I was shopping at Whole Foods today and as I was trying to decide whether I needed one bunch of spinach or two (the weekly dilemma), a man walks up to me, and, extremely frustrated asks –
“How can you afford to shop here?!”
Um… what?
He then went on to talk about how expensive everything is and that he can’t believe people would pay these prices.
I don’t know if he was expecting me to join in and complain with him or something, but I didn’t. Instead I said - “my priority is quality food, and I’m willing to pay extra for that”.
He just shook his head and walked away.
I remember the first time I walked into Whole Foods (and similar stores). I wanted to shit my pants. I looked around at the people shopping - “these people are nuts”, I thought.
The prices seemed outrageous to me.
But of course they would - I was used to shopping at the low-quality, low-cost grocery stores and buying whatever was on sale.
Everything was covered in pesticides. Everything tasted bland.
I was eating to survive, not to nourish my body.
I’d fallen into the trap of buying the cheapest thing you could get away with. Someone once told me that all blueberries taste the same.
Um, nah, yo.
I’ve had blueberries that taste like water (no joke, I was like.. “where is the flavour?!”.
I’ve also had blueberries that taste like straight-up candy.
So spending $6 for a small pack of wild, local blueberries when I could spend $1.99 for those jumbo blue things full of water is a no-brainer.
I pay for quality, in all areas of my life, regardless of cost - ESPECIALLY when it comes to the things I put in my body.
I remember back when I used to spend $400 a month on groceries… and I was really strict about only spending $400 (or less!).
Coupons, buying sale items only, discounted produce that was about to go bad, non-organic everything.. whatever I could do to save a buck, I’d do it.
And hey, I’m not against saving money, but I’m definitely against saving money if it means you need to compromise on your values.
One of my values is to nourish my body with what I put in it. To feed my kids healthy, natural, whole foods at every opportunity, instead of stuffing ’em full of Kraft Dinner and Goldfish crackers.
So I cough up the cash for that.
Just like I do for the neighbourhood we live in.
Just like I do for the places that we travel.
Just like I do for the grocery delivery.
Just like I do for the 3x weekly house cleaning.
Just like I do for the mentors I work with.
Just like I do for the summer cottaging.
Just like I do for the quality skin care products I use.
Just like I do for the people I hire to work with me.
Whatever is a value of mine, I spend whatever is asked of me to get it. I don’t try to ask for a discount. I don’t shop around for a cheaper option.
I spend the money.
It’s an INVESTMENT.
I INVEST in my health.
I INVEST in my education with mentors.
I INVEST in convenience.
I INVEST in team members that are actually gonna do great work instead of hiring whoever will do the job the cheapest.
I INVEST in experiences.
Because I value these things.
Are you investing in the things that you value? The things that are important to you? The things that make your life better?
Or are you shopping around for the cheapest option? (Or not even entertaining the investment at all!?)
There may be some things that you don’t value much. Spend as little as possible on those things.
(I don’t give a shit about designer purses or shoes, or about owning the latest iPhone, so I don’t spend money on those things.)
But the things you value - THROW YOUR MONEY AT IT.
Because I can promise you this: You will feel better. Your life will feel more fulfilling. And you will experience such immense joy in your life.