Money Sense 101: Lesson 6 - The Emotional Animal in Your Wallet.

Money Isn't Logical. It's Emotional.

Your ATM receipts have feelings, whether you admit it or not.

Your wallet is basically a diary you accidentally write with money.

Mood Affects Spending More Than Math

You don't make financial decisions with logic. You make them with feelings:

• Happy? You spend to celebrate.
• Sad? You spend to comfort yourself.
• Anxious? You spend to feel in control.
• Bored? You spend to feel alive.
• Angry? You spend to reclaim power.

Every purchase has an emotional story behind it.

Comparison Drains Money

When you see others with things you don't have, your brain screams: "You're falling behind!"

Social media makes this worse.

• Everyone's vacation photos
• Everyone's new phone
• Everyone's perfect life

But you're comparing your real life to their highlight reel.

Loneliness Triggers Buying

Shopping fills the void temporarily.

When you're lonely, your brain treats purchases like companionship:

• Scrolling online stores = human connection simulation
• Delivery = someone coming to see you
• New things = excitement in a dull day

It's not stupidity. It's your brain trying to survive isolation.

Anxiety and Boredom Are Expensive

Both states make money disappear fast.

• Anxiety = Spending to regain control
• Boredom = Spending to feel stimulated

Neither works long-term, but your brain doesn't care. It just wants relief now.

Happy People Overspend Too

Don't think rich or happy people are immune.

They overspend on:

• Status symbols
• Experiences they don't enjoy
• Guilt purchases for people they neglect

The difference is their overspending doesn't threaten survival.

Activity: Track ONE Purchase and Its Emotion

For the next three days, pick ONE purchase and ask:

"Why did I buy this in that moment?"

Examples:

• "I bought chips because I was anxious about a bill."
• "I bought coffee because I was lonely and wanted to be around people."
• "I bought new shoes because everyone else seemed successful and I felt behind."

No judgment. Just notice.

The Micro-Win

You begin noticing patterns without judgment.

That's the first step to changing them.