Suppose you want to have $400,000 for g retirement in 25 years. Your account earns 8% interest. How much would you need to deposit in the account each month?

$418

Explanation:

FV = $400,000. This is the amount you want to have in your retirement account 25 years from now

i/r = 8%/year = 0.67%/month. The interest that the account pays

n = 25 years = 25 x 12 = 300 months

PV = 0

PMT (The amount of monthly deposit required to achieve the target above. This is the missing value we need to calculate)

By using financial calculator, we obtain:

PMT = $418

cognitive overload: having a lot on your mind impairs decision-making and tends to result in the simplest, but not necessarily best, option being selected.

empathy gaps: overlooking how you might feel in a different situation can result in unnecessary purchases, such as overbuying when shopping for food on an empty stomach.

optimism and overconfidence: wearing rose-tinted glasses and having unrealistic expectations about the future can affect money management and leave you unprepared for a change in circumstance.

instant gratification: seeking instant gratification drives impulsive spending and can undermine long-term planning and savings.

harmful habits: automatic or mindless behaviour can amplify a poor financial decision as it becomes a recurring event.

social norms: we are heavily influenced by the actions of others; while this can be in certain circumstances, it also contributes to the pressure to keep up with the joneses through conspicuous consumption.