Playing the Long Game in a World of Instant Gratification

Have you ever watched a futuristic movie and thought to yourself, “Wow, that would be a cool world to live in!”? I had this moment while watching Spy Kids with my siblings as a tween. One of the characters wants to make dinner for her brother and chooses an index-card-sized plate wrapped in cellophane, places it in what looks like a microwave, and a few zaps later the most delicious-looking cheeseburger and fries appears after mere seconds. As a kid, I thought that would be the life: to have whatever I wanted, whenever I wanted it, with my preference being the only effort I had to give.

Fast forward to 2024, and we may not have a magical microwave, but with a quick double-click on the side of our cellphone or the “buy now” option on Amazon’s app, we have no shortage of opportunities to act out our inclination toward instant gratification. We do not even have to really think before buying, and an even more frightening truth is that we do not have to have actual money to buy what we want: all you need is a small piece of plastic (or in some cases recyclable metal).

For an idea of how fast the reliance on credit grew in America: Even in lower-income households, credit card usage more than doubled from the early 1980s to the mid-1990s. All told, between 1968 and 2000, revolving credit increased from $2 billion to a staggering $626 billion, with credit cards being the primary generator (Olegario, 2019). In a span of 32 years, Americans grew a little too accustomed to using credit for purchases of all types and amounts.

Not only do we have the ability to spend instantly regardless of cash flow, but social media also provides ample opportunities to put that ability to the test. We compare ourselves to others and feel the pressure to “keep up with the Joneses” as we scroll mindlessly, all the while being bombarded with advertisements and e-mails designed to make us want more, more and more. If that is not enough, influencer marketing enables companies to leverage celebrities, content creators and public figures to have them promote their brands through paid endorsements and recommendations. They are paid to make products look so good that it convinces us of our “need” for them, too!

How are we supposed to resist these traps that are laid out for us every second? You may think I am about to suggest that you delete your digital footprint as best you can and perhaps go live under a large rock, but instead I implore you to put into practice a simple principle that has helped me greatly as a millennial in this digital age:

Think before you act.

Solomon, attributed by many scholars and historians to be Israel’s wisest king, stated, “Wise people think before they act; fools don’t—and even brag about their foolishness.” (Proverbs 13:16 NLT) From my own experience, this practice has helped save me from many silly purchases, avoid BOGO (buy one get one) sales traps, refuse retail credit cards (no matter how pushy the salesperson may be), unfollow several social media accounts, and has opened my eyes to see the difference between what I actually want and need versus what marketing and social media tell me that I want and need.

And can I tell you something? It feels absolutely empowering to know that I have the self-control to think before I spend. To resist that easy double-click of the side button on my iPhone. To put more money aside for my future instead of spending it on things I actually do not need in the present. To play the long game of investing and set aside money for my retirement instead of satisfying the need to be instantly appeased and entertained.

Have I perfected this? No, and neither do I expect you to. The goal is for you to realize you have the power to make decisions in the present that will positively affect your future, and that it is never too late to start making them. You can say no to impulsive spending, and as you do, you can enlist our team at Tull Financial Group to further improve your life with sound financial planning. We would love to help you plan for your amazing future – contact us today for a free initial consultation.

Besides, I think we can agree that having a cheeseburger with fries every day is not healthy for anyone.