How to Deal with Negative Emotions About Money

Money has a way of tugging at our emotions…sometimes even breaking us down. Recently, I found myself in tears over an academic setback. I had poured a significant amount of money into my studies, only to face disappointing results at the final dissertation stage. The thought of spending even more to fix the situation felt overwhelming.

Negative emotions tied to money can easily spiral into despair, but managing these feelings is essential. Start by examining the impact of your emotions.

#1: EXAMINE THE IMPACT OF YOUR EMOTIONS

Intense emotions aren’t always bad. My initial reaction to failing or needing to revise my dissertation wasn’t “wrong.” Big emotions often mean we’re deeply invested in our lives. However, letting emotions spiral unchecked can wreak havoc on your personal and professional life. When money-related stress takes over, it can lead to:

Strained relationships
Trouble at work or school
Emotional outbursts
Reliance on unhealthy coping mechanisms

Take a moment to reflect. Are your emotions affecting your daily life? Identifying these triggers helps you turn emotions into tools for growth and motivation instead of barriers.

#2: IDENTIFY SPECIFIC NEGATIVE FEELINGS ABOUT MONEY

Our emotional connections to money often run deep, even if we don’t realize it. Start by journaling about your feelings toward debt, spending, and saving. Ask yourself:

Does your debt make you feel trapped or ashamed?
Do unplanned purchases leave you feeling guilty?
Does budgeting feel suffocating, triggering anxiety or conflict?

Unpacking these emotions can help uncover their root causes. Once you know what’s driving your feelings, you’re better equipped to change them.

#3: PRACTICE EMOTIONAL REGULATION

There’s no switch to turn off negative emotions, but you can learn to regulate them. Bottling up feelings can harm your mental and physical health, causing:

Anxiety or depression
Sleep disturbances
Chronic stress
Muscle tension and pain

Instead, aim for balance. Allow yourself to feel emotions without judgment. Acknowledge them, let them flow, and then refocus. This practice prevents overwhelm without forcing you to suppress how you feel.

#4: REPLACE NEGATIVE THOUGHTS WITH POSITIVE ONES

Once you’ve identified the negative emotions tied to money, work on replacing them with empowering ones. For instance, if debt makes you feel ashamed, strive to feel motivated instead.

Affirmations can help. Start with phrases like:

“I am in control of my finances.”
“I attract opportunities for financial growth.”

It might feel awkward at first, but over time, these affirmations can reshape your mindset and help you feel more confident about money matters.

#5: BUILD RELIABLE FINANCIAL SYSTEMS

Systems can take some of the emotional weight out of managing money. Small steps like setting up autopay for bills, automating savings, or enabling low-balance alerts can make a world of difference.

However, don’t “set and forget” your finances. Schedule a weekly check-in to calmly review your financial situation. This routine helps you stay proactive and prevents money worries from spiraling.

#6: JOIN A FINANCIAL SUPPORT GROUP

Money stress is incredibly common, yet many people avoid seeking help. Luckily, online resources make support more accessible than ever.

Consider exploring:

Financial literacy courses, like those FREE from the Institute for Financial Literacy
Budgeting communities on social media
Credit counseling services, such as CCS.org.sg
Being part of a positive, informed community can help you develop a healthier relationship with money. Remember, you’re not alone—sharing your challenges and successes makes the journey less isolating.

Image Credits: unsplash.com

Dealing with negative emotions about money takes time, self-awareness, and intentional action. By reflecting on your feelings, building solid financial habits, and leaning on support systems, you can turn money from a source of stress into a tool for growth.

Sources: 1 & 2

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Reasons Why Couples Argue About Money

Money issues are some of the main reasons why people end up in divorce court. Money is a touching subject that plays a vital role in any household. If you have enough money, you will be able to meet your basic needs and have some measure of happiness.

There are many reasons why couples have trouble communicating about money. Here are some of them:

#1: DIVERSE MONEY EXPERIENCES

Some Singaporeans have opportunities to learn money management skills growing up; many did not. Money is tight for some, so as adults, people may take steps to avoid the consequences of not having enough money.

How money matters were discussed and handled in previous relationships will affect how people handle their money in their current relationship. Learning how to make wise choices is important.

