Investing: Your Future Self Called, They Want You to Wait.

Delaying the satisfaction of spending your hard-earned money now, in hopes of potentially earning more later, isn’t an easy request. Many factors may hold you back. Perhaps you feel that you’re only earning enough to cover your bills (so how could you possibly save?), or you might argue that no one knows what tomorrow will bring (why save if tomorrow isn’t guaranteed?). And then there’s the common objection: investing is risky, and you might lose all your money.

While these concerns are valid and reflect harsh realities for some, I’m here to explain how thinking counter to the norm, by planning for your future, can benefit one very important person: you.

As human beings, we are wired to live in the moment and seek immediate rewards. For most of human history, the concept of retiring at a certain age simply didn’t exist. Our short-term focus worked well for millennia, but it’s less effective in today’s world.

Statistically, you are likely to live a long life. In America, life expectancy continues to rise, and retirement now can span 20 to 30 years. When we finally retire (unless you choose—or are forced—to work your entire life), your regular income stops.

There’s also another challenge your future self will face—inflation. As the cost of living increases every year, one of the few ways to counteract inflation is to invest. Instead of spending your money, you put it to work by purchasing assets, such as stocks, bonds, real estate, or businesses, that you expect will grow in value or generate income over time.

Let’s consider an example. Suppose that instead of spending $100 today, you invest it at an annual return of 7%. Compounded yearly, it would grow as follows:

1 $107.00 ███████████

2 $114.49 ████████████

3 $122.50 █████████████

4 $131.08 ██████████████

5 $140.26 ███████████████

6 $150.08 ████████████████

7 $160.59 █████████████████

8 $171.84 ██████████████████

9 $183.87 ███████████████████

10 $196.74 ████████████████████

Rounded up, that’s nearly $200—double your original investment—from just $100 set aside and allowed to grow. This growth isn’t magic—it’s math. Yet it feels magical because the gains accelerate over time. By consistently investing your savings rather than spending impulsively, the compounding effect can multiply across your entire portfolio.

Waiting to save only after spending your money doesn’t work. Instead, setting up automated contributions to your preferred investments is a proven way to ensure regular savings.

So, the next time you pause before an impulse buy, ask yourself: What would my future self thank me for?

Thanks for reading, see you next week for more insights and inspiration! Enjoy your weekend.