The Value of things

What is the true value of things (either tangible or intangible)?

Some days ago i stood upon a sell. I was showing this awesome product to a potential customer, and after some negotiation i managed to agree on selling by credit.

Basically, there was a 20% increase on the value i negotiated, and in the end, credit would take 1/3 of the "money" i was exchanging the product for.

This made me think... What is the real value of things ? Is that drove by this capitalist world, where "the market" sets the price?

I'm right now immersing on a journey of finding the real value of things.

My first axiom is then : The real value of things should be calculated in terms of the value it brings for each person.

What is such thing as the value of a thing for a person?

Is it a function of time : how much time will it spare you ?
Is it a function of usefulness? : how many times will you use it ?
Is it about efficiency : how much energy (either physical or spiritual) will it save you ?

I loved the movie "In Time", just because it takes the concept that "time is money" to an extreme, where you trade life time for goods and services.

One can say : Time is the most important thing of your life, because sooner or later, "your" time will come to and end.

Others might say : Time is important, but only if you are healthy (physically and psychologically) enough to live it to its full extent.

The rest would say : Carpe Diem - Seize the day or :  Enjoy each day as if it were your last.

The thing is : When you pay for a good or a service, you pay in "money" (forget about the channel by which you choose to pay - cash, bank transfer, debit or credit card, check). But where do you get your money from ? And you will answer : from work.

So, in the end you are trading your work for the goods and services you consume....

And is it a fair price? The "market" says the rules : Offer & demand it says : Your work is worth in money what you might get for it....right ?

Really ? I would say : you are the one in control of your life : and for you : the value of a thing is basically the amount of quality life you trade for it. If it won't bring you quality life, why get it ?

I think we might be getting to a point here : So, everyone would agree that in the end, what matters is the amount of quality life you have, right?

And then we would ask : What is quality life? Having a great car, a great house, a great wife, a great tree, a great son, a great daugher, a great....? Everything great, right? But what is great?

Be happy all the time? Everyone "normal" wishes to be happy, right ?

The one definition of happiness i like the most is the one that says : Happiness is a matter of choice. It's up to you, and only you, to be happy or not. You are the master of thyself, some would say.

Others would then argue : Yeah, i can "buy" that, but we are social animals, and our environment : the others, they will always influence us, and our happiness.

So, basically, how would you like a world where everyone is happy about their lives?

How can you ensure such a world? Is this capitalist world the right path ? Or is it just a "path", and you might choose not to follow it ?

Others would say at this point : Forget it. if you don't follow by the rules of money, you will end in ruin. That's just how things work. Money is just a way to ease trade. It is an agreement between parts....

So...how does this happen ? "Yesterday" you traded sheeps and goats, today you also do that, but transport money instead of anything else. It spares you time and effort, that's for sure. Quality of life you say.

So i guess that money isn't that bad at all, is it ? It just exists to ease the process of trade, right?

Really?

How many goats is a sheep worth ?

(I'll check on this, and keep you posted : feel free to share your knowledge and thoughts on this:-) )