Change Your Comfort Level

News Flash: People don't like being made uncomfortable.


In the wake of the two boycotts from last week--one by the e-mail chain letter many of you probably received (and will get next spring) and one by rapper-now-blogger Twista, the price of fuel responded in kind—by going UP last week. Note that the two actions are probably not linked at all, but what this shows is that one-day boycotts generally don't work. The most famous boycott I can remember was the Birmingham Bus Boycott, and it lasted over a YEAR.


Thing is, in order for major change (of any type) to happen, people have to change their behavior over a long period of time. Let's use some finance examples. Generally, people don't mind making changes to their financial behavior as long as it doesn't involve a lot of work. So people who haven't really developed spending plans on paper in the past won't do it moving forward. Oh sure, they'll start and may get a couple months into it, but sooner or later it gets annoying and they stop.

Oftentimes, this refusal to change behavior can be taxing to your finances but the perceived cost is not worth the behavior change. A one month gas boycott, for instance, sounds as if it could work... Maybe.

However, people may not be very conducive to using mass transit, biking, or even carpooling to work because it would require a major lifestyle change, even if it saves money. It removes you from your comfort level.


So, what to do? Well, a disciplined lifestyle is the foundation needed. Make a decision and set a goal-meeting timetable. You should also visibly track yourself, which will keep you inspired to go on. More specifically, try to take the tough decisions on how to better manage your money, or try to generate extra funds for saving purposes by taking on more work. Let's face it—gas prices probably won't be coming down any time soon. It's probably best to adjust and adapt while others complain.