Cost/Benefits

“A person who is truly cool is a work of art. And remember, original works of art cost exponentially higher than imitations. Just take a look at the the coolest people in history. They will always be a part of history for being extremely original individuals, not imitations.” 

Suzy Kassem

This week’s discussion is on the cost-benefit discussion that we can have for any item or service that we are seeking.

The financial cost is often the easiest to highlight, but do we always look at the hidden costs or benefits of any decision?

For those who have been following along, I made the decision last year that I wanted to welcome a new dog into our home and am hoping that both of us make the grade for a therapy dog team.  Due to allergies, I needed a dog that did not moult and one that also met the needs of others in the home.  Fast track and we agreed on a Standard Poodle and then began to look at responsible and registered breeders.  Fast track and then we went to pick up our new little pup – Apollo at 9 weeks of age.

Apollo is now six months old and whilst the time has gone fast, we have spent a lot of time and money on meeting his (and our) needs.  Expenses include original purchase price, changing documents to our name, training, toys, collars, leads, food, crate, play pen, health care, grooming supplies (brushes, shampoo, conditioner, dryer), groomer fees, travel to training and a myriad of other incidentals along the way and I most likely don’t wish to add up. 

The time we are investing in him, both at home, work and during the training is also an expense but it is also so rewarding.  His excitement levels are slowly calming down and his smile and love is also rewarding.  He brings a smile to our faces and also joy. As an added bonus, his soft coat is also comforting and soothing whilst patting him. 

Overall – I am thinking that he is a great investment, regardless of whether we both get to therapy dog status! I am also hoping that the staff at the workplace are also enjoying the benefits of having Apollo in the workplace and they also outweigh the negatives whilst he is in their space.

What other attributes do you consider when making a decision?