#2: DISSIMILAR COMMUNICATION STYLES

There are different communication styles that people typically use. While some are passive, others are aggressive. Passive communicators avoid expressing their thoughts and feelings about money. They often feel resentful, anxious, or even hopeless. Aggressive communicators overly express themselves in a powerful manner. These people dominate money conversations.

Lastly, assertive communicators share their thoughts and feelings respectfully. These people know how to listen and reflect on what they are hearing from the other person. Aim for this type of communication style.

#3: DIFFERING MONEY VALUES

When it comes to finances, we tend to spend money on things we value. For instance, a person who values security spends his money on insurance. If someone values freedom, he may throw caution to the wind with their money and spend impulsively.

We decide what our values are through experience, which means they could change throughout our lives. Some factors that influence our values include our educational background, culture, age, gender, socio-economic conditions, marital status, and other expectations.

#4: NEED FOR CONTROL

If you are in a relationship where both people want to be the head of finances, problems can ensue. Different ideas of how control looks like affects how we see our financial futures. Some of us have more controlling personalities than others. However, what if both of you are controlling?

Image Credits: unsplash.com

#5: INCOMPATIBLE SPENDING HABITS

If she likes to eat out and you like to cook at home, the two of you do not see eye to eye about how to spend money on food. Discuss household responsibilities and learn how each other feels. Find a middle ground where you both compromise.

#6: COMPETING SAVING HABITS

A saver and a spender can have different dynamics at home. The saver needs to understand that the spender wants to live a comfortable life, while the spender needs to be more careful and realistic with money.

#7: DISPARITIES IN INCOME

It can be challenging to get along if one person earns substantially more than the other. One of the best solutions for this situation is to let each person pay for bills based on the percentage of total income they earn (per month).

Do not let these seven elements become obstacles that get in the way of your relationship. Create a schedule for regular money discussions.

Sources: 1 & 2

 

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4 Common Financial Problems In Long-Term Partnerships

Arguments about finances hamper many marriages and professional partnerships. It is no wonder that financial problems are the leading cause of divorce.

A committed couple who suffers from serious monetary problems typically face loads of stress and tension, which often translates to heated quarrels. Prevent a fueled fight by fully disclosing your financial circumstance to your partner. From time to time, check if your financial goals are still in sync.

#1: STUCK IN DEBT

From school loans to gambling addiction, many people come to the altar bearing their financial baggage. If a partner has an outstanding pile of debt and the other does not, this situation can ignite a conflict.

In such situations, people often take solace in knowing that debts are not carried over through the marriage. However, it is understandable to share the responsibilities over childcare and housing debts.

Acknowledging what you are getting yourself into can help you employ various strategies to pay off debt. Both partners must be non-judgmental and honest when discussing about their financial habits and debts. Use several tools and strategies soon after. Seek professional help when necessary.

#2: DIFFERENCES IN MONEY PERSONALITIES

Tension brought by money can be due to the opposing personalities and beliefs of two people. Personality towards money plays an important role in a couple’s marital bliss or lack thereof.

Imagine living in a home with a hoarder when you are a spender yourself. Or, living with someone who is risk-avoidant while you are a risk-taker. These opposing personalities can be mediated by empathy and compassion. Walk in the other person’s shoes to understand where he or she is coming from. Paying attention to your partner’s financial habits before and during matrimony can be beneficial too. Discuss about your financial views and habits to reach a level of understanding.

#3: LEVELS OF COMMITMENT

Whether the spotlight is on a romantic or a professional partnership, the commitment levels of each individual can be an issue. You need to clearly discuss what each partner is looking for. Let us take a business partnership as an example. Partner A wants to keep his full-time job and invest some funds to the business, while Partner B wants to fully dedicate his time and resources towards the business. Can you see the gap between these two?

When it comes to romantic relationships, two people may not be on the same page when it comes to commitment. Partner A wants to start a family, while Partner B is not yet ready. It is important to discuss the commitment levels before it is too late.

