Analog: A simple productivity system | Hacker News Reader

Analog: A simple productivity system

ugmonk.com

152 points_fnhr89 comments

I'm using this in combination with a Python script I wrote that sends me SMS messages for tasks as hard deadlines approach. So, if I get too distracted for some days, because of a technical issue or whatever, to pay much attention to the paper task process, I still get the SMS messages. Since I always check any SMS messages that come in, this prevents me from missing a deadline. And the physical setup of the Analog system means I can always aim my eye at the list that's standing up toward the side of my desk when I have time to do something. And adding something to the paper list is trivial; instead of having to navigate to the right app and type it in, I can just write a quick note on the paper that's always right there within immediate reach.

I think that this combination is great for people with ADHD that can cause one highly compelling task or technical issue to take them over for days so that mundane tasks don't get done (or even noticed) for that period. At least it is for me.

Have you open sourced it? This sounds like something I'd benefit from.

No I haven't but I've thought of doing so and/or making a freemium product out of it. Thanks for the encouragement, that inspires me to think about it more.

I'm 65, and this current system is the result of about 4.5 decades of trying to figure out a system that would work for me, including trying various commercial task lists and reminder systems.

[edited: I wrote more text but deleted it because I don't think it was worth anyone's time to read. :) ]

I have tried SMS alerts for various things. What happens is that I start ignoring SMS. So this isn't something that will work for everyone, especially if the SMS messages become too frequent.

You are correct. I'm leveraging the fact that I do check SMS messages religiously, but that is not true for everyone.

The SMS messaging is a great idea.

I actually have a twillio + python SMS setup on a VPS that's extremely reliable, but haven't designed a better interface besides cron which is less than ideal.

How does your system work?

It just runs all the time on my laptop. Every day at 9 it checks a sqlite3 database to see if there are tasks for the day. That's running in a thread.

The main process has a little interface with a menu that lets you input a task, view tasks, search for tasks by text string, etc. (I did do some work on it; it wasn't just a 10-minute project! But what the heck, I've needed something that would solve me problem for decades and nothing I found in the marketplace worked (for me)!)

I'm thinking of making a web interface and allowing other people to use it.

Same concept maybe, I use emails as my todos and snooze them to popup at the right time. Inbox always at zero so its easy to see something I gotta take action on. Things will definitely get missed otherwise and my email is always with me.

I didn't know about snooze as an email feature, but a quick google shows it as something for gmail? Is that what you use?

I see that there are 3rd-party solutions for MacOS. MacOS' Mail doesn't have that feature that I'm aware of. (I use a powerbook.)

Love the SMS idea, it's the one thing I always check / have access to. Few months ago I setup a # I can text things I'm grateful for throughout the day and it saves them in Notion. Makes it a little easier to practice gratitude as cool things happen without needing a journal or separate app

Thanks for the feedback. I may make this available publicly, but maybe after adding a web interface to it!

I like this idea also - I always liked planning with a physical medium (like a notebook) and this is a great way to make sure big things are not missed.

I wonder if there is a way to send SMS based on Google or iOS calendar items? A simple Google Workspace plugin (not a browser plugin - actually for the Google system itself) could be super useful!

edit: In regards to this actual system itself I do like what is going on here but I have trouble justifying a whole new format when a simple paper notebook and pen could accomplish much of this. And the notebook also ends up being highly portable.

I do like however having this vertical card holder gizmo - I may just try to replicate this with some kind of magnetic system that holds my notebook open to the current page.

Thanks. I really may set up a web site to do it. The encouragment here helps.

Haha I too have hacked my own desire to check sms. I made a remind me Twilio thing long time ago. I use it almost everyday. I text my Twilio number to send me a string I type in # of hours/mins from now comes back later.

I use it to water my plants every 3 days and leave myself future notes like months from now ha.

My phone is on silent too, I use the Android web messages chrome tab so I get pinged on my desktop.

I assumed this was just a parody until maybe 3/4 through. Even then I had to click on through to the "buy" page to make sure it wasn't a joke.

Haha same

I saw this last year! You can replicate this system with a stack of index cards and a hair tie. :)

You can even make the top card stand at a similar angle if you want: take the top card off the stack, bend the edge inward by 120 degrees or so, and tuck that "hook" of the bent card back into the hair tie to stand it upright. You can even put a pen in there. It's great to take to the store for shopping!

