9 Ways Buying the Solution to Every Problem Secretly Costs You

It’s easier than ever to throw money at a problem when we want it to go away. Many of life’s inconveniences and inefficiencies can be solved effortlessly with some combination of technology and spending. And I’m all for this in many cases.

But in my own life, I began to notice a pattern: in my desire to solve a problem quickly, I often failed to notice a cheaper and more sustainable long-term fix. Solving the problem at the source would have required more effort and discipline, but once solved I could have applied those lessons to the rest of my life.

Instead, I borrowed from my future self and used money I could have spent elsewhere on a quick fix. I now realize that going down this path has a number of hidden costs that I wasn’t aware of— costs that make the solution more expensive than it appears. I’ve written this post for anyone who might be an over-spender like me. Why not try good ol’ effort and creativity first, before reaching for your wallet or your credit card?

Suppresses the development of resilience

Often, the quickest path to solving any problem involves some cost. Money is a simple fix and technology can make many challenges disappear in a blink. But sometimes the ideal outcome of a challenge isn’t to simply remove it, but to learn to live with it and thrive despite it. By seeking out instant relief from your difficulties, you can lose out on the opportunity to develop one of the most important skills of all: resilience.

Keeps you on a treadmill of dependency

It would be one thing if you could spend a little money to get a permanent fix to all your problems, but many solutions are temporary. For example, eating out instead of cooking might save you time tonight, but you’ll have less money in your budget tomorrow. It’s no secret that many companies in our capitalistic economy take advantage of this fact to make themselves the cheaper or easier choice in the short run, knowing that it will make you a repeat customer for life.

Drains your bank account of resources

Instead of building up your financial resources, you end up spending that money to make the problems in your life go away. Of course, sometimes this is the right choice. But when you consistently rely on money rather than making investments in your own character, you are exchanging future money for present convenience. My wife and I learned this lesson the hard way when we ended up cutting more from our budget than we had initially intended. Instead of solving our spending problem, we had only made it bigger and delayed the eventual pain.

Prevents you from learning lifelong lessons

Life is full of lessons to be learned when you wrestle with the challenges it throws your way. For example, imagine the dilemma of a young person frustrated by a lack of knowledge. One way out is to pay someone to take care of your problem. Another solution is to study and work hard so you gain the ability to solve these problems yourself. In the short run, you might think you’re saving time and money by outsourcing these issues, but over the course of your life you are losing out on the invaluable skill of problem solving— maybe the most important skill of all.

Discourages resourcefulness and creativity

I’ll be the first to admit that the easy way out is often the most attractive way out of a problem. But the fastest solution isn’t necessarily the best for you in the long run. It’s like going to the gym: if there was a magic pill you could take to feel strong and fit, everyone would take it. But maybe the need to wrestle with this goal is exactly what you needed to develop other qualities in your life like resourcefulness and creative thinking. Maybe the ability to solve problems in your life and make them go away is the very solution you need to the rest of your problems. It would be a shame if you chose the short run solution and missed out on the growth you need to thrive.

Takes away your agency

The more you rely on someone else to solve your problems, the less you feel in control of your own life. Maybe in the beginning you felt great about solving problems quickly and avoiding inconvenience, but what happens when you really need to fix something and there’s not a quick fix in sight? The very act of taking a problem seriously and working at it over the long haul makes you feel alive and in charge of your own destiny. If you turn to easy solutions too often, you might find that this very important agency has disappeared when you need it most.

Encourages bad habits

Now, I’m certainly not against spending money on things that make your life better. In fact, I think one of the great benefits of having a job and spending less than you make is that you can support a lifestyle that makes life more enjoyable and less frustrating. The only danger in this approach, and it’s a big one, is that the easy fix becomes your default. Instead of thinking about the problem creatively and trying to get to the root cause, you quickly reach for the quickest fix at hand. I’ve noticed this aspect of my personality especially when it comes to financial matters. It’s much easier to spend money than to put in the hard work of figuring out a budget.

Lowers your bar for effort

When you take money out of the equation, one of the most powerful motivators you have left is your own effort and creativity. Of course, if you don’t solve the problem this way, you have to live with it and make the best of your new situation. But once you add money to the equation, it becomes a default crutch to lean on. Whenever there is a hurdle in your life, you can simply lower the bar with money and take the easier path. This feels good in the short run, but it lowers the bar for your effort across all areas of life. Eventually, you get to the point where you’re not willing to do anything hard.

Leaves foundational issues unaddressed

Money is a tool and a powerful one at that. You can often exchange your hard earned cash for solutions to your problems. This is one of the great benefits of money and a good reason to avoid debt and spend less than you make. But there are some problems in life that can’t be solved quickly and sometimes money is like a bandaid, only delaying the real work that needs to be done. For example, you can use your money to pay for gym memberships, fancy runners, and healthy food, but if you don’t change your habits and learn to enjoy the process, all your efforts will be wasted.