Schadenfreude

Hey there, My Money Box Community! 👋

Recently, while tuning into a Trevor Noah standup special, I stumbled upon the intriguing term ‘Schadenfreude’. It’s a German word blending ‘Schaden’ (damage or harm) and ‘Freude’ (joy), suggesting the feeling of joy or satisfaction derived from observing someone else’s misfortune.

Got me thinking about our personal finance attitudes. 💭

How often do we witness people’s mishaps, be it job loss, subpar investments, or unfortunate health incidences, and experience a surprising sense of relief or even, dare I say, delight? We entertain a “how could they be so careless?” attitude or perhaps simply savour our own luck? A dash of Schadenfreude, maybe?

Thing is, we often operate under the dangerous delusion that risk and calamity are for other people – they won’t happen to us. Well, reality check! Given enough time, adversity knocks on everyone’s door.

Remember, your financial journey is unique, and the risks you face are very real. They aren’t just ‘other people’ problems.

So, folks better to prepare ourselves for life’s curveballs. Love to hear your thoughts on this–– how have you tailored your financial plans to navigate through potential adversities?

Image: By Eduardo Zamacois y Zabala – Museo Carmen Thyssen, Málaga, Public Domain