Money Script Spotting Guide
W - reWrite Your Money Story
This Money Script Spotting Guide helps you identify how money scripts manifest in everyday life. By recognizing these patterns, you gain the power to consciously choose new responses. Use this guide alongside your Money Pattern Map to transform your relationship with money.
To help you quickly identify your dominant money scripts and recognize how they influence your daily financial decisions.
Module W: reWrite Your Money Story - Used alongside the Money Pattern Map and STOP and SHIFT technique.
You can't change patterns you don't see. This guide makes the invisible visible, allