But here's the thing - it's not so much the cost (in absolute sums, it's not that large). It's whether you use it. You obviously sweat over costs; perhaps this sweating can be a cudgel to force you to write down whatever. The more a moleskine isn't worth buying, the more you will find yourself compelled to use it. Then wouldn't you be better off in the end?
Actually, then I'd be making the sunk cost fallacy -- thinking something deserves more investment simply because I already spent more on it.
In any event, I'm not sweating over costs. If it really is worth $11 more per pad, then I'm fine with that. I just don't want to pay for a hip brand for no reason.
But here's the thing - it's not so much the cost (in absolute sums, it's not that large). It's whether you use it. You obviously sweat over costs; perhaps this sweating can be a cudgel to force you to write down whatever. The more a moleskine isn't worth buying, the more you will find yourself compelled to use it. Then wouldn't you be better off in the end?