Anyone who is optimistic gets more enjoyment out of life. But how do you become an optimist? Psychologists have not yet come to a definite answer. There are at least two factors that polls show make a significant contribution to our positive attitude. It’s age and money.
The younger and less stressed we are with financial matters, the more optimistic we are. According to a poll by the German Society for Social Research and Statistical Analysis “Forsa”, almost 90 percent of people aged 20-30 said they were looking forward to the future.
Thus, this age group among all respondents showed the most optimistic indicators. However, among people of all ages, surprisingly, there are many who are trying to save and save money, and they are more positive about the future.
Three out of four German citizens who spend money wisely look to the future with joy. Among those who do not save their savings, only one of the two is an optimist.
Optimism – a consequence or a cause?
Does saving really increase optimism, or do you have to be an optimist to maintain income levels in times of low interest rates? The authors of the study believe that those who create a financial cushion look to the future with confidence and joy. So saving is not just cool. It turns out that saving and makes you cool.
Positive thinking is the key to success. These words sound like a motto on a motivational poster, but it’s scientifically proven. According to a report by Frost Bank in collaboration with a positive psychology research group, people who are optimistic about their financial future are seven times more likely to be financially well off.
Researchers have found that our financial success depends on our mindset. For optimists, their positive attitude helps to overcome difficult circumstances, unlike pessimists.
In other words, if you think the future is bleak, you are more likely to be sad about your retirement. But if you stay positive, you are more likely to make the right decisions and make your optimistic plans come true.
Dreamed of traveling as an adult? What did you do today for this? Surprisingly, it is precisely positive-minded people who are more inclined to calculate their future and prepare it.
61% of optimists have created an “emergency fund” (airbag), among pessimists only 43% have taken care of this. Optimists will always find ways to save even when money is tight.
Another natural pattern that is visible to the naked eye without special research: an optimistic approach to life is more typical for young people. Forces in their prime, everything is on the shoulder, ahead of a long life.
The older a person is, the more experience he has lived through mistakes and stuffed cones. And, accordingly, caution, attentiveness and balanced decisions are growing, healthy skepticism arises.
And this is logical. As Mark Twain said, “There is no more terrible sight in the world than a young pessimist. It can only be worse than an old optimist.” But let’s risk paraphrasing the classic: financial stability in the future inspires optimism, and this encouraging prospect is definitely a pleasant sight.
Three components of financial well-being
So what defines financial optimism? Researchers have found that those with this mindset have three characteristics: they feel comfortable talking about money; they strive for development, progress, and not for perfection; they are always ready for the unexpected.
This means that they are more likely to accept (and follow) financial advice, knowing that it is better to take small steps towards a goal than to do nothing. They learn from their failures rather than trying to ignore or avoid them.
If you’re having trouble making financial decisions today, it can be difficult to be optimistic about the future. But it is better to take small steps rather than act abruptly and radically.
The first step is to create a detailed budget and take a close look at where all your money is going. You may find yourself still paying for some service or monthly subscription that you haven’t used in a while. You may be shocked to see how much money goes into eating out each month, or how much extra you buy.
If you can’t live without morning coffee to go, you can simply cut back to three or four a week instead of buying it every day.
Review your budget across all categories and try to find weight in each. You will feel that your financial life is under control, it will bring peace and confidence. Saving a few hundred rubles in every area of life can turn into thousands of rubles a month.