Understanding Financial Decisions and Recession Impacts

The speaker shares experiences from grad school, moving to Boston, and the impact of financial recession on their field. They discuss the challenges of adjusting to Boston's housing market and the decision-making process during economic uncertainty, including vacation planning.

What was the main challenge the speaker faced when moving to Boston?

• Learning a new language

• Adjusting to the weather

• Adapting to the higher cost of living

• Finding a job

Why did the speaker initially purchase a smaller apartment in Cambridge?

• They underestimated the cost of living

• They wanted to save money for travel

• They preferred a minimalist lifestyle

• They were used to a PhD student salary

How did the financial recession impact the speaker's professional field?

• It led to job losses in their field

• It validated their research on irrational behavior

• It had no impact on their field

• It decreased demand for their work

What was the speaker's initial plan for vacation during the recession?

• To visit family in Israel

• To stay at home and save money

• To take a vacation just for themselves

• To travel for work

Despite being financially secure, why did the speaker feel guilty about spending money on vacation?

• They preferred to save for retirement

• They had recently lost money in the stock market

• They felt it was irresponsible during a recession

• They were worried about job security