A short story Recently, a man told me a policeman booked him for driving while using a mobile even though had not been using a phone. The fine was quite substantial. I asked why. The man told me he had to drive to the nearby shops to get something and the officer pulled him over… Continue reading Courtesy and karma

Why actions are driven by emotion Neuroscientists have discovered that it takes about 4 milliseconds for a sensation to produce an emotional reaction in the amygdala. It takes about 10 milliseconds for the rational parts of the brain to respond. Instinct  dominates the mind before reason can act. The amygdale is one of the older… Continue reading Impulse spending, neuroscience explains

A budget is a plan, a financial plan. It sets out your estimated income and expenses for a period of time. The expenses are broken down into categories such as rent, groceries, phone and so forth. Your income is broken down into categories such as salary, dividends and bank interest. One does not simply dream… Continue reading What is a budget?

Cutting my food budget made me think more carefully about what I was eating. After some months I realized I was a little healthier. I realized that when I ran three flights of stairs with unusual ease. I had never been able to run up some stairs with that ease. I am sure the dietary changes… Continue reading How I saved on food and became healthier

Arrange to meet a friend at a cafe for a late lunch, preferably a fancy cafe that charges a lot so you can more for the same food. Buy junk food Skip breakfast so you feel hungry later in the morning. Duck into the convenience store to grab some junk food to deal with the hunger.… Continue reading How to waste money on food

Here are some easy ways to save money with trivial effort. I am convinced, beyond all doubt, that to really save money changes in behaviour are necessary. However some early success can be a great motivator to put in more effort. And motivation is needed to make behavioural and lifestyle changes. Here are a few… Continue reading Easy tips to save money

A philosophy of spending Your spending is a direct consequence of your behaviour. Changes in your spending require changes in your behaviour. Your behaviours are directed towards satisfying your needs and wants. Your basic needs are driven by the necessities of survival. Your wants are driven by your emotional desires. Your emotional needs are modified… Continue reading How to save money faster

  Perspective Lucretius, in the first century, wrote that the mind surrenders itself selectively and we draw sweeping conclusions from selective impressions. Modern psychologist tell us that our perceptions are shaped by our minds. Psychologists use terms like cognitive dissonance and perceptual bias. Neuroscientists tell us that our emotional reactions are faster than our rational reactions… Continue reading Our finances and our excuses