Thank you for doing the design work for me! I'm literally copying the well thought drawn in system.

I was just wondering how I would make the wood thing, and now you've inspired me to have this system on my desk by the end of the day. Brilliant!

A binder clip works well too. It's the Hipster PDA! http://www.43folders.com/2004/09/03/introducing-the-hipster-...

This was also my first thought! Everything old is new again.

I immediately thought of the Hipster PDA as well. I'm so glad the page is still up after all these years!

I thought of this: https://www.levenger.com/stationery-notebooks-322/pocket-bri...

Because you might as well go in style.

Yup! You can also buy a flash card holder, which is a plastic case that's index card sized if you're so inclined.

I've used this system for years, but never considered buying this overpriced product. I am quite sad to see this be so marked up as a designer / minimalist type of product to make productivity seem more sexy than it really is. I know people buy it, but it feels wasteful.

I buy dotted grid index cards and use an old smartphone stand to keep it upright. Total cost is maybe $20 total for a couple years of supply. I use my own notecard template I came up with and bullet journal syntax for each line item. I plan only individual days with notecards. Usually it's one highlight(i'd be happy with my day if done) and three things I want to get done that day.

The benefits of writing things down on paper are insane. It definitely sticks better than apps or websites that provide similar functionality and syncing. I usually use todoist in combination with my notecards. I see the notecard method as my daily "tactics" and a notebook or app as my longer term "strategy".

Productivity system yak-shaving like the elaborate semi-circles in this product is just another form of procrastination.

I tried to get into bullet journaling, which is generally a fine system (although I could never get beyond just using it as a to-do list), but dear lord never try to get ideas for how to use the bullet journal from the internet. It's just millions of pages of instagram-worthy journals, decked out in 15 colors of ink, fancy Japanese washi tape, all the ridiculous stuff. It's clearly procrastination in the name of getting things done.

I think the main appeal for buying something like this is the beautifully designed desk piece, and the productivity comes secondary. That's not a problem, people buy figurines and the like for their desks all the time, but it definitely seems like the focus of this product is making something that looks beautiful form over function.

For those who want a similar system but stay digital, you can use Things from Cultured Code. It has the concepts of Today, Someday, and Anytime.

The process for me is similar to OP: each morning I add tasks to my “Today” list, which can carry undone tasks from the previous day. If you complete the list, you can always add some more tasks.

You can also plan ahead and build a backlog of tasks to do, and just browse through them to add them to your “Today” list.

Simple system, with not many parts, but extendable with Projects, Notes, Repeatable tasks, Reminders… Also integrates with your calendar to keep everything in one place.

Very polished product that can be as simple or as complex as you want it to be (but mostly simple).

I initially balked at the high price of things but WOW I've never been so productive using it. And like the analog site says - it feels so good to cross something off.

I also use a similar process and its easy to backlog things that you know you just won't get to today. I recommend this app to all of my friends and +1 for the commenter above.

There's also Planner[0] if you're on Linux, a FOSS Things clone that actually gets a lot of stuff right for being free software. Just be sure to compile it yourself if you intend on using it, the current distribution method has been... rather disastrous[1].

[0] https://github.com/alainm23/planner

[1] https://twitter.com/planner_todo/status/1492084099875586049

Flatpak will work, but you have to install from an older commit, not the one that installs the beta v3.

https://github.com/alainm23/planner/issues/852

I'd really only opt for Flatpaks if it was more stable than system packages. As we've seen with Planner, that's not necessarily the case...

side-note but related: a 1-page year calendar

This is my favorite way to organize a year - a beautiful design, one page to collect everything:

https://davidseah.com/node/compact-calendar/

+1 for Dsri Seah's tools!

Their Emergent Task Planner kept me on track for years, and I still go back to it when I feel like my day is spiraling out of control. It's a great companion to my existing digital productivity tools.

https://davidseah.com/node/the-emergent-task-planner/

(edit: name correction)

If you like analog, you may get some tidbits from here also[0].

[0] https://github.com/slowernews/hamster-system

This reminds me a little bit of the "bullet journal" technique [0]. It will make a great gift for my very todolist-oriented spouse!

