"The cost of a thing is the amount of what I call life which is required to be exchanged for it, immediately or in the long run." -Henry David Thoreau

Bartering life for a "thing". Is it worth it?   If you love your work then life rocks and getting a "thing" is no big thang.  If you have less enthusiasm for your work then what are you working towards?  Every time you exchange money ( your life) for a "thing", you are only rewarding yourself for a few moments until the novelty wears off.  Life will be a reward if you love what you are doing in it. You won't lean so heavily on "thing" rewards if you can find the joy in the now.