Genius strategy for sticking to a budget

Resisting the temptation to splurge on a new outfit instead of save for a summer vacation could be as simple as picturing yourself on the beach in vivid detail, according to research presented at a recent American Psychological Association convention. Investigators surveyed people about their money habits and tendency to think ahead. The results: Those who frequently imagined their future selves living out the consequences of various spending decisions had significantly less financial impulsiveness than their more in-the-moment peers because the benefits of saving were less abstract.