Hey, I see you.

You just clicked Add to Cart after a long day, then whispered to yourself, I deserve this.

Maybe you do, but this isn't about if you deserve it.

It's about if you can afford it.

And if you can't, well, we are creating more problems

than we're solving. I'm going to help you unpack the why behind your money habits and offer

science-backed ways to shift them. So let's talk about how your brain, your history, and your

emotions are influencing your wallet

and how you can take back the wheel.

Welcome back to savvy psychologist.

I'm your host, Dr. Monica Johnson.

Every week on this show, I'll help you face life challenges with evidence-based approaches,

a sympathetic ear, and zero judgment.

We'll start by talking about what's really going on and what's underneath the spending.

The first thing to mention here is money scripts.

Before you ever got a bank account, you were absorbing beliefs about money,

watching your caregivers pay bills, fight over spending,

stash envelopes under the mattress, or use shopping as stress relief. These internalized

beliefs are called money scripts, and they shape your financial decisions today. For instance,

if you grew up hearing money is the root of all evil,

you might feel guilt around saving or earning too much. If you were told money doesn't grow on

trees, scarcity might drive your decisions even when you have enough. These scripts often operate

...