The Art of Financial Procrastination: How to Avoid Doing What You Know You Should (And Get Away With It)
Last updated 03/04/2025 by
Andrew LathamSummary:
We all know we should budget, save, and pay off debt, but somehow, watching cat videos takes priority. Procrastination in personal finance is shockingly common—and costly. This article explores why we avoid crucial money tasks, how delaying decisions drains our wallets, and, most importantly, how to outsmart ourselves into actually getting things done.
Ever promised yourself you’d start budgeting tomorrow? Or maybe you swore you’d finally open that retirement account next weekend? Don’t worry—you’re in good company.
Leonardo da Vinci took 16 years to finish the Mona Lisa and had to be threatened with bankruptcy to complete the commissioned work. Douglas Adams, author of The Hitchhiker’s Guide to the Galaxy, once said, “I love deadlines. I love the whooshing noise they make as they go by.”
The problem is, while some procrastination results in great art, financial procrastination mostly results in overdraft fees, missed investment gains, and unnecessary debt.
A 2019 study published in Frontiers of Psychology found that procrastination is- not surprisingly- linked to increased stress, anxiety, and financial struggles. Delaying decisions often leads to higher costs, lost opportunities, and an ongoing cycle of avoidance.
The good news? Even Victor Hugo, who locked away his clothes so he’d stop procrastinating and actually write The Hunchback of Notre-Dame, found ways to hack his habits. You can, too—by using automation tools to take action without thinking.
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The seven deadly sins of financial procrastination (and how to beat them)
People procrastinate on a lot of things, but when it comes to personal finance, some bad habits stand out more than others. Delaying important money decisions can lead to higher costs, lost opportunities, and unnecessary stress. The good news? You don’t need superhuman willpower to break the cycle. From automation tools to clever psychological tricks (like Victor Hugo locking away his clothes to force himself to write), there are plenty of ways to hack your way to better financial habits.
1. Budgeting & tracking expenses (or just vibing with your money)
Why it matters: If you don’t track where your money is going, it’s easy to fall into the paycheck-to-paycheck cycle.
Small expenses—takeout, subscriptions, impulse buys—add up fast. Without a budget, it’s like trying to lose weight without knowing what you’re eating.
Small expenses—takeout, subscriptions, impulse buys—add up fast. Without a budget, it’s like trying to lose weight without knowing what you’re eating.
Why do we put it off? Because ignorance is bliss—until overdraft fees hit.
Hack it: Use SuperMoney’s app to automate budgeting and expense tracking. It categorizes spending for you, so you don’t have to do the math—because let’s be real, that’s half the problem.
2. Paying off debt (the ultimate game of hide and seek)
Why it matters: Interest never sleeps. The longer you ignore debt, the more it snowballs.
Making only the minimum payments on credit cards or student loans can mean paying thousands more in interest over time.
Making only the minimum payments on credit cards or student loans can mean paying thousands more in interest over time.
Why do we put it off? Because facing the numbers is terrifying.
Hack it: Set up automatic extra payments on your loans. Even an extra $20 a month can shave off years of interest. You can also save a lot of money by consolidating high-interest debt with a lower-interest loan.
3. Reviewing subscriptions & recurring bills (aka finding out you’re still paying for a gym you forgot about)
Why it matters: Wasted subscriptions and unused memberships can drain hundreds of dollars per year.Auto-pay makes life easier, but it also makes money disappear without you noticing.
Why do we put it off? Because canceling things feels like work.
Hack it: Let SuperMoney’s app track your subscriptions and show you where your money is going. You might be paying for more than you think.
4. Setting up an emergency fund (because nothing bad will happen… until it does)
Why it matters: Life happens. Car repairs, medical bills, and unexpected expenses can force people into credit card debt when they don’t have savings.
Why do we put it off? Because we assume nothing bad will happen.
Hack it: Automate weekly transfers to a high-yield savings account. Even $10 a week adds up over time.
5. Investing beyond a basic savings account (because the stock market is scary)
Why it matters: Inflation eats away at money sitting in a low-interest savings account. Investing helps grow your wealth over time, and the sooner you start, the better.
Why do we put it off? Because the stock market seems risky—even though not investing is often riskier.
Hack it: Use robo-advisors to automate investing in diversified index funds.
6. Saving for retirement (AKA the ultimate “future you” problem)
Why it matters: The earlier you start, the more compound interest works in your favor. Many people miss out on free money by not taking advantage of employer 401(k) matches.
Why do we put it off? Because future-you can deal with it, right?
Hack it: Open a brokerage account and set up automatic contributions. If your employer offers 401(k) matching contributions, maximize those today, even if it’s just 1% of your paycheck.
7. Estate planning (because thinking about death is awkward)
Why it matters: Not having a will can create legal nightmares for your loved ones. If you have assets, a family, or specific wishes for how your money should be handled, this is a must-do.
Why do we put it off? Because acknowledging mortality is uncomfortable.
Hack it: Use an online will service that takes less than an hour.
TL;DR (Too Lazy, Didn’t Read)
- Stop waiting—financial procrastination is costing you money.
- Automate everything—savings, debt payments, and investing with SuperMoney’s app.
- Small actions matter—canceling a subscription, opening a retirement account, or tracking your spending for a month can change everything.
- Do it now—because your future self is already rolling their eyes at you.
Andrew is the Content Director for SuperMoney, a Certified Financial Planner®, and a Certified Personal Finance Counselor. He loves to geek out on financial data and translate it into actionable insights everyone can understand. His work is often cited by major publications and institutions, such as Forbes, U.S. News, Fox Business, SFGate, Realtor, Deloitte, and Business Insider.
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