What’s Your Money Story?

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We all have one—even if we’ve never taken the time to write it down.

Your money story isn’t about budgets or spreadsheets. It’s the narrative you carry about money—how you think about it, how you feel around it, how you spend, save, avoid, or obsess over it. It’s a story that often began long before you ever earned a paycheck.

Most of us inherited our money story without even realizing it. It's shaped by how we were raised—whether there was plenty, not enough, or just enough to get by. It’s built from watching our caregivers interact with money, from overhearing their fears or frustrations, from experiencing wealth, lack, or instability firsthand.

Money isn’t just numbers—it’s emotional. It’s deeply personal. And it influences our daily decisions, our relationships, and even our self-worth.

Different Stories, Different Realities

Talk to ten people about money, and you’ll hear ten completely different takes.

• Some will say, “I never have enough.”
• Others might shrug and say, “I just make it work.”
• Then there are those who declare, “Money’s never been a problem for me.”

These aren’t just opinions—they’re stories.
Stories rooted in identity, experience, and belief.

My Money Story

Personally, I’ve lived most of my life below the 150% poverty line, the magic number the government uses to define whether someone is poor. And yet, I’ve never felt poor. I own my home, have healthy food to eat, clothing to wear, and the ability to do just about anything I want to. To me that is a sign of success. Is it perfect for all? No.

Why does this work for me? Because for me, abundance has never been just about money.

Yes, I’ve wished to win the lottery (who hasn’t?) or to find a job with a high salary. But the desire for more doesn’t mean I see myself as lacking. I find joy in secondhand things, in older items with history, quality, and charm. I still buy new things too, but I stay within my means and practice gratitude for what I do have. I know there are people in this world with even less, and I don’t take anything for granted.

The work I do isn’t just about earning a paycheck; it’s about helping people. Supporting others through growth, healing, and transformation brings a kind of joy and meaning that money alone can’t provide. Do I need to be paid? Absolutely. Bills are real, and I believe in valuing my time and energy. But at the end of the day, I’m not working just for money, I’m working with purpose.

Same Parents, Different Stories

Our money stories can be wildly different, even in the same family.

I have a friend who has a twin sister. Same household, same parents, same upbringing, but completely different money mindsets.

One sister makes good money but hardly spends a thing. She grew up watching her parents sacrifice and stretch every dollar, so she learned to save. For her, not spending equals safety.

The other sister earns less but spends more freely. She didn't have a lot growing up, so now, spending makes her feel joy. It’s how she fills the gaps she felt as a kid: buying gifts, clothes, little luxuries she missed out on.

One feels poor no matter what’s in her bank account.

The other feels abundant, even when things are tight.

Why It Matters

Your money story isn’t just about money. It’s about identity, safety, joy, worthiness, and possibility.

The good news? You don’t have to stay stuck in the version you were handed.
You can explore your story, rewrite the parts that no longer serve you, and step into a version that supports the life you want to live.

So I’ll leave you with these questions:

What is your money story?

And more importantly—is it still true?

How to Change Your Money Story

Awareness is the first step. You can’t change a story you haven’t fully read yet.

Most of us are operating from financial scripts we didn’t consciously choose. Maybe you learned that money was something to fear; or something you had to earn the hard way. Maybe you were told that wanting more was selfish. Or maybe no one talked about money at all, and the silence became part of your belief system.

Here’s the good news: You can rewrite your money story.
Not overnight—but with curiosity, honesty, and consistency.

Start by getting curious. Ask yourself:

• Where did my beliefs about money come from?
• What did I witness growing up—stress, security, scarcity?
• Do I make financial decisions out of fear, guilt, rebellion, or worthiness?

Sometimes, these patterns run so deep we don’t even realize they’re driving us. That’s where shadow work comes in—it’s the process of bringing unconscious beliefs into the light so we can consciously choose new ones.

Changing your money story doesn’t happen overnight. But with compassion, honesty, and a willingness to dig a little deeper, you can start to rewrite the script.

Here’s a tool to help you begin:

I’ve created a free Money Story Journal Prompts - a guided workbook with reflective prompts to help you uncover the hidden beliefs you carry and start reshaping them into affirmations rooted in abundance, confidence, and truth.

Download The Money Story Journal Prompts here.

Check out the Free Resources page here.

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If you found this post useful, check out these related reads:
True Prosperity: Path to Abundance
Embracing Shadow Work for Deep Healing
Overcoming False Beliefs to Live Fully