A Fresh Perspective on Big Numbers

For most of us, once numbers get that large, they start to lose all sense of scale.

So here’s a simple way to bring them back down to earth — by thinking of them in seconds:

• 1 million seconds ago was just under 12 days ago.
• 1 billion seconds ago? That takes us back about 32 years, to 1993.
• 1 trillion seconds ago? That’s over 31,000 years ago — think woolly mammoths and cave paintings!

Still wrapping your head around it? Try this:

• If you had £1 million and spent £1 every second, you’d run out in about 12 days.
• With £1 billion, you’d last over 31 years.
• With £1 trillion, you'd be spending £1 per second for more than 31,000 years — longer than modern humans have existed.

Which brings us neatly to Donald Trump’s latest tax plan, nicknamed the One Big Beautiful Bill, now progressing through Congress. Early estimates from the Congressional Budget Office suggest it could add between $3.2 and $3.8 trillion to the U.S. federal deficit over the next decade.

To put that in perspective: at the lower end, that’s equivalent to over 80,000 years of spending £1 every second — and yes, that’s even longer than the Ice Age.

Whether it's framed as permanent tax relief, a shot of economic adrenaline, or a costly legacy, one thing is certain: when you're dealing in trillions, the ripple effects matter — especially when it comes to debt repayment, which could weigh on the U.S. (and global) economy for decades.

Sometimes, it’s good to step back and humanise these abstract figures. Because while we might not feel the impact of trillions day to day, they shape the world we retire into, invest in, and pass on to the next generation.