Consumption Smoothing
Bill Perkins, a young Wall Street worker, proudly told his boss about saving $1,000 from his meager salary. To his surprise, his boss called him an "idiot." The boss explained that he came to make millions, not pennies.
This eye-opening moment introduced the concept of ==consumption smoothing: balancing earning and spending over time, instead of depriving his struggling younger self to benefit his potentially wealthier future self.==
Perkins learned to enjoy his earnings in the present while anticipating future income growth. This shift in perspective challenged the conventional wisdom of saving at all costs, highlighting the importance of adapting financial strategies to one’s career trajectory and earning potential.