"'Tis the season, they say. But the season seems to be changing. Did you notice that Black Friday started before Thanksgiving this year? Cyber Monday crept right into the holiday week. Gift guides are everywhere; increasing the pressure to find the "perfect" gift, often with financing options right at checkout. The underlying message seems to be: buy now, think about it later."
""Can I afford all of this?""Why does spending feel stressful or guilt-inducing?""Why do I want to avoid looking at my bank account until January?" If money brings up anxiety, shame, or overwhelm, especially during the holidays, you are not alone. And your reaction isn't irrational or "bad with money." In fact, those feelings often come from something deeper and more emotional than we realize. They come from the beliefs we learned about money long before we made our own financial choices."
Holiday marketing has shifted earlier and increased pressure to buy, often offering financing at checkout and encouraging immediate purchases. Many people experience anxiety, shame, or avoidance around money during the holidays. Such reactions often stem from early-learned money scripts—subconscious beliefs about money formed in childhood. Money avoidance scripts can develop in households where finances were tense, unequal, or secretive. People with these scripts may delay opening bills, avoid checking balances, or freeze when discussing shared finances, and may hold thoughts like "Talking about money is tacky," "People with money are greedy," or "Someone else will figure this out."
Read at Psychology Today
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