The Confidence Problem
Most people believe they know where their money goes. Not vaguely know, really know. Ask someone what they spent last month, and the answer appears immediately, often with remarkable confidence.
“About four thousand.”
Just like that, no checking the bank app, no glancing at a statement. The number simply appears, as if somewhere inside their brain, there’s a tiny accounting department working tirelessly, shouting out totals when asked. And the remarkable part is the confidence: the estimate is delivered with the authority of a seasoned accountant by someone using absolutely none of the tools accountants use—no spreadsheet, no ledger, no receipts, no transaction history—just memory, which apparently is now responsible for running the entire finance department.