Percentages can be tricky little gremlins. Ever heard “50% off!” on a $100 shirt? That’s $50. But if the shirt was already marked up 100% from cost, the store still wins. You’re still a winner, though, because you saved half.
Also, watch out for “percentage points.” If your interest rate goes from 5% to 6%, that’s a 1 percentage point increase, but it’s a 20% increase in your interest. Confusing? A little. Just nod and say “interesting” when someone brings this up at a party. It works for everything.
The moral: Percentages are relatives, not absolutes. They show relationships between numbers, like how much you love coffee versus how much sleep you got. (Spoiler: 100% coffee, 0% sleep.)
