they're very much missing the point.

i'd rather live in debt and have fun and die when i'm 60 than focus on saving for a future i don't plan on having. you can put kids through five or ten years of this stuff if you want, it's not going to matter if their priorities are in the here and now. and, that's a consequence of a consumer society that's focused on short term profit over long term thinking.

i don't think people don't understand, i think people don't care.

www.cbc.ca/news/canada/why-kids-should-be-taught-personal-finance-in-school-and-at-home-1.3212530

Think twice
You are probably on to some thing. However, it is also a sign of maturity, they will probably care when they mature.

Right now, they don't know what they don't know.

Plus the good news is that I am many others will prosper because of this.
Apple shares are doing well:) so is Starbucks:)

jessica murray
i think that's a pretty warped concept of maturity. if the choice is between living to plan for a future that might not exist, and living for the here and now, i think there's a strong argument that the latter is the more mature argument.

we only really have what is in front of us. you get diagnosed with cancer tomorrow, and all the best laid plans are destroyed: all you have left is regret that you didn't live it up while you had the chance.

coming to terms with the reality of our own mortality, and the subsequent futility of existence, is the ultimate sign of true maturity. and it leads us to the conclusion that we are only young once, and should enjoy it the best we can. this is what truly matters.

Think twice
Yesterday is history, tomorrow unknown, we only have today.........

It's a great quote for movie heroes but unrealistic. You might get cancer yes, but you might fall in love with someone at 60 too.

I agree with the premise, but must it be tied to consumerism? I doubt true happiness will be achieved this way.

jessica murray
well, no, i didn't quite mean to say it should be tied to consumerism, so much as it's broadly a consequence of it.

Think twice
I am losing your thoughts....
Consumerism is tied to living for today which brings happiness?
I live for today, I invest in my health, education and social network and relationships.
I also plan for my future years.

jessica murray
i may have overemphasized the point.

what i was actually getting at was the difference in economic models, regarding the idea of rationality. there's this classical liberal idea that is often referred to as "homo economicus". this erects a construction of rationality that is maybe naive. it is often contrasted with empirical sociological findings that comprise a new underpinning of rationality, which we refer to as behavioural economics.

the behavioural model suggests that we prioritize short term gains over long term planning; it's kind of an argument about human nature, really.

what i was getting at is that a consumer culture that focuses on now strongly suggests that a behavioural model is more useful than the classical liberal model in understanding why people don't seem to be concerned about debt