On the Money is a monthly advice column. If you want advice on spending, saving, or investing — or any of the complicated emotions that may come up as you prepare to make big financial decisions — you can submit your question on this form. Here, we answer a question asked by Vox readers, which have been edited and condensed.
Why is money so hard?
Dear Letter Writer,
You asked this question at the beginning of the year; now that we are coming to its end, I may have an appropriate framework through which to answer it.