Friday, February 17, 2006

Savings and Salvation

(sorry about this Z)
It's funny how similar the prevailing theory of savings and investment--

the wonders of compounding combined with the continual deferral of pleasure
("cut out that daily Starbucks latte and save $53,743 over 20 years")

-- is to ascetic, and particularly Protestant, traditions, which would have us forego the pleasures in this world for the sake of salvation in the next. Saving for the next generation or the next world, is there a difference?

Combine this with passive, index investing, which is essentially a faith-based play on the United States and world economies, and you've got a full-fledged theology. To which I would seem to ascribe.

Is this just an easy package to sell cuz there's a bunch of us suckers out there?

1 comment:

Anonymous said...

I think you miss the point. Delaying financial rewards does not equate with deferring all pleasure. In fact, many theologies espouse enjoying that which cannot be valued or purchased more than enjoying ones money or material possessions. Interestingly, some sociologists and economists note that beyond about $50,000/yr in the US money does not confer more happiness to people and may produce the opposite effect. A good marriage and sex life equate to a savings of $50K/yr/employee according to a survey of top companies by one researcher. So I want you to go home, apply some male enhancement lotion and give your wife a ride. You should then be happy to work for free.