Experts Discuss Common Money Mindsets and Strategies to Address Them

Financial mindsets can affect spending, debt, investing, and budgeting, according to experts. These mindsets are shaped by genetic, environmental, and personal factors. Michele Paiva, a financial therapist, explained that mindsets emerge from family, friends, teachers, society, and individual experiences.

Emotional spending, also called retail therapy, involves buying items to alleviate stress or anxiety. Kiki Jacobson, a licensed mental health counselor and financial educator at Nour Counseling & Consulting, noted that this behavior often originates in childhood or adolescence.

She stated that individuals learn that spending changes their feelings, providing short-term relief but potentially reducing savings and increasing debt over time.

recommended three habits to address emotional spending.

First, identify triggers by asking questions such as: How am I feeling right now? What has my day been like? Have I eaten lately? Did I sleep okay last night? Second, implement a 24-hour pause before non-essential purchases to allow reflection on alignment with values, goals, or needs.

Third, create barriers to impulsive buying by deleting shopping apps, unsubscribing from marketing emails, and removing payment methods from websites. These steps aim to separate urges from immediate actions. Jacobson emphasized that such practices can help regulate spending.

Ignorance Mindset Many consumers view financial expertise as unattainable, according to Karen Holland, an economist and founder of Gifting Sense.

Retail and payment platforms are designed to encourage quick purchases without reflection. Holland noted that this environment reduces opportunities for consumers to gather information before committing. Building financial knowledge enables critical thinking about purchases and avoids issues like overestimating use or underestimating costs.