Working edition 0.1 — November 3, 2026. 14 chapters, approximately 11,100 narrative words and 8 reusable worksheets.
An accessible guide to the decisions behind everyday money choices. A connected fictional household case explores framing, mental accounts, past costs, timing, defaults, shared choices and uncertainty, then brings them together in a complete decision cycle.
Download the complete book
- Complete book — US Letter PDF (41 pages)
- Complete book — A4 PDF (41 pages)
- Complete book — editable Word (DOCX)
The book includes the full narrative, examples, worksheet appendix and source notes. Read in sequence or use its contents to return to a particular question.
Worksheet companion
This companion extracts the same 8 forms included in the book. It is a convenient way to reuse the appendix, not an additional manuscript or a different set of worksheets.
- Worksheet companion — US Letter PDF (8 pages)
- Worksheet companion — A4 PDF (8 pages)
- Worksheet companion — editable Word (DOCX)
What the book covers
- Describe the real decision, available resources and practical constraints.
- Compare frames, reference points, sunk costs, timing and default choices.
- Work through shared costs, uncertain outcomes and persuasive claims.
- Separate the quality of a decision process from the outcome and record a useful next step.
Included worksheets
- MD-01 — One decision, its purpose and its limits
- MD-02 — Frame, reference point and fair comparison
- MD-03 — Resources, labels and real commitments
- MD-04 — Past cost and the choice from here
- MD-05 — Timing, defaults and completion states
- MD-06 — Shared cost and voluntary agreement
- MD-07 — Uncertainty, claims and consequences
- MD-08 — Process trial, result and correction
Reading and using this edition
The household, cases and numerical offers are invented. The book provides general education for US readers; it does not supply individualized investment, legal, tax or benefits advice, or promise financial gains. Research concepts and original DTP teaching exercises are distinguished throughout.
The PDFs are for reading and writing by hand; they are not fillable and are untagged. Editable Word versions are supplied. Native Word and font behavior, physical printing, and assistive-technology use have not been tested. Try a sample page before printing the full book.
Keep completed records private. Use aliases and private document references, and omit passwords, recovery codes, full identification or account numbers and unnecessary personal details. Label any continuation with the worksheet code, question and date.
References and source notes
References were checked November 3, 2026 for the specific claims identified in the book. The references do not endorse this publication. Use the book’s source notes to distinguish supported factual points from its original examples and methods.
The framing and automatic-enrollment research references use public abstracts, not full-paper reviews. Other references include a scholarly overview, official public guidance and an open review. The DTP forms and suggestions have not been tested as behavioral interventions.
- R01 — The Royal Swedish Academy of Sciences (2017): Richard H. Thaler — Integrating economics with psychology
- R02 — Tversky, A., and Kahneman, D. (1981): The framing of decisions and the psychology of choice
- R03 — Consumer Financial Protection Bureau: Your Money, Your Goals toolkit
- R04 — Madrian, B. C., and Shea, D. F. (2000): The Power of Suggestion — Inertia in 401(k) Participation and Savings Behavior
- R05 — Federal Trade Commission (2022): Bringing Dark Patterns to Light
- R06 — U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission, Investor.gov: Asset Allocation and Diversification
- R07 — Roth, S., Robbert, T., and Straus, L. (2015): On the sunk-cost effect in economic decision-making — a meta-analytic review