Free or paid?
Cover image from MiniBloxia's video thumbnail
Do you like pay-to-win games OR do you enjoy the grind to make your way to the top? Do you place more trust in paid products OR look for free alternatives when there is one? It's impossible to give a proper answer to such a question without a context or specific situation to consider, and if anything, it's a subjective matter that varies from person to person.
I came up with this topic when considering whether I should buy a product to support my work or stick with the free version that I've been comfortable with for a while. I was raised in an environment where "free" and "cheap" are the absolute best options most of the time, and I've been living with that mindset for years. But there have been changes, and I want to share my thoughts on this.
The original mindset
Born and growing up in an Asian country, in a middle-class family, I didn't have everything I wanted, but I was lucky enough to have things I needed. I was taught to be thrifty and save money whenever possible. I was told to always take good care of my stuff so they would last longer. I only got new things when I absolutely needed them, and when I did, I would choose the cheapest option available that could get the job done.
My backpack, for example, was used for 5 years, I only replaced it when it was torn and couldn't be fixed anymore. Or my phone, an old model that I used for 4 years, only after I lost it in a traffic accident did I have to buy a new one, and when I say "new", it was actually a like-new phone (AKA second-hand phone) that I bought at a much lower price than a brand new one. In a more recent example, I purchased a "new" macbook to work on my projects, it was a 2015 model bought from a former colleague at a price that was 1/3 of the original price, it was to replace my very old Windows laptop that was no longer usable, and as well help me build my app for iOS which required a Mac to compile the code and publish to the App Store.
All of these were a result of the teachings, which gradually become a habit over the years, a habit that have shaped my mindset about money and spending. For me, it's a good habit, it has helped me avoid unnecessary expenses and save a lot of money.
The shift in mindset
Illustration by Sherman Yang via Unsplash
I've realized that the free/cheap option is not always the best option, there are good reasons why people still make money from paid stuff when there are free alternatives available, and why there are people willing to pay for them. That becomes more apparent as I grow older, start working, gain more responsibility and independence in financial matters, and even more so when I start to create things and put them out there for others to use, putting on the same shoes as the creators of products that I used to be a consumer of.
The psychology behind paid stuff
Have you ever received something for free only to discard it later or don't use it at all? Not because it's not useful, but because you don't value it as much as you would if you had paid for it. That's what I've done, and I've seen quite a few people do that too. It's actually a pretty common behavior as that's how our brain works. When we pay for things, we consider them investments, we feel like we have to make the most out of them to justify the money we spent. When we get free stuff, we don't feel that way and we tend to take them for granted, not valuing them as much as we should. It's a psychological phenomenon called the sunk cost fallacy.
For example, would you say you feel more motivated to use a free app or an app that you spent money on? I bet you a lot of people would say the latter. Both apps could be equally good, get the job done, and have the same features, but the money you spent on the paid app makes you feel the need to use it more, to make the most out of it. That's why there are always people willing to pay for things even though there are free alternatives available. Of course there are a lot of other factors to consider, but this is one of the big reasons that I've come to realize.
The quality, experience, and other factors
Aside from the psychological aspect, there are other factors to consider when deciding between free and paid stuff. This is not a universal rule, but most of the time, paid stuff are often better in quality, provide a better experience, and come with better support. The creators of these paid products will have more motivation, more resources to make their products better, offer better services, to keep their customers happy, and keep them coming back. We can't expect the same level of quality, experience, and support from free stuff, because they are mostly built out of passion, as a hobby or side project, and don't have the sufficient time, resources, or motivation to be maintained and improved as much as paid products.
In addition, the benefits of using paid stuff can go beyond the product itself. It also help us save time, boost our productivity, provide us with peace of mind, all of which can be more valuable than the money we spent.
Supporting the creators
When we pay for something, we're not just paying for the product for our benefits, we're also supporting the creators behind it. We're helping them to keep doing what they're doing, to improve the products, to create more things, and to make a living. It's a way to show appreciation for their hard work and dedication, and to motivate them to keep going. I've been on the other side of the table, and I know how much it means to creators when someone pays for their work. It's not just about the money, it's about the recognition, the support, and the encouragement that comes with it.
In conclusion
Am I giving out advice or encouraging you to spend money on everything you need or want? No, not at all. I'm just sharing my thoughts and experiences on this topic. I'm in no position to tell you what's right or wrong, what's good or bad. I believe it's all about finding the balance. Consider the context, and make the right decision based on your needs, your budget, and your values. There are times when free stuff are good enough, and there are times when paid stuff are worth the money. It's up to you to decide what's best for you, and what you're comfortable with.
P.S. Writing about this topic reminds me of a video I watched a while ago, where the stand-up comedian Jimmy O. Yang shared about his Asian mom's frugality in a funny way. And it's so hilarious how relatable it is to me and a lot of us Asians. Below is the video if you're interested.