This question came to mind when driving back & forth between California-Arizona where vehicle fuel prices have a $2 PER GALLON difference. (I love my diesel vehicle. Fight me.)
So (1) would I drive 5 hours inland to Arizona just to save $2 per gallon?
Or (2) Would I buy a shit-ton of gas cans & fill them up in Arizona then haul them back to California?
As destitute as I am, would I move to Arizona for all-around lower cost of living? (3)
(1) Um, no.
(2) Sounds like a clever idea but ultimately ridiculous for so many reasons. No.
(3) Stupidly & stubbornly, no, I haven’t broken yet. I still love California too much to run inland away from this extortionately high cost of living.
BUT
I prefer to walk/run/bike rather than drive short distances.
Prefer DIY-ing or foregoing luxuries rather than paying for services I could do myself. Haircuts. Massages. Handyman repairs within my ability.
Sorry, I just wanted to talk about the elephant in the room. Full time jobs are time consuming and often stressful which can lead to health issues or family issues.
Time is something we can’t buy, and I wish we didn’t have to sacrifice it