
Savings strategies and habits
How do you get ‘disappearing money’ under control?
‘Disappearing money’ is small, unplanned expenses that you incur on impulse, out of habit, addiction or to improve your mood. These amounts, although small, on a monthly and annual basis create a large sum that could add to your savings.
Traps to watch out for:
- The Diderot effect:
Buying one thing (e.g. a new jacket) leads to buying more things (new shoes, a handbag) to make it all fit together. As a result, you end up spending much more than you originally planned. - The latte effect:
This is giving up on small, everyday expenses that add up to a substantial sum on an annual basis. Think about whether you really need to buy a coffee out every day. That 10 PLN set aside every day will give you 300 PLN a month and over 3600 PLN a year! This money could be used for a different, more important purpose.