common thought pattern I'd like to troubleshoot:
> object X would make my life better, I should get X
> ooh but X costs a fair bit by default: if I'm spending that much I would like a good X; a proper X I won't regret or dislike or have to replace soon
> hmm all the X on wirecutter/similar are more expensive than I want to get
> maybe thrift store/ebay/cheap one for now and good one later?
> oh but the cheap ones aren't good / I don't like them / aren't in stock - hghhgg
>
> do not acquire X
> do not benefit from X
> rinse and repeat for several occasions on which it would be good to have had X
this is clearly foolish! I should not be surprised that good is often not cheap and cheap is often not good, and I should either buck up for the good thing or be fine with the imperfect thing instead of spending energy searching for the thing and then not buying it! but I am not sure what thought-modification I can do to convince myself of this
