The problem with this is that in a game that simulates real life as much as possible (supposedly), they can adjust their preferences when you can't. You're stuck with a penalty if you want to make the change. Again, I'm all for surprises, but this particular one penalizes someone who budgets well. Since budgets are a much bigger part of this game than in RL, the penalty for "doing things right" seems disproportionate.
FWIW, I don't consider this a huge problem in this game, but it's a nuance that can be improved.