest, even if the price is the highest in that range. Obviously, not every time I can afford it, but even in those cases I look to take the best I can with the budget I have. That simplifies the things I have in the house, the things I use, the things I have to learn to operate and maintain. I don't have as much time or attention to attend to several things that do the same thing.

An evidence of that was the last time I invested in a desktop computer. I looked for it from the country where I live in a well known shopping and sales store. Thanks to the e-shopping quota I had, I managed to buy the best there was that year. As you will see in the picture, it has a fourth generation i7 processor with good storage and 12 GB of RAM. It was the best that year, and I was able to buy it without selling the one I currently had. Why? I would reply to my wife: "I want to buy a computer and forget about it for a few years. " And so it has. It is still working and performing as expected. With that money I could have bought a simpler one, and with less storage. But I went for the best quality. As you can see, I still have the protective plastics.

Another such purchase was my professional camera Canon EOS Rebel t3i. It was the best of that year when I invested in it. It was even on sale, as it came with some useful accessories for a very good price. Even though there were cheaper but less new ones, again I wanted to buy the best. Obviously, like my computer, they are no longer the most up to date devices, but what I want to show is the way many of us think, as quality prevails, no matter the price, and how these things give peace of mind, last longer and even save time and money.

I remember when I went to buy our televisor in the capital. We went with a budget and with a clear idea of buying an LCD TV. The salesman after accompanying me throughout the store and seeing me looking to select the best possible LCD, asked me: "And why don't you buy an LED TV? That's the newest and what I recommend." I had no idea what he was talking about. After his explanation it was hard to turn that down. So I used extra credit on my credit card to buy the LED TV. It's been over a decade now, and it still has the protective plastic. Did I pay more? Yes, but I have been calm and content all these years.

I could go on mentioning many examples, as in clothing, I was even looking for a brand name uniform for high school! I still look for name brand shoes every time I buy them. If I see that I have more than four pairs, I worry. And I don't currently own a wristwatch. My last watch was a Casio brand, which although Shakira tries to spoil it in one of her songs this year, we all know it's an excellent brand. After the battery ran out and they didn't know how to replace it, I haven't had any more wristwatches. Why? Because I have not been able to buy one that I like and is of excellent quality, maybe smartwatch. So I either have something good, or I have nothing.

Whenever I can, I look to buy the best and forget about it. No one is forced to think this way, nor do I intend to sell the idea that it's the best way to think, but it's the one that has worked for me for years. "Bad poor?" No. Minimalist.