#4: DIFFERENCES IN FINANCIAL CONTRIBUTIONS

The nature of partnership is a struggle that many partnerships face. After all, not every partnership is split 50/50. The differences in financial contributions can yield many questions such as how the profits will be divided (i.e., professional partnership) or how clear these financial responsibilities are (i.e., romantic partnership).

These questions must be addressed at the end of the courting period. Thus, both parties will aim to eliminate lingering tensions as they move forward.

Sources: 1 & 2

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How To Deal With 3 Divorce-Inducing Money Issues

In the hustle and bustle of the city life, Singaporeans are exposed to the high economic pressures. What makes this concrete jungle thrive? Money, of course. Putting matrimony into the mix makes things more complicated.

Managing money is a complex task fraught with emotion. It is natural that conflicts can arise from time to time. To keep your marriage and finances in tact, open communication and teamwork are essential. If only more couples are having regular conversations about money issues before and after walking down the aisle then, we will less likely to have divorces.

MONETARY IMBALANCE

What will happen when there is a massive earning gap between partners? Or, when a spouse comes from a wealthy family and the other came from humble beginnings? More so, living in a single-income household is not uncommon. Sometimes, the imbalance between two people creates power play.

When power play occurs, the person who earns the most dictate the spending habits of the other. He or she will have personal spending priorities in mind. The other partner simply complies.

Handling this situation is tricky. You can either make a pre-nuptial agreement or open a joint account. Nonetheless, marriage should be founded by cooperation in all aspects.

OPPOSING PERSONALITIES

In the list of reasons why couples divorce, money is among the top answers. Friction brought by money can be due to the opposing personalities of two people. Personality towards money plays a vital part in a couple’s marital bliss or the lack thereof.

Imagine living 24/7 with a hoarder when you are a spender yourself. Or, living with someone who is a risk-avoidant when you are a risk-taker yourself. To the extreme, you may live with someone who believes that the person who dies with the most money wins. These opposing personalities can be mediated by empathy. Walk in the other person’s shoes to understand where he or she is coming from. You may also adopt your spouse’s money habits for a month to see how it works. Paying attention to money habits before and during matrimony can be beneficial. Talking about your financial views and feelings can help put both of you at ease.

OVERWHELMING DEBT

From school loans to shopping addiction, many people come to the altar bearing a financial baggage. If one partner has an outstanding mountain of debt and the other does not, this situation can spark a conflict.

In such situations, people often take solace in knowing that debts are not carried over thru the marriage. However, it is understandable to share the responsibility over housing and child care debts.

Knowing what you are getting yourself into can help you decide how to deal with it. Both partners have to be honest and non-judgmental when discussing about their financial habits and bad records. Apply several payoff strategies soon after. And, seek professional help when needed.

Sources: 1 & 2

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7 Efficient Ways To Cope With Money Stress

1. Whether it is dealing with your horrific credit card balance or realizing that you are barely crossing retirement, it is important to recognize what causes your anxiety. Spare at least 10 minutes of your time to write down your greatest financial problems at the moment.

2. Avoid making matters worse! Rather than being consumed by your negativity, keep a positive mindset. Your “stress umbrella” decreases as you take necessary actions. Believe that you can do it!

Image Credits: pixabay.com

3. If your financial woes come from the anticipation of unfortunate events, you are not alone! Many people exaggerate this act of anticipation. This is why you need to be involved with the present. Mindfulness in your current financial circumstance is the key.

4. Who says change is always easy? I recommend that you start with small changes to ease the transition. Employ seemingly small steps to restructure your finances. Move on to bigger changes, once you are completely settled. It is alright to experiences some bumps along the way. You may commit mistakes for a week but, remember to stick to your realistic plan.

5. A realistic plan includes a working budget. Figure out what you actually spend per day by writing your expenses down or by tracking them with the help of an app. Use these information to cut unnecessary expenses.

6. Saying that you do not make enough money is an excuse! Boost your wealth by making the most of the income you have. Spend your income wisely.

7. After everything has been said and done, your last resort is seeking professional help. A number of experts offer free consultations or reduced rates for their services. For instance, you may type “debt services Singapore” in a search engine and browse what comes up. Choose a company that seems reputable through online reviews and peer opinions.

Image Credits: pixabay.com

Sources: 1 &2

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