Money Wonders
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Money Mindset & PsychologySpending Psychology

The Pain of Paying

Cards hurt less than cash, so we spend more

Pay with cash and it stings. Tap a card and you barely notice. That missing sting has a price.

You'll find out

  • Why cash hurts more than cards
  • How much more card payers offered
  • Payments built to feel painless

Why it matters

Every way of paying that removes the sting makes it easier to spend.

About 3 min6 interactive slides · 5 questionsLesson 32 · Zone 4

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Previous lessonThe Subscriptions That Never SleepNext lessonThe Marshmallow Test

More in this zone

  1. 28BudgetingNeeds, Wants and the Gray ZoneRent is a need. A bigger apartment might not be
  2. 29BudgetingThe 50/30/20 BudgetHalf for needs, a third for wants, a fifth for the future
  3. 30PricingWhy Prices End in .99$4.99 feels a lot cheaper than $5.00
  4. 31Recurring CostsThe Subscriptions That Never SleepSmall monthly charges add up to a big yearly bill
  5. 33Delayed GratificationThe Marshmallow TestKids offered one treat now or two later showed how hard waiting is, and later studies found the setting matters as much as willpower
  6. 34Smart SpendingCost Per UseA $200 coat you wear daily can cost less than a $40 one you never do
  7. 35BudgetingWhere Did My Month Go?Your spending, drawn as a picture
  8. 36Retail DesignThe Gruen TransferMalls are designed to make you forget why you came

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Money Wonders

Learn how money really works. A learning game by TCK Systems.

Also by TCK SystemsTech WondersBig ideas for curious minds.

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Zones 20

  • 1Origins of Money
  • 2The Rat Race
  • 3Business Basics
  • 4Budgeting Basics
  • 5Compound Interest
  • 6Debt & Credit
  • 7How Banks Work
  • 8Inflation Basics
  • 9Risk & Insurance
  • 10Stock Basics
  • 11Bond Basics
  • 12Index Funds
  • 13Rent or Buy
  • 14Crypto Basics
  • 15Bubbles & Scams
  • 16Money & Happiness
  • 17Gold & the Dollar
  • 18Pay & Benefits
  • 19Starting a Business
  • 20Lifestyle Creep

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