Marlow Money Matters: Why ‘I’ll deal with it later’ is the most expensive financial decision

By Sian Hinton-Woodier FPFS, Amber River Premier

Most people do not make bad financial decisions. In fact, the biggest issue is often something much quieter. Putting things off. Whether it is reviewing pensions, sorting savings, or making important financial decisions, it is very common to think: “I’ll deal with it later.”

At the time, it feels harmless. Life is busy, there are always more immediate priorities, and finances can often feel complex or overwhelming. But over time, this habit of delaying action can become costly.

Putting things off usually isn’t about not caring. It’s more often about how financial decisions feel. They can seem time‑consuming and easy to get wrong. And if everything looks broadly “fine” on the surface—bills are paid, income is coming in—there’s no real sense of urgency to change anything.

The challenge is that doing nothing isn’t always neutral. Even if it feels like you’re just pressing pause, there is often a quiet cost ticking away in the background. Money might be sitting in accounts earning very little interest, investments might not be working as effectively as they could be, or allowances and opportunities might pass unused. None of these feel dramatic day to day, but over time they can add up in a meaningful way.

The key thing to remember is that financial progress doesn’t just come from decisions—it comes from time as well. And when you delay action, you reduce the amount of time your money has to work for you. Small steps taken earlier often make a bigger difference than larger decisions made later. That might mean putting a bit more aside, reviewing how money is being used, or just making sure everything is set up as efficiently as possible.

One of the biggest barriers is not knowing where to begin. That uncertainty can lead to doing nothing at all. But in most cases, the hardest part is simply taking the first step. Once you do, things often feel clearer, more manageable, and easier to build on.

Financial confidence rarely comes from having all the answers—it comes from taking action and making gradual progress.

The good news is that it doesn’t take a major decision to make a difference. You don’t need to do everything today—you just need to start.

Contact Sian sianhw@amberriverpremier.com