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Behavioural Insights
Thoughtful analysis of how psychology shapes financial behaviour, spending habits, and long term decision making, translating academic research into practical insights that help individuals make smarter, more intentional financial choices.
History Repeats: Are We Due For Our Roaring Twenties?
In an article by Jeremy Gutsche there was a mention of the roaring twenties returning. To put this in a little context, Jeremy argues ...
Merle van den Akker
Jul 28, 20225 min read
Having a No-Buy Month. Is It Worth It?
As you can imagine, I’m trying to stay on top of everything that happens in the behavioural science x personal finance sphere. I know all...
Merle van den Akker
Jul 14, 20225 min read
From FIRE to HOT: Another Movement Telling You How to Manage Your Money?!
I have written about FIRE before. It’s a financial movement meaning Financially Independent & Retire Early, which banks on the idea that...
Merle van den Akker
Jul 7, 20225 min read
Updates on BNPL: Dropping Shares, New Players and Stacking Debt
In my previous post I outlined how the different shapes of money we are currently dealing with are likely influencing the way we perceive...
Merle van den Akker
Jun 23, 20225 min read
The Influence of Culture on Conspicuous Consumption
Conspicuous consumption – the idea of consuming as a signal of value to others – is something I always struggled to understand. Not...
Merle van den Akker
Jun 9, 20224 min read
More Behavioural Financial Non-Advice
In part 1 I outlined 6 key pieces of information behavioural science has dug out on managing your money. We discussed knowing where your...
Merle van den Akker
Jun 2, 20226 min read
Behavioural Science on Personal Finance
This is not financial advice! As the subheader indicates, this is not financial advice. I'm not qualified. Most people giving financial...
Merle van den Akker
May 19, 20226 min read
The Effect of Payment Methods on Personal Finance Management: My PhD Summarised!
The main point for me to start this blog was to be able to disseminate academic work to an audience that was much wider than academia....
Merle van den Akker
Apr 7, 20228 min read
Challenging the Challengers: Watchdogs vs. Neobanks
If you’ve been following this blog for a while, you know that I have a high opinion of neobanks and (most) other companies working in the...
Merle van den Akker
Mar 31, 20224 min read
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