Posted: February 12th, 2023
Look at the video below:
Here, Goldstein argues that one of the reasons that 2/3 people don’t save for old age is that it is hard for us to connect between our present self and our future self.
“You are basically two persons: your present self and your future self”, according to Goldstein. Your present self listens to the here and now, wants to satisfy his/her needs immediately. Your future self also wants to live and would like your present self to be a little wiser. So, opposing interests. The power of Now vs the importance of Future.
Here are a couple of written articles that relate to Goldstein’s research:
https://www.cnbc.com/2019/07/25/the-selfie-that-could-make-you-a-rich-retiree.htmlLinks to an external site. this selfie could help turn things around
Question: the last article above, “this selfie could help turn things around”, suggests that using virtual software such as FaceApp (or Oldify or AgingBooth) to produce an aged photo of yourself 40 years from now will motivate you to save more for retirement. Thinking about yourself, do you agree that looking at an aged photo of yourself will motivate you to save more? Why or why not? (150-200 words)
Then give a comment to these two little paragraphs, each comment should be 50 words.
1. I don’t believe looking at an aged photo of myself will motivate me to save more. The main factors that contribute to my motivation to save are beyond the physical appearance I may have in the future. Personally, my goals for the future include having a family and owning a house. The thoughts of comfortably providing for my future family and owning a house I can call mine mean much more to me. Considering the inflation of prices of everyday items and the rising costs of the average house, I believe I will have to make intelligent investments in addition to having consistent savings. I think it is very important to have meaningful goals in life that help you maintain the discipline needed to achieve your financial goals. As I get older my goals may change, but I will still have a financial foundation to begin to build my life on.
2. I have to agree with Hannah Goldstein that looking at an aged photo of myself would not change the way I feel about money. It might be a motivation to strive for a healthier diet and exercise if I am not satisfied with what I see. What could really be a motivation to saving more for retirement would be seeing the benefit or consequences of financial planning in my immediate environment. For example, if I see my parents thriving after retirement because they had a well thought out retirement plan. I will feel more inclined to follow through their steps and ask them for advice. On the other, if another close relative is struggling due to poor retirement savings. It will definitely push me to save more to avoid being in a similar situation as them. Therefore to me, a simple aged photo only plays on aesthetics and has nothing to do with the financial well being.
SOLUTION
The battle between present self and future self can be seen as a struggle between immediate gratification and long-term planning. The present self desires instant pleasure and satisfaction, while the future self wants to make decisions that will benefit them in the long run.
For example, the present self may want to indulge in junk food, while the future self knows that a healthy diet will lead to better health and wellbeing in the long term. The present self may also want to skip exercising or put off a work project, while the future self recognizes the importance of maintaining a consistent exercise routine and completing work responsibilities.
Managing this conflict can be challenging, but it is possible to find a balance between the needs of the present self and the future self. This can be done by setting realistic goals, developing a strong sense of self-discipline, and prioritizing long-term benefits over short-term rewards. It can also help to regularly reflect on one’s values and goals, and to stay focused on the bigger picture.
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