My cell phone plan increased to $90. Through many sneaky tricks of AT&T my phone bill somehow doubled as a result of me upgrading to the latest iPhone (mistake – I know). As a result I was looking for alternatives. I knew I wanted to switch to Republic Wireless and their $5 – $40 unlimited plans, but was planning to wait until my contract was up in October 2016 and avoid the hundreds of dollars of early termination fees (thanks AT&T).
This sudden increase in my bill kicked me into gear – I started researching Republic and everything switching from an iPhone to an Android for the first time would entail. I had my plan and phone picked out. I was running the numbers of at what point it makes sense to pay the early termination fee (which decreases by $10 each month) and decided to share my calculations with my partner. I was excited about the optimization! And his first reaction surprised me: “Ew” he said. “Ew?” I was confused by his reaction and asked him to clarify. He said everything I was saying “sounded like too much work” and when I tried to explain that I would be saving $65-80 a month and that he himself did not actually have to do any work that didn’t change his reaction. I was seriously stumped.
But then I realized this wasn’t an abnormal reaction. A lot of people seem generally adverse or even afraid of change or effort even when there is an easily quantifiable and obvious reward. This behavior kind of baffles me. I too have been known for lazy spurts when I don’t feel like doing the dishes right now or most ridiculously when going to the gym that is literally across the hall from my apartment seemed too far. But when it comes to easily saving money what I would call a small amount of effort doesn’t even register in my mind.
This revelation helps explain people’s reaction when they seem almost shocked that I am leaving NYC for Seattle. When I explain it in easy monetary terms: same salaries, half the cost of living they say something similar but less extreme to people’s reaction to financial independence “Oh that’s great for you, but I could never do that.” When I ask people if they plan to move directly after they are complaining about the high cost of living in the city I usually hear the usual complaints: “But – Where would I go?” “But then I would have to move and find a new apartment and a new job.” Even me putting it in extremely simple terms that easily equal saving a lot more money than a lot of people could in NYC people are not interested. And maybe that’s not one of their goals. But it is mine.
At a smaller level this is the same as someone complaining to me that they are always stressed about paying their rent and me suggesting that if they don’t go out to eat and drink as often they would have more money and be less stressed every month I am usually met with a brush off or explanation for not changing behavior “but that requires me changing my habits.” Overall I am a little shocked at the influence of inertia in people’s lives. Even before I set my goal for financial independence in October my partner and I were planning to move out of NYC with cost as the main factor. Even without a goal in mind I wanted to optimize what we were doing. And I find it difficult to help people help themselves while inertia is whispering in their ear.