Page 23 - Waterfall City MayJune Issue 2026

IGNORE

FLEETING

TRENDS

to achieve long-term financial resilience

By Mariska Comins, Head: PSG Technical Support

Mariska Comins
T he concept of delayed While this challenge affects everyone,

gratification – resisting
the pressures influencing how we
an immediate reward or
choose to spend or save are particularly
temptation to receive a bigger
“A DREAM written or better reward later – is not a new complex. In addition, they are often
shaped by societal expectations and
down with a date one. However, in a world of on-demand deeply ingrained cultural norms. As
convenience, algorithm-driven
a result, people spend a substantial
becomes a GOAL. A marketing, relentless social pressure portion of disposable income on trends
goal broken down and easy access to short-term credit, it to fit into the perceived expectation
into steps becomes a is harder than ever to be disciplined. of maintaining a certain appearance.
The question is, what if just a fraction
PLAN. A plan backed Living in a world that of that spend was redirected towards

by ACTION becomes prioritises instant rewards your future self instead?
We live in a society motivated by
REALITY.” solving short-term wants, often Let’s talk numbers
without considering the long- Let’s say you cut back R500 per month
term financial trade-offs. For many, on non-essential spending and invest
the temptation to spend now can that amount instead. If we assume
overshadow the quiet power of the annual cost increases on those
consistent, incremental investing – a products amount to 6% Consumer
practice that takes discipline. Price Index (CPI), and assume the

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