[0] https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bullet_journal

For anyone looking for a non-precious, well-designed analog companion for work, I've really enjoyed using David Seah's Emergent Task Planner notepads [0]. They're great if you've got a busy day interspersed with meetings. I like the full-sized version. You can print them up yourself or just pick up some very nice pre-printed pads from his store [1].

[0] https://davidseah.com/node/the-emergent-task-planner/ [1] https://shop.davidseah.com/

The best system I came up with:

1. Get a small spiral-bound notebook, say 3x5 or whatever is sitting in the supply cabinet.

2. Write today's date on the top of the first page. Write each task on one line on the page. (You only need enough detail to remember what the task is.)

3. As you complete tasks, draw a line through them. It's more satisfying that check marks or whatever.

4. As you add tasks, just write them on the today page.

5. Or, if you know you aren't going to get to them until tomorrow, write tomorrow's date at the top of the next page and put them down there.

6. Or, if you know you can't get to it until Monday, write the dates on the pages in between, one page per day, until you get to Monday and write it there.

7. At the end of the day, look at the list of tasks you didn't get to. Carry them over to tomorrow's page and mark them out on today's. It feels great.

8. Try not to carry too many over to any particular day; after two or three, put the rest on the next day's page. Some days I'm only good for one or two things.

It's all about a) making sure you remember things, and b) making sure you aren't overwhelmed by what you have to do at any one time. (I almost never move a task up.)

I tend to avoid self-promotion, but this was just too on the nose to ignore: what you've described is almost quite literally the functionality of https://teuxdeux.com.

We like to say that our biggest competition is pencil & paper.

Ah, but that wouldn't let someone charge a subscription of $10/month for thirty small pieces of paper.

For comparison's sake: a small-ish clairfontaine cloth-bound notebook costs about $10

After years of trying to be productive with to-do apps, I've found that nothing beats the flexibility of plain old pen and paper. Even analog systems like Analog or Bullet Journal impose rules of varying inflexibility, and that made them very unappealing, for me at least.

I guess this is because people have different ways of thinking about goals, tasks and timeframes. For me what works best is a 'week todo' that contains coarser/larger tasks and a daily todo that contains more granular tasks, often sub-tasks of the weekly ones. Adopting this method has made me more productive than I've been in years.

I've used exactly same system for more than a year, and now still using it combined with digital app.

I've done exactly this and it works well. However, I've tweaked a couple things over time.

1. Tasks not completed may carry over to the next day, or a backlog if the next day already had something planned in my calendar.

2. Minimal markup to backlog tasks, such as a hard due date (i.e. other people expect it done by this date) and/or an urgency marking.

3. Keep the list on my phone so it is always with me. Having it digital reduces busy work (such as moving tasks between today and the backlog). I don't like using my phone so I don't tend to get sidetracked, thus YMMV with this.

I bought a similar card holder on Etsy for $20 and been a fan: https://www.etsy.com/listing/859030214/task-card-holder

And these todo cards off Baron Fig for $10 (they have a dot pattern and a todo pattern): https://baronfig.com/accessories/strategist-index-cards

I am honestly surprised to find that the cards used in this incredibly overproduced riff on Getting Things Done's method are the same size as commonly-available index cards, so you can use the cute tray without spending $10 for a pack of 50 cards. Or maybe not - the tray has rounded corners designed to fit snugly with the branded cards, while a $5 pack of 300 blank white index cards from Office Depot has sharp corners.

I'm going to sound like a party pooper, but the core market for these kinds of products are people that want to get organized so they buy these things to feel like they're doing it, only to put it at the back of their desk drawer after a week of use.

Yyyyyyep.

That's easy to say, but I don't see a lot of evidence for the statement, in general. Minimal, designer-y products like this I tend to see used by productive creative directors and the like. More complicated tools like planners or OmniFocus seem to be preferred by people advancing or tracking many small projects. What made you say that other than disdain for the product?

I have a pretty similar system, except instead of pen and paper and 'symbols', it's "folder with files with custom icons" (a process made extremely easy with Total Commander on Android).

It works like a charm, and can be synced with Dropbox for access from all relevant devices. In theory you can go nuts with it and even create scripts when things change in dropbox, but I haven't seen the need for that.

It is true, however, that there is something about having a piece of paper in front of you that still beats having to physically grab your phone to check stuff (and obviously I don't have devices to spare in order to waste one of them as a glorified picture-frame so that it's in front of me all the time). Which means I've often found myself jotting down notes on paper anyway. So Analog does seem interesting in that regard ...

