Michael Caine's Peace of Mind Tip: Stop Obsessively Checking the Bill

No one likes getting ripped off. It’s natural to want to double and triple check the paper work every time money changes hands. As Michael Caine suggests, sometimes it’s okay to just let the small things go.

Speaking to Esquire magazine, the actor famous for being in every Christopher Nolan film after Insomnia suggested that sometimes counting every penny you’re owed doesn’t help you live a better life. Most of the time, the bill at a restaurant will be correct. Your utility bill may be off by a few dollars, but tracking it down may not be worth your time. Just like no one on their death bed wishes they spent more time working, no one’s going to wish they spent more time double-checking their bills for minor inaccuracies:

In the restaurant, my wife always says, “You didn’t look at the bill.” I say, “I don’t want to worry myself by looking at the bill and asking, Who had the onion rings? or They overcharged me for chips.” Because those moments all add up to years. And how much money would you pay for another year?

That’s not to say you should never look at paperwork or make sure you’re not paying more than you should. An occasional audit of your finances is healthy and it can help take care of you in the long run. However, in the long run, learning to let the minor errors go can do more for your happiness than a few dollars in the bank will.

Michael Caine: What I’ve Learned | Esquire via Man Made DIY

Photo by Wikimedia Commons.

No one likes getting ripped off. It’s natural to want to double and triple check the paper work every time money changes hands. As Michael Caine suggests, sometimes it’s okay to just let the small things go.

Speaking to Esquire magazine, the actor famous for being in every Christopher Nolan film after Insomnia suggested that sometimes counting every penny you’re owed doesn’t help you live a better life. Most of the time, the bill at a restaurant will be correct. Your utility bill may be off by a few dollars, but tracking it down may not be worth your time. Just like no one on their death bed wishes they spent more time working, no one’s going to wish they spent more time double-checking their bills for minor inaccuracies:

In the restaurant, my wife always says, “You didn’t look at the bill.” I say, “I don’t want to worry myself by looking at the bill and asking, Who had the onion rings? or They overcharged me for chips.” Because those moments all add up to years. And how much money would you pay for another year?

That’s not to say you should never look at paperwork or make sure you’re not paying more than you should. An occasional audit of your finances is healthy and it can help take care of you in the long run. However, in the long run, learning to let the minor errors go can do more for your happiness than a few dollars in the bank will.

Michael Caine: What I’ve Learned | Esquire via Man Made DIY

Photo by Wikimedia Commons.