Author Archives: Kim Stephenson

There’s a hole in my budget

I was asked to contribute to a feature about budgeting recently. There were three simple questions:   How do you prepare yourself mentally for the arduous task of budgeting, How do you keep yourself on track and How do you stop … Continue reading

Posted in Basic concepts | Leave a comment

Jobs and stress

I was recently asked to comment on some new research by Everyman about the stressors in life.  The reason it got to me was that Terri Bodell, Deputy Chairman of the National Association of Counsellors, Hypnotherapists and psychotherapists, noted “money … Continue reading

Posted in Basic concepts, Current financial events | Leave a comment

Once in a lifetime

Are you going to the Olympics?   I have to say I’m not that bothered for myself.  But I’ve got friends who have gone for the maximum value of tickets they can afford (and sometimes rather more!)   And I’m surprised that … Continue reading

Posted in Current financial events, Values | Leave a comment

Mum, dad and Wayne Rooney

There was a nice article in the Mail today that quoted me fairly extensively (and mentioned the book), on the lengths parents go to in funding their adult children, with weddings etc. http://www.dailymail.co.uk/femail/article-1388478/Will-cosseted-new-generation-break-Bank-Mum-Dad.html I also did an interview on Tuesday, … Continue reading

Posted in Current financial events | Leave a comment

Consumer Confidence

  There was a nice illustration of some of the basics points that I keep making on the BBC last week.   One is the habit economists have of simplifying everything to the point that they can understand it, which … Continue reading

Posted in Basic concepts, Current financial events | Leave a comment

Deferring Gratification

If you see a pair of shoes, a gadget or whatever your favourite “impulse buy” is, can you just ignore it? If you can, well done!   How about if it is on sale?  Can you convince yourself that it makes … Continue reading

Posted in Basic concepts, Children | Comments Off on Deferring Gratification

Mental Accounts

Another experiment I did at my workshop on 26th March was about something called mental accounts.   You might like to try it.  It’s one of the most looked at, least understood habits we have about money.  But if you understand it, you could save a lot … Continue reading

Posted in Basic concepts | Leave a comment

The impact of debt.

I recently got asked by a news agency to comment on whether debt had a major effect on wellbeing, whether it was common for people to worry about debt and if so, what those in debt can do about it. … Continue reading

Posted in Current financial events | Leave a comment

Bigness bias

I did some experiments at my workshop on 26th March. One was about what is called “bigness bias”. Maybe you’d like to try it, it could help you save a lot of money.   Imagine that you go to a … Continue reading

Posted in Basic concepts | Comments Off on Bigness bias

Index linked funds

  I was recently asked in a comment on the site whether using indexed funds would be a good investment strategy.  These are funds (unit trusts, mutual funds, etc.) that buy shares in companies that make up the market index.  That … Continue reading

Posted in Basic concepts | Leave a comment