Emotional spending is the act of using money to cope with feelings rather than to meet genuine needs. It is sometimes referred to as “retail therapy,” but unlike therapy, it often provides only temporary relief and can lead to long-term financial stress.

Everyone has a money story—the unconscious beliefs and emotional patterns that shape how we earn, spend, save, and relate to money. These stories begin in childhood and influence nearly every financial decision we make, often without us realizing it. By exploring your unique money story, you can uncover hidden fears, rewrite limiting beliefs, and make more intentional, values-aligned financial choices. Your story isn’t fixed—it can be transformed.