Category: Financial Behavior

  • Cut Big Before Small

    Cut Big Before Small

    We often focus on small items, because small wins give us immediate gratification. Switching brands of frozen peas and bringing our own coffee to work offer an immediate sense of virtue, and is also relatively easy to execute. Yet these areas also account for a relatively small portion of our budget, compared to housing, transportation,…

  • Consistency Over Perfection In Finances

    Consistency Over Perfection In Finances

    Consistency leads to proficiency, not the other way around. If you want to become proficient in any aspect of financial behavior, you will need to commit to consistency over perfection.

  • The Role Of Ego In Financial Behavior

    The Role Of Ego In Financial Behavior

    Ego plays a strong role in your financial behavior. It can be an asset to adhering to your values, or it can move you in a direction that won’t serve your long-term interests. When you have strong self-respect and are clear on your values, your ego helps to orient you in your decisions. When your…

  • When A Coupon Causes You To Spend More

    When A Coupon Causes You To Spend More

    New running shorts, however, were not what made me a runner. Running made me a runner. The problem is that the coupon didn’t serve me in becoming a runner. It only served to help me purchase running clothes that I didn’t even need.

  • How We Grew our Investments Despite Rising Household Costs

    How We Grew our Investments Despite Rising Household Costs

    You probably know you are supposed to invest 10-15% of your gross income annually over 30-40 years in order to secure a comfortable retirement.  If you did not know that, now you do.  Your gross income is the amount you are paid prior to taxes or any other deductions (annual salary or hourly wage).  Over…

  • Reasons You and Your Spouse Don’t Agree On Money:  Part 2 – Standards and Real Life

    Reasons You and Your Spouse Don’t Agree On Money: Part 2 – Standards and Real Life

    This blog post is Part 2 of a 3 part series.  You can find Part 1: Values and Part 3: Creating Agreement in Real Life here.   Your ideals make up your dreams.  Your standards make up your real life.  Real life beats your dreams every day.  When my husband and I were engaged, one…