He should extend this to an analog "device" that can be used to structure meetings. I'd bet that companies would pay a lot for things reducing the cost of their meetings and you would need way more of the cards :-)

Did you also once work in a company that was paying hundreds of dollars for SCRUM office utilities? :-)

Now that I think about it, maybe I'll print some content of my article[1] notes onto cards and make a quick buck...

Well, at least there is no obvious sign that something so secret about Analog, that it cannot be told in the video and that you can't rebuild it yourself without paying.

I like it though (if you don't take it quite so seriously)...

[1] https://pilabor.com/blog/2021/04/tips-and-tricks-for-meeting...

In the past I'd eyeroll at $100 for some index cards, as something for the 20s/single/300k programmer crowd. But these look great I have to admit its tempting. I like 2 or 3 things on my desk MAX and it does matter those things are pleasing to look at 14 hours a day.

I really hate everything that tries to bring your focus back to you as it should be. I think it's all bull*hit. The one true thing is that focus is on the psychological side and we just have to deal with discomform, that's how you win, not by buying some magic paper.

I really love the simplistic, analog system. But, I'm more interested in the metadata of my habits, which is why I prefer a digital based system. How many tasks have I written down in the last week and not touched? How many tasks have I abandoned in the last 30 days. etc

I’ve tried these kind of systems with pre-printed forms/lists/labels on cards or pages. I’m not convinced they’re worth the extra $ beyond my good old fall back: a couple different colored post it note pads and notes organized around the edge of my monitor.

I have a problem with any paper-based solution which that the paper tends to disappear (or become lost). This effect becomes worse if you work from multiple locations, go on vacation etc. Each transition between work location introduces the potential to lose track of the paper. That said, I think a paper system is a good way to debug the workflow prior to creating a persistent software implementation.

I love post it notes! I stick them semi-randomly around my desk/on my monitor and they give me a real-time sense for how I'm doing:

* I stack the completed ones, productive days have fat stacks.

* As my desk gets more cluttered by post it notes, it triggers my desire to "clean" my desk, by accomplishing the work.

* I periodically re-assess the utility of the work, which keeps me focused on the most important things.

* Their specific location on my desk is a fuzzy ranking system; the more inconvenient the sticky note, the higher priority. For example, I'll put a sticky note in the middle of my monitor if it's immensely important to more or less prevent me from working on anything else. Other times they can go next to my keyboard, further way on the edge of a desk, and I've occasionally hidden sticky notes (not entirely) behind speakers, if I just need to remember the information but don't want to be distracted by acting on that info just yet.

It's not very portable, but when I'm at my desk it's worked pretty well to keep me on task.

I also like that I can prioritize things by sticking them to my laptop next to the trackpad. Important notes that need to follow me away from the desk often get stuck there.

LMFAO

All jokes aside, this looks really well designed and thought out, but the pricing is hard to justify even if you're the type of person who can drop $100 on a block of wood and index cards without wincing, especially if you're the kind of person who is self-aware of their socioeconomic status. I do applaud the creator for giving an overview of how he came up with Analog in the intro video (which includes him mentioning he first found success with index cards).

I do agree with him that it's hard to stay on track when using digital productivity tools. I use a whiteboard I bought at Walgreens, draw a bunch of checkboxes on it, and keep that over my desk, so I can't ignore it.

I understand the sentiment, and it's a nice looking bit of desk clutter, but if you're looking for a organising tool, just buy a cheap notebook for pete's sake. Keeping a notebook on your desk is invaluable if well used.

A nice "analog" producvity system with gameficiation features: https://thetodaysystem.com/

The tangibility is a plus. Index cards have presence (if not gravitas). But at this point can't we take a photo of the "Today" card at the end of the day, after it has been annotated with checked boxes and with other marks including proofreaders' marks, and get these notations handled automagically, including the "Today" card for tomorrow ?

It almost feels like we have to divest from the current technology landscape to be productive again

On a tangent, does anyone know where you order custom cards from? I have always wanted 3x5 cards with a little bit of white space on top (for a title) and then isometric graph paper for the rest.

