You may wonder what following instructions has to do with personal finance. There is a connection, because NOT reading (and following) instructions may be very costly. This issue has been a problem for generations. Most people fall into one of three categories:

1. ALWAYS reads instructions and follows directions immediately. These individuals are very rare.
2. NEVER reads the instructions—and never will. Like cats with nine lives, they somehow always land on their feet.
3. LAST RESORT –These folks only read the instructions after FIRST trying to figure it out on their own (without reading the instructions.)

To illustrate: A hairdresser I know complains that most people don’t read the instructions on the back of their shampoo bottles or haircare products. So of course, these products don’t work as intended. Result: Frustration, perhaps embarrassment, and lost money.

More expensive issues can arise with cars, homes, and travel. I witnessed one couple that didn’t understand they needed to be back on a cruise ship at a certain time while visiting a port. They didn’t read the fine print in their contract that said, “the ship will leave you and you will need to pay for your own passage back home.” In this case, the ship was on a remote island with limited transportation. I’m sure that this was a very expensive mistake.

Have you ever purchased a new appliance or electronic device, and immediately learned enough to get it up and running—but then it stopped working? Or it started beeping? That’s always fun.

I’ve read enough of the manual to my car to know that when the “check engine” light comes on, I must pull over immediately. In fact, I learned enough about my car that if there is any beeping sound or red lights coming on—something is wrong. I know that I mustn’t go anywhere until I figure it out. Unfortunately, I learned these things the hard way. Like most people, I sometimes fall into the LAST RESORT category.

Fossilization

In linguistics, there is a term called “fossilization”. Fossilization is the point at which deep down, one feels that one has learned enough of a language, so they don’t learn any more. I think the same thing happens when one buys a new smart phone, TV, or computer. We tend to learn just enough to get by. Then our thinking becomes fossilized, and it is hard to learn much more. It takes an incredible amount of patience, humility, and even practice to achieve a higher level of functionality.

The key to breaking through to the next level is motivation. When one becomes embarrassed enough, mad enough, or frustrated enough—that is when the instructions are opened, or a YouTube video viewed. The experience can be euphoric when the answer surfaces or the new trick is learned. “Wow! I learned to set the coffee pot to go off on its own before I normally wake up…amazing!”

Reframe the Challenge

The best advice I can give to the Last Resort folks is this: reframe the challenge so that it is more of a game and not a pain point. YouTube has an abundance of instructional videos that help you understand how many things work or how to perform basic repairs. Learning a new trick may even be a satisfying experience. Plus, when you see the number of times a video has been viewed, you know you aren’t the only one trying to figure something out.

The benefit of reading the instructions or following directions is that it can save time, minimize frustration, and enhance enjoyment. My father’s sage advice still rings in my ears: “When all else fails, read the instructions.”

If we can be of help, please call.

Kristina Bolhouse, CPA/PFS, CFP®

Vice President/Shareholder

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