Comments on: Applying Jerry Seinfeld’s “Chain” Concept To Personal Finance

By: Kathleen

Kathleen — Sun, 02 Aug 2009 23:52:08 +0000

I did this a few years ago – decided which of my numerous hobbies I wanted to do, could do and would do every day, drew up a chart and checked them off each day. That was three years ago and I don’t need the chart anymore, but I still write and draw every day, and have sold a few stories and recently did a book cover and some illustrations for an anthology. It’s a very powerful tool!

By: PF

PF — Fri, 27 Jul 2007 18:00:48 +0000

Oh, regarding my flossing challenge (that is what I called it), I printed out a free year at a glance calendar and taped it to the inside of my medicine cabinet with a pen. I marked off each day I flossed. Much cheaper than a huge wall calendar

By: PF

PF — Fri, 27 Jul 2007 17:59:13 +0000

I did this with flossing my teeth. At the end of 28 days I got to use a spa gift card that I had been saving. Well, it’s been over 2 years and the only day I’ve missed was the day I was in the hospital due to a cat scratch on my hand. I would have flossed, but my hand was so swollen, I couldn’t….yes, I tried!

My dentist tells me that studies have shown that good dental care young can save tens of thousands of dollars later. I see this with my inlaws. They spend thousands every year fixing their teeth. They grew up in the depression….so dental car wasn’t exactly a high priority. So, seem flossing is financially relevant!

By: paidtwice

paidtwice — Fri, 27 Jul 2007 13:41:22 +0000

I love this.

Now which of the 15 things I would like to keep up with to start a chain with….

By: Sarah

Sarah — Fri, 27 Jul 2007 12:36:51 +0000

I do this for the gym. For me, though, because I don’t work out every single day (usually, it’s five or six days a week), it’s not really “don’t break the chain” as much as it is “look at all the pink highlighter!” I color in the boxes on my calendar. It doesn’t have to be the chain, but it’s nice to see all that pink for all the days I’ve worked out.

By: Tim

Tim — Fri, 27 Jul 2007 07:50:35 +0000

this chain thing is nothing more than a credit report. take a look at your credit report and see the chain.

By: Brip Blap

Brip Blap — Fri, 27 Jul 2007 02:00:38 +0000

Yeah, great post. Don’t drink soda? Work on the Penske file?

By: sir jorge

sir jorge — Fri, 27 Jul 2007 01:48:44 +0000

this was a superb post, and an excellent tie in

By: Fabulously Broke

Fabulously Broke — Fri, 27 Jul 2007 00:59:40 +0000

Agreed!

I gave up TV completely (I get it free in hotel rooms anyway when I travel), gave up my apartment (as I travel so much), and now that I have more ‘free time’, I work more (I also enjoy it.. don’t worry), and get recognized/noticed more, feel better that I’m doing good career-wise, and that snowballed into my starting to eat healthier and work out (2 apples a day instead of cookies and chocolate!). I also use my free time to read all the great blogs I miss out at work.

By: Randy Peterman

Randy Peterman — Thu, 26 Jul 2007 22:30:00 +0000

If you’re going to not watch TV… I’d suggest getting rid of it. There are plenty of things that I enjoy on television but by having a DVR I watch much less television in hours, and I can condense the amount of time that I actually watch television to a tiny percentage of my week. The chain method is what I’m trying to apply to my own life in blog writing, keeping up with finances, and losing weight. The good thing is that it works!

By: Jen-Picture of Wealth

Jen-Picture of Wealth — Thu, 26 Jul 2007 22:22:43 +0000

I LOVE LOVE LOVE this. Thanks for sharing!

By: Jen-Picture of Wealth

Jen-Picture of Wealth — Thu, 26 Jul 2007 22:21:52 +0000

I LOVE LOVE LOVE this. Thanks for sharing!!

By: ongrowthtrack

ongrowthtrack — Thu, 26 Jul 2007 21:11:09 +0000

nice idea to make things work along with real feedback and push.