The 'Cha-Ching' Effect and the Power of Delayed Gratification
I was reading an article this morning here on Steemit, An Experiment in Budget Control by @natalyaborqo and in it she mentioned 'spending jars' for specific budget items through out the week. Similar in theory to the 'Envelope Method'. Good practices for those looking to budget. Though envelopes don't go .... 'CHA-CHING'!
Such is the idea of a 'Savings Jar' there is something about the familiar sound of coins randomly clinking in glass. Haven't heard it in a while? Get yourself a mason jar & some coins this weekend - Give it a go! (for old times sake) A Savings Jar is a simplistic, yet effective, demonstration of "The Power of Delayed Gratification".
As 'economic units' in a Capitalistic Free Market Economy we tend to 'spend' driven by impulses for immediate gratification and a natural tendency to want things - NOW. Relax, ....no blame here, after all it's not all our fault, for years marketers and psychology has been honing the human animal as 'pigs gone to market' if you will. Through the creation of wants and needs, many of which you didn't even know you had, until they offered you the product that provided the solution. No wonder you need it, there's a problem, a gap, a desire to "fix & fill", and here's the widget that will do just that!
Now about the Power of Delayed Gratification - the ability to put off immediate gratification for the purpose of gaining greater rewards in the future. Easy Right? Not so, ..'eh Boo-Boo'? Try this, put a bear in a room with a 'tasty picnic basket' filled with meat and an investment prospectus explaining that bears with any uneaten meat will earn 1000% more meat at the end of one year, equal to the portion left in the room. The bear will still choose not invest.
Well you might say, "but I'm smarter than a bear..."
In essence though we all are 'human animals' with varying degrees of success in the matter of setting aside resources for the future. Thoughts or Comments?
Good to see some more money orientated people here. I posted about steemit on the Mr money mustache forums but got no replies. Later I posted about steemit in someone's threads about side gigs at work - ring a bell?
Delayed gratification is one of the fundamental principles of success in the universe. My wife had the "envelope method" modeled for her by an aunt and uncle as she was growing up, but (sadly) did not learn the underlying principle. We are still struggling to recover!
I'm glad you are here on Steemit, and I sincerely hope that your ideas may reach, influence, and benefit a large and growing audience. Welcome, once again! 😄😇😄
