Understanding Your Money Story - How the Past Influences the Future

"Until you understand your Core Story, whatever it is, and how it made you who you are today, your foundation will reflect only your unconscious beliefs about yourself, real or imagined, positive or negative. When you delve into your subconscious beliefs about your lot in life, whether you believe you deserve to be happy or sad, successful or unsuccessful, only then do you have the chance to change the story that is replaying over and over in your head and determining how you go through life." ~ Lucinda Bassett

Insights from a Certified Money Coach:

☕ Picture this: it’s morning, your coffee’s warm, you’re casually scrolling through emails, when -bam! - a bill appears.

Your heart skips.

A dull knot tightens in your stomach.

You know you’ve got the money to cover it, but still… the anxiety creeps in.

Why does money always seem to do this to us?

Sound familiar?

💔 Trust me, you’re not alone.

So many women feel this way about money - often without realising that their stress isn’t really about dollars and cents.

It’s about something deeper.

Something personal.

It’s your money story.

Yep, we’ve all got one.

It’s that internal script about money that’s been shaped by your upbringing, experiences, and relationships.

It’s the reason you feel how you feel about money today—whether that’s stressed, avoidant, or downright terrified to check your bank balance.

But here’s the thing: your money story isn’t set in stone.

🌱 Like an old garden, you can dig it up, replant it, and watch something fresh and empowering grow.

Let’s talk about how.

🌟 What’s a Money Story Anyway?

Your money story is basically the little voice in your head whispering (or, let’s be real, yelling) things like:

💭 “I’ll never have enough money”

💭 “I’m terrible with money”

💭 “Money always causes problems”

Where does this voice come from? Usually, your past.

Think about it:

• Did your family stress about money when you were a kid?

• Was money a source of fights, secrecy, or shame?

• Or maybe it was abundant but never talked about, leaving you unsure how to handle it now?

What you saw and experienced growing up shaped your beliefs about money.

For example:

If your parents argued about money, you might have learned that money = stress.

If money was tight, you may have picked up a fear that there’s never enough.

If no one talked about it, you might feel lost or ‘incompetent’ when it comes to managing it yourself.

💡 These beliefs? They stick. And they quietly influence the way you spend, save, and stress about money every single day.

Meet Jasmine: A Real-Life Money Story 🌸

Jasmine is a 45-year-old marketing exec. She’s smart, successful, and earns a great salary.

But here’s the catch:

Jasmine’s terrified of money.

She avoids budgeting because it makes her feel “dumb.”

She’s scared to check her bank account, convinced it’ll be bad news—even when it’s fine.

So what gives?

Jasmine’s money story.

Growing up, her parents lived paycheck to paycheck.

Money was always a source of tension and fear.

Even though Jasmine now earns more than enough, her childhood beliefs are still driving her anxiety.

Sound familiar?

If it does, don’t feel bad—so many women (especially those navigating big life changes like divorce or career shifts) struggle with the same thing.

🌊 How Your Money Story Shapes Your Life

Your money story isn’t just an abstract idea—it’s like an invisible current, tugging at your financial decisions.

Here’s how it might show up:

1️⃣ Spending Habits

Feel like you’re always splurging on random things you don’t need—or, on the flip side, too scared to spend on anything fun? It could be tied to your past.

2️⃣ Financial Avoidance

Do you avoid opening bills or checking your bank account because it feels overwhelming? That’s your money story talking.

3️⃣ Risk Aversion

Scared to invest because what if you lose it all? (Even though logically, you know not all investments are risky?) Yep, that’s your story again.

4️⃣ Constant Insecurity

Ever feel like no matter how much you save, it’s never enough? That nagging fear of “what if everything falls apart?” might not be about your finances—it’s about your beliefs.

But here’s the good news: once you know why you feel this way, you can change it.

🌟 How to Rewrite Your Money Story

Rewriting your money story isn’t about magically erasing your past. It’s about understanding it, challenging the unhelpful beliefs, and creating a new narrative that works for the life you want.

Here’s how to start:

1️⃣ Reflect on Your Money Memories 🌱

Grab a notebook and ask yourself:

• What did I learn about money growing up?

• How did my family handle it?

• What emotions did money bring up in my childhood?

This helps you uncover the roots of your current beliefs.

2️⃣ Spot Your Limiting Beliefs 🚦

Write down the negative thoughts you have about money. Things like:

• “I’m bad with money.”

• “I’ll never be able to save enough.”

Then, challenge those beliefs. Are they actually true? (Spoiler: They’re probably not.)

3️⃣ Redefine Your Relationship with Money 🌸

Ask yourself:

• What do I really want my financial life to look and feel like?

• How would it feel to trust myself with money?

It’s not about perfection—it’s about progress.

4️⃣ Set Values-Based Goals 🎯

Money isn’t just about numbers; it’s about what matters to you.

Want to travel more?

Save for your kids’ education?

Retire early?

Set goals that align with your values and use those goals to guide your decisions.

5️⃣ Get Support 🤝

You don’t have to do this alone.

Sometimes, rewriting your money story means getting a little help—whether it’s from a money coach (👋 Hi!) or a supportive community.

🌟 Real Talk: Anna’s Journey

Take Anna, for example.

At 52, she was earning a great salary in construction but still felt paralysed by money anxiety.

Growing up, her parents’ constant “We can’t afford that” stuck with her.

Her solution? She rewrote her money story.

Together, we explored her limiting beliefs, reframed them, and built a plan that balanced saving and living. Today, Anna’s confident with her money and finally enjoying her hard-earned success.

🌈 The Bottom Line

Your money story is part of you—but it doesn’t have to define you.

You can break free of the beliefs that are holding you back.

You can rewrite your narrative.

And you can create a life where money feels empowering, not stressful.

If you’re ready to do the work and take control of your financial future, I’d love to help.

Together, we’ll dig deep, rewrite your story, and build a path to lasting financial freedom.

✨ Let’s connect and get started. Your new money story is waiting.

While you’re here, be sure to snag my free workbook, Map the Gap.

It’s designed to make money goal setting a breeze - so easy and effective that it’s perfect for building into your regular routine. Even if you’re just dipping a perfectly polished toe into the world of Money Coaching, you’ll find it simple to dive in and get started. Trust me, the results will be so fabulous you’ll be amazed!

There’s nothing to lose except your fear of failure, so go ahead and grab your copy here.