Waiting is the best part: how anticipation can save you money
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Trent Hamm Guest blogger
Several years ago, if I wanted something, I usually just went out and bought it. If I wanted to go on a trip, I just went on that trip.
As long as I had the money in hand (or the credit on my credit card), whatever it was that I wanted quickly became mine, in short order.
Today, I still buy things that I want to buy, and I still travel if I want to travel. The difference is that聽I don鈥檛 do it immediately.
There are a lot of reasons for this change, but the biggest is that聽anticipation is often the best part.听
Several years ago, when I鈥檇 buy something, I鈥檇 immediately have the item to enjoy. I鈥檇 read it or play it or eat it 鈥� and then, before long, it would be over. The meal would be consumed. The book would be finished. The video game would be beaten. The new gadget would be an ordinary part of my life. The trip would be over.
And then there would be something new to desire.
Today, I鈥檒l decide to buy something, but I鈥檒l do it under the assumption that I won鈥檛 buy it for a while.
I鈥檒l wait until Friday to go out for lunch with some of the other writers I know.
I鈥檒l wait until I鈥檓 finished with the two books on my bookshelf before buying that new one.
I鈥檒l wait until November to go visit my family in Texas.
I鈥檒l wait until the day before our New Years party to pick up that board game that would be perfect for the gang to play.
A few things happen because of that wait.
贵颈谤蝉迟,听the anticipation is simply enjoyable.聽It gives me many things to look forward to in the future and it makes the oncoming months seem very promising and exciting.
厂别肠辞苍诲,听the anticipation also holds my focus.聽When I consider spending my money on something else, it鈥檚 easy to remind myself of the things I鈥檓 going to have in the near future. Why splurge on a book when I have those on the bookshelf聽and聽I鈥檝e already given myself permission to pick up another one when those are finished? I can just eat leftovers today because I鈥檒l enjoy lunch out with the other writers in a few days.
Because of that,聽I spend less money.聽Without that anticipation, it would be much easier for me to just drop my money on something without thinking about it too much. The anticipation increases my mindfulness.
Enjoy the anticipation. It pays off in the long run.