Any good printing shop can do that. Just search for "custom index cards", there are usually more than enough results to even order them online. At least in my country. Though, it seems index cards are a bit more pricey than the more popular prints like posters, post cards or business cards.

a little pricy at 14 cents each, but it's stout cardstock: https://www.levenger.com/stationery-notebooks-322/note-cards...

This is quaint, but https://www.anylist.com/ exists, so does https://www.omnigroup.com/omnifocus/, and other tools, and best of all they are always with me. I must be in the minority of people who can manage not to play an iOS game while reviewing their to-dos. But honestly, I'm biased because I just wish paper would die already

I use Nobo memo board, which is a horizontal whiteboard that fits well under my display and is very nice for a todolist

This looks perfect for staying organized while designing and manufacturing a simple, minimalistic productivity system

Full circle, back to using dead trees.

This idea is not unique. I would be surprised if he has a patent for this.

(2020)

Hilarious. $65 for a pack of index cards and a block of wood.

Good on em if they can make this work. It's genius. For all the wrong reasons.

I started worrying about "my method" when I was 14 and back then my revision time largely involved colouring in new and increasingly complicated revision timetables.

35 years later and I've finally nailed it: stop fannying about with endless "techniques". Stop procrastinating with the latest task fad. Stop buying new software, new hardware, new (lol) blocks of wood and index cards.

Instead, just do. The. Work.

It might involve a notepad, it might involve a task app. But either which way, push the how to the back and bring the do to the front.

Turn off email. Turn off your phone. Turn off notifications.

This is the true way that work gets done.

for me the $35 stand is well worth it. i’ve been following something like this pattern for 15y, and the stand just makes it a little easier and more pleasant. I couldn’t make this kinda thing for less, i don’t have a wood shop.

What's stopping you from buying a pack of miniature notebooks from Amazon/Staples/Office Depot/Alibaba for a fraction of the price? What are you getting with this system that cannot be replaced by a cheaper, more versatile solution?

Sorry if this sounds antagonistic, but I'm trying my hardest to wrap my head around a $30/month paper-as-a-service solution.

I don't have this thing, but didn't he tell you the answer to your question? It's nicer looking and more pleasant to use than cheap cards and stands. It's a frustrating answer, because how can you rebut except say, "I don't value that," but it's at least straight-forward...

after all this time, I find the mist effective way to get shit done.

pen and notebook. I write down my objective for the day and the smaller steps required to accomplish that. Then I just mark down as I go.

no complicated process needed, just do it

These are about the size of half a Hollerith (punch) card. I miss punch cards.

They were the perfect size to fit in my shirt pocket folded in half. And they were effectively free since everybody was getting rid of them.

Sadly, I ran out of my stash about 8 years ago. And now they're not free anymore.

You hit the nail with this one. All these productivity hacks or tools misses the crucial point. _Human psychology_. Sure, it is fun to have these, but at the end of the day the users require discipline to execute them. Nothing beats getting things done.

Of all the getting things done advice, I like breathing the most.

Simple, cost effective, instantly brings you to focus if done correctly, elevates mood, rationalizes behavior. Nothing beats it.

This is fucking ridiculous. I like the sentiment but the dude is selling notecards and a wooden box for $100 + recurring subscription. This is like a caricature of modern day entrepreneurship.

Yeah... By chance the YouTube video of this come across my feed last night but hadn't looked at the price yet.

$50 would have been questionable, would have pulled the trigger at $35. Odds are this will end in a pile of other flavor of the week productivity solutions (see bullet journal, panda planner, hipster PDA, moleskines and other notebooks).

That said, I find just switching to a new system keeps me on track for a month or two of productivity boost, then I revert to my old ways.

I remember when I stumbled upon the first video explaining the bullet journal method. Long before a Kickstarter or the idea of making money through the method.

It was the first productivity/self organisation method that I could stick to. At least in parts.

Nowadays, some 15 years later, I still use it but adapted to my needs. I use it with any notebook I have available. Even if I prefer Leuchtturm 1917.

I don't use the index parts. But I use the markers for task, idea and so on.

I also liked the start of ugmonk. The minimalistic shirts. Or the canvas bag. The I do it myself and build a business with well designed stuff. And a great deal of content marketing.

But this product is imho purely ridiculous.

