What is your money emotion? 5 common feelings around finances

By Krutika Kale · · 2 min read
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Money matters can cause emotional stress but some of us are afraid to confront the issue. This is understandable, though might not help in the long run. Like a good budget, handling such emotions or stresses is best looked at ahead of time.

Ready to get a better command of your money-related emotions? Let’s start with the basics…defining them!

5 money emotions to check

  • Anxiety/fear- You’re always anxious that you’ll run out of money or don’t look into your money matters because you’re scared to confront them.
  • Envy - You’re always comparing your achievements with others which can create envy. This emotion can be quite dangerous as it may hamper relationships.
  • Happiness - If you’re someone who equates money with happiness, you’re in a good position when money is going well. You love the value it brings you but this also needs to be kept in check.
  • Stress - Whether you’ve enough money or none at all, you’re never at ease about it. Either you’re worried that you’ll run out or you have so much that you think it might get stolen. 
  • Secure - No matter how much you earn or spend, you feel secure about your financial health. But this feeling only comes when you’ve saved up a good amount for yourself.

Once you have a sense of what your money emotion(s) are, you can figure out a way to make your money matters feel better, or at least balanced. Maybe you need a more practical view of it, so that you’re not always feeling stressed. Maybe you need to plan or budget more. Or maybe it’s just about sharing the load. There are a lot of ways to tackle our emotions around money. 

There are also plenty of people who can help too. If you need some assistance with handling the emotions or stress of money, why not reach out:

  • National Debt Helpline - 1800 007 007
  • Housing crisis NSW - 1800 152 152 (Link2home)
  • Beyond Blue - 1300 22 46 36 (for emotional support)

If you’re lucky enough to be in a good spot with your money situation, we can also help with budget tips and ways to save. Why not check out our guide to better budgeting, or some handy tips for saving.