4 ms·

I think climate anxiety has a lot to do with continued spending. People aren't having kids, or having much long-term goals, _because_ they don't know how the so

I think climate anxiety has a lot to do with continued spending. People aren't having kids, or having much long-term goals, _because_ they don't know how the society and the world would look like in 50 years. So why not just live in the moment?

hotpotamus 3y ago
I wonder how widespread climate anxiety is. I thought it was pretty fringe (though I think I'm quite afflicted with it myself), but I have seen surveys that show it is actually rather pervasive amongst younger people.
blamestross 3y ago
There isn't any real value to putting money into a 401k if you don't think the infrastructure to support it will be there when you get to your 60s. I'm moving forward having elective and prophylactic medical procedures in the next few years instead of the next few decades so they can happen while I have access to such high quality healthcare. Lasik and lense replacement seem like an example of what to prioritize bc glasses and contacts have such a long supply chain. It isn't quite "prepper" bad, but my generation isn't planning on the time of plenty lasting.
- jstarfish 3y ago
  > There isn't any real value to putting money into a 401k if you don't think the infrastructure to support it will be there when you get to your 60s. I thought that way when I was young too...then I learned how funds-matching and compound interest works. Always save for retirement. You don't get a second chance to do it.
  - hotpotamus 3y ago
    The math gets a bit weirder if you think the country whose currency you're stockpiling may cease to exist. Obviously that's extreme, but I can understand those thinking about it these days - the US doesn't really seem to be in the business of solving problems anymore.
  - blamestross 3y ago
    > I thought that way when I was young too...then I learned how funds-matching and compound interest works. I know very well how they work. It still isn't worth the penalties. There are better investments that can get more effectively leveraged sooner, while there are still things to spend it on. All evidence is that the next 30+ years are kinda going to suck, buy personal infrastructure, invest in your health, enjoy access to global travel while they are things you can spend money on. You won't even have the cash to burn to keep you warm if you leave it in a 401k forever.
- toomuchtodo 3y ago
  Smart. Pull forward any future needs to the present if possible, because the future is too uncertain to be confident needs will go fulfilled then.

hotpotamus 3y ago

I wonder how widespread climate anxiety is. I thought it was pretty fringe (though I think I'm quite afflicted with it myself), but I have seen surveys that show it is actually rather pervasive amongst younger people.

blamestross 3y ago

There isn't any real value to putting money into a 401k if you don't think the infrastructure to support it will be there when you get to your 60s. I'm moving forward having elective and prophylactic medical procedures in the next few years instead of the next few decades so they can happen while I have access to such high quality healthcare. Lasik and lense replacement seem like an example of what to prioritize bc glasses and contacts have such a long supply chain. It isn't quite "prepper" bad, but my generation isn't planning on the time of plenty lasting.

jstarfish 3y ago
> There isn't any real value to putting money into a 401k if you don't think the infrastructure to support it will be there when you get to your 60s. I thought that way when I was young too...then I learned how funds-matching and compound interest works. Always save for retirement. You don't get a second chance to do it.
- hotpotamus 3y ago
  The math gets a bit weirder if you think the country whose currency you're stockpiling may cease to exist. Obviously that's extreme, but I can understand those thinking about it these days - the US doesn't really seem to be in the business of solving problems anymore.
- blamestross 3y ago
  > I thought that way when I was young too...then I learned how funds-matching and compound interest works. I know very well how they work. It still isn't worth the penalties. There are better investments that can get more effectively leveraged sooner, while there are still things to spend it on. All evidence is that the next 30+ years are kinda going to suck, buy personal infrastructure, invest in your health, enjoy access to global travel while they are things you can spend money on. You won't even have the cash to burn to keep you warm if you leave it in a 401k forever.
toomuchtodo 3y ago
Smart. Pull forward any future needs to the present if possible, because the future is too uncertain to be confident needs will go fulfilled then.