Source: Disney |
A big finding is that people plan for things they should do over the longer term but, in the present, do what they want; and the two aren't consistent: the angel-and-devil-on-separate-shoulders-whispering-in-the-ears scene. An example that most people can relate to is gym membership. On average, people pay big bucks for the long-term membership but could save by paying a fee based on actual attendance. What they want to do in the long run (the "should") doesn't match what they actually do in the short run ( the "want").
The "should/want" conflict melds the disciplines of economics and psychology and is worth thinking about as it relates to the whole investing process. Too often, academic disciplines don't take advantage of each other's work which, IMHO, is unfortunate.
That's why it is important to automate as much as you can!
ReplyDeleteI transfer a portion of my paycheck to my Roth every month - if I ever need the cash I can always take it out penalty-free! (This won't happen, but it is comforting to know!)
If I don't do this, come tax time and I need to quickly come up with a big chunk to max out the Roth limit - much harder to do!
Excellent point!
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