Money is the foundation of society. It allows us to buy food, shelter and luxuries. While I don’t believe it is the “root of all evil;” jealousy, arguments, violence and war have been blamed on money. People have a wide variety of emotions linked to money and the things we can obtain with money. Productivity and acquisition is necessary for any civilization to survive. Being productive and acquiring necessities is likewise necessary for any person to survive.
Therefore, money is the cornerstone of our lives. We think about it and use it every day. We worry about our debt and wish to win the lottery. The terms money, savings, finances, assets, capital and equity can bring on a firestorm of emotions within a person. Money can cause fear, anger, jealousy, worry and anxiety. Yet it also can be the source of fun, joy, happiness and bringing people together. It’s not surprising that the biggest family arguments are about money; likewise the greatest family vacations and holiday dinners are provided for with money.
The large financial picture brings on many emotions but day to day transactions can also prompt a variety of emotions and reactions. You may be emotionless when taking money out of the ATM or buying new clothes; but you also may find yourself experiencing a wide range of emotions when completing other financial transactions or tasks.
Spending money on a luxurious piece of furniture or clothing item may invoke fear or happiness or both. Paying bills may result in depression or satisfaction. These emotions may have a positive or negative impact on your actions and your financial landscape. Feeling euphoric and having no regrets after an impulse purchase may be a way of denying the impact of the decision. Feeling satisfied after paying bills can reinforces productive behaviors.
What feelings and emotions do you have in response to spending, saving and finances in general?
Photo by Christiann Koepke on Unsplash