Goal setting and self-growth

Money Habits & Self-Growth: How Your Patterns Reveal What You Believe

Let’s talk money and self-growth without the shame, without the stress and without the silence.

For most of us, money is way more emotional than we realise. It’s not just about budgets and bank balances. It’s about comfort, fear, identity, control, satisfaction—and sometimes even love. The way we handle money? It’s rarely random. It’s often a reflection of how safe, worthy, and grounded we feel inside.

I can’t speak for everyone—money means different things to different people. But I grew up in a middle-class family where the message was clear: you have to work hard. Really hard. Conversations around money in my home were often rooted in stress and survival, not ease or abundance.

At the same time, I was on my own self-growth journey. And the concept of money didn’t really align with the personal beliefs I was developing. Money felt rigid. Personal growth felt expansive. I couldn’t figure out how to make those two worlds meet.

That confused, grey area made me deeply curious. I started asking myself: “If I stripped away everything I was taught… what would money mean to me on my own terms?”

That question cracked something open in me. Was it weird to want money and self-growth to align? Maybe. But I leaned into it anyway. And here’s what I’ve learned since: Money is just a concept—one shaped by our personal experiences and the beliefs we inherit from others.

These experiences trigger a well of emotions, whether positive or negative, and it’s through those emotions that the idea of money begins to form in our minds. From there, our habits, behaviours, and emotional responses become reflections of that internalised concept.

So let’s go there—with compassion, curiosity, and zero pressure. This isn’t just about finances. This is about you.

Money Habits & Self-Growth

How your patterns reveal what you believe. Your money habits aren’t just about spending or saving. They’re deeper than numbers. They’re the late-night impulse buys after a rough day. The budget you create on Sunday… and ignore by Friday. The panic when your account dips—even if it was fine yesterday.

But these habits didn’t come out of nowhere.

They were shaped by things like:

  • How money was talked about (or avoided) in your childhood.
  • The times you felt lack, fear, or financial instability.
  • How you learned to soothe yourself emotionally
  • Your inner beliefs about what you deserve or don’t
 

Money becomes a mirror. A coping tool. A way to feel safe, loved, confident—or in control.

And when those patterns go unchecked? They tend to reinforce themselves. Once you see the pattern, you can shift the story.

Emotional Spending—The Real Root

Before you feel bad for poor money habits, most of the time, your spending isn’t about logic—it’s about emotions.

We spend to escape, we spend to feel in control, we spend because it gives us a temporary sense of abundance, even when feeling empty inside.

That $40 late-night Uber Eats order? It wasn’t just dinner. That $200 clothing haul? It wasn’t just “treating yourself.” That business course you bought but never used? It wasn’t a waste—it was a hope. That unread budgeting app you downloaded? It wasn’t laziness—it was overwhelm.

Emotional spending shows up when we’re disconnected from ourselves. And healing it? It’s not about cutting up your debit card—it’s about understanding what you’re really trying to soothe

Ask yourself:

  • What emotion usually triggers my spending? (Loneliness? Stress? Boredom?)
  • Do I associate money with freedom… or fear?
  • What was I taught about money growing up?
 

This inner awareness is the first step toward taking your power back.

Rewriting Your Money Habits with self-growth at the centre

Okay, so what now? Let’s make this simple and doable. These aren’t rules. These are rituals. A shift from shame to self-trust.

1. Pause Before You Purchase:
Before you hit “Buy Now,” pause and ask yourself:

  • “What am I feeling right now?” If it’s anything but calm and grounded, wait 24 hours. You’ll be surprised how often the urge fades.
 

2. Spend With Intention:
Make spending sacred. Create a mini ritual before checkout:

  • Does this align with my future self?
  • Will I still want this in 48 hours?
  • Am I trying to feel safe, loved, or enough?
 

This isn’t about guilt. It’s about alignment.

3. Reflect Without Judgment:
Every week, take 10 minutes to get clear on your spendings, ask yourself:

  • Where did my money go and was it worth it?
  • How did I feel about it?
  • What patterns came up?
 

Then celebrate every small win. Awareness is progress.

Before you hit buy now, pause. Ask: “What am I feeling right now?” If it’s anything but calm and grounded, wait 24 hours. You’ll be surprised how often the urge fades.

What Your Money Habits Can Teach You About Self-Worth

Here’s a truth most people skip over: Your money habits often reflect your self-worth.

  • If you avoid saving, you might secretly feel unworthy of security.
  • If you overspend on others, you might believe you have to earn love.
  • If you undercharge in your business, you might question your value.
 

This doesn’t make you broken—it makes you human.But when you begin to heal your self-worth, your money habits naturally evolve.

  • You start choosing things that truly nourish you.
  • You stop over-giving to prove your worth.
  • You invest in your future with calm, not fear.
 

Money becomes a tool, not a trigger. That’s real power. Self-reflection prompt: “What belief about myself do I want my money habits to reflect going forward?”

Before you go, I'll leave this with you…

This journey isn’t about restriction—it’s about recognition. It’s not about budgets—it’s about beliefs. And it’s not about being perfect—it’s about being honest with yourself.

You don’t have to change everything overnight — but you can start by noticing what’s really going on underneath your habits. The Rewrite Your Money Story: A Self-Growth Starter Guide.

Download it free here and take your next step with compassion. Start with compassion. Grow from there.

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A few years ago, I found myself overwhelmed, searching for deeper meaning. My curiosity about the world often left me with more questions than answers. As I moved through different seasons of life, I started connecting the dots and gaining clarity on who I am and what I wanted in life.

One pivotal moment caused me to pause, reflect, and ask myself: What does a fulfilling life look like for me? Embracing that realisation sparked a life-changing commitment to personal growth, which ultimately led me to create By Raina L.

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