Your Money: The cost of everyday things
I find myself thinking about the cost of everyday things. Any advice?
Your Money
December 22, 2025

Hi Everyone —

Last week, Ramit Sethi — the Netflix and podcast host and author of “I Will Teach You To Be Rich” — paid us a visit. Dozens of New York Times employees gathered to ask him their questions, and we also put a version of the one below to him, which came from a reader of this newsletter.

Q: I am in the top 10 percent of net worth for people in the 35-to-44 age cohort. Despite my good position, I still find myself thinking about the cost of everyday things. I’m definitely not obsessed, more so curious.

When I fill up my car with gas, I want to know what it cost. When my wife buys a new coat, I want to know what it cost. When we get groceries, I want to know what it cost.

I don’t do anything with this information once I have it. It’s just a reflex. But I know I shouldn’t care. I just don’t know how to stop caring. Any advice?

A: I’d rather you know four key numbers: Your fixed costs, your savings rate, your investment rate and your guilt-free spending number. Get those right and you don’t have to track the broccoli.

I think that microtracking forces us to play small. If you want coffee, get coffee. Just make sure you are hitting your investment number.

Stay tuned: We’ll bring you even more quips and quotes from our visitors next year.

Below, you’ll find a roundup of this week’s money-related stories from across The Times.

Have a good week.

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