Episode 1 · Lane A · Behavioral Money · SG-A01

Why We Keep Up With the Joneses

The hidden cost of comparison — where the phrase came from, what it costs you, and what to do about it.

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About this episode

"Keeping up with the Joneses" is older than most of us realize — and the math behind it is even older than the phrase. This episode traces the comic-strip origin of the idea, the behavioral economics that make it work on us, and the one habit that breaks the cycle: define your enough.

If money has ever felt like a treadmill that never quite gets you somewhere, this is the place to start.

What you'll learn

• Where the phrase "keeping up with the Joneses" actually came from
• Why the upgrade never feels as good as you thought it would (the hedonic treadmill)
• The single question that quietly resets your financial decisions

More episodes coming on the Steady Growth hub. New episodes every day or two for the first stretch.