Well compared to, say, sticky notes (I tried this, yuck) or Google Keep (also tried this), it's a bit more costly, but the subscription is not mandatory so it tampers that edge. But I'm not sure you can fully dismiss the value. Some find the aesthetics of rainbow sticky notes unappealing -- or dislike high tech solutions of web/mobile app for their proximity to other time wasting activities and vices -- there is appeal in a low tech, sleek and visually appealing card system like this. I've done some hobby woodworking, and even ordered cards printed overseas before to resurrect a board game that went extinct, and I think you can even make an argument you can DIY it much cheaper (sans labour of course) but anybody who's done a big enough project can relate that sometimes it's okay to defer that to someone else (who lives in Pennsylvania I assume) if it brings more time and value to you and you value the product -- and especially here where I would argue that value pays dividends in the future in being more productive due to the compounding effects of it all.

But despite this all, I would align myself to your viewpoint just out of principle of having anti-consumerism alignment.

> This is like a caricature of modern day entrepreneurship.

Well, let me refer you to the wild hustle and bustle world of NFTs where you don't even get something physical!

Heck, I thought Levenger https://www.levenger.com/ was a bit expensive. I do love using note cards and such for some organization, but I cannot give up search. I do admit I still use some CRC-like techniques when building software.

I actually LoL'd reading this. You can buy packs of 10 small notebooks (each the thickness of 10 of these cards) for $15 on Amazon, they work just as well if not better. A notebook is much easier to carry than a stack of cards with a wooden holder. It can be stood up against the monitor, water bottle, or even by itself.

The bubble symbols...spoiler it's very easy to mark each item with "*", "+", "-", and any other arbitrary symbol with a pen.

Great marketing on this product though, I'm sure many would buy it as a status symbol and make themselves feel better for having such an elegant productivity system.

Some people like things that look and feel good.

Personally I don't care about that, but I think it's fine that other people do.

True. And the wooden case looks pretty nice. But still hard to carry around.

I got one of these at the Atlanta Pen Show a while back: https://nockco.com/cases/fodderstack-xl

In a glorious one-off color: baby blue and hot pink.

Yup this is hilarious. Maybe I'll start selling special sticky notes you can put on your monitor.

People probably don't remember "Macintosh Post-it notes" from Saturday Night Live...

https://youtu.be/6Q-BH8j06pM

speaking as someone who bought this:

* for me it's not a status symbol. I work at home. No-one but me uses or sees my desk. My desk is filled with clutter so you wouldn't notice it even if you did. I doubt my wife has noticed its existence. I don't run around telling people about it unless they specifically mention seeing/wanting something similar.

* it's specifically _not_ for carrying around. it's for sitting on your desk. "easier to carry around" is not a feature for _this_.

* I don't have space on my desk for a notebook standing up. I don't want to use up that much visual real estate. I would hate to have it on my water bottle or anything like that because i use that constantly and that would be damn annoying.

* yes, the bubble symbols are nothing special. but they had to print _something_ there to address the idea of checking of the task and their choice seems perfectly valid to me. I don't think anyone believes they're some revolutionary idea.

* yes, although you didn't say it, i could use standard 3x5 note cards with it. I may do so. It wouldn't really make a difference.

suggesting that folks who buy this are "mak[ing] themselves feel better for having such an elegant productivity system" is unnecessarily derogatory and dismissive.

I seriously doubt that anyone who buys this actually believes it is a "productivity system". It's just a wooden note card stand with some cards that match its aesthetic. I don't think anyone believes they're more functional than a deck of blank 3"x5" cards from the corner store.

I like things that look nice. This looks nice to me. I am also more likely to use something that looks visually appealing to me than something that looks janky. So, i _could_ spend money on a cheap-ass solution, or 3d print some plastic equivalent, but i wouldn't use it long and the result would be wasted money and goods. I've been using this for months and like it very much.

your whole tone is dismissing this as if everyone who bought it is a dupe, too stupid to realize it's something more than it actually is. That's like suggesting that everyone who buys a Rolex with diamonds (or whatever) all over it somehow thinks it tells better time, or will get them to their meetings better, than a cheap quartz watch. I don't think that's reasonable at all.

Liking "nice" things (for whatever your definition of "nice" is) doesn't mean you loose IQ points when you indulge that affinity. Buying nice things you enjoy is not a bad thing. Choosing to surround yourself with items that make you smile is not a bad thing. We shouldn't try to make people feel bad for buying things they like. (ignoring the minimalism / consumerism debates)

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