If you scrolled down straight away, you might be too keen for your own good. We’ve all heard that patience is a virtue, and it can even save you money. 

For people figuring out how to fund the lifestyle they’d like in retirement, now’s a good time to remember the benefits of delayed gratification. 

That’s because instant gratification is the enemy of hitting your long-term goals, the things you’ve worked so hard to achieve. You might find that passing up something less important now will give you something more important when you retire. 

Instead of deciding which new European car will make you the envy of your neighbours, you might imagine your grandkids running around with their own replica vehicles – or even a pony. 

Why we want it now

It’s only human to want things straight away. Evolution has given us a desire for immediate rewards. We’ll eat the food in front of us if we’re not sure where the next meal’s coming from. Most other animals simply act on these impulses, they don’t know any other way. But we can imagine the future. 

When it comes to finance, people don’t always make rational decisions, which is why some areas like house purchases usually have cooling-off periods. As you get closer to retirement, it’s good to think closely to make every buying decision count. 

None of us knows exactly how long we’ll be retired. Here are some ways you can resist the temptation to spend too much before your income changes. 

Picture this

If you find it hard to respond to the urge to buy right now, it might be easier if you visualise what you want. Whether it’s that trip to Broome you’ve promised yourself or outings with your grandkids, pick one of your big goals and stick a picture of it under your fridge magnet. 

A picture of a camel train on Cable Beach will look nicer than that unpaid invoice for that impulse extra bookshelf you didn’t really need. 

Tell your friends

Your partner, family and friends can all help you get there. If you’re planning to renovate or downsize when you give up work, you might get some great tips for reliable tradies from those who have been there and done it. 

Tell your family and friends your plans and see how your objective becomes theirs, bringing you useful advice and encouragement. You don’t have to reach your goals all on your own. Even the solo round-the-world sailor has a support team. 

You might find it useful to talk to someone who is already retired about what they’d have done differently. Many people wish they’d put more aside to live more comfortably. 

Shop around

There’s never been more choice than these days of online shopping. Although this means more temptation. it’s also never been easier to price check whatever you have your eye on. So, keep an eye on price comparison sites and discount codes to find the deal that’s right for something you really need now. 

As advertisers get more and more personal data, they’re better at targeting what we want, and using techniques to persuade us to buy right now. Saving 10% off in the end-of-financial year sale still leaves 90% to pay, which might be worth several months of household bills down the line. Think of your other goals so you use the value scale that’s right for you. 

What a difference a day makes

Taking time to reflect often changes the choices you make. Wait 24 hours and you might find you can do without that extra pair of shoes, when next day you come across three pairs you’ve hardly worn. 

Many consumer goods are marketed to persuade you that you need something right now. Think of those shopping channel ads where they’ll throw in an extra mophead if you buy that new cleaner within the next 10 minutes. Make sure you really care about that mophead before you commit. 

You can still pop the bubbly

Decide what you will keep doing. You might be able to do without your gym membership or trip to the symphony, but if you really love it, then it might be a false economy. Reaching your goals means you can still stay happy and healthy. 

If you hit your plan you can reward yourself along the way. If you’ve cut out takeout coffee, then once a quarter you might have high tea at a smart hotel within your means. You’ll look forward to it more and celebrate reaching another milestone along the way. 

And the last line of Gone with the wind? 

Scarlett O’Hara says, “Tomorrow is another day.” 

AMP
First published 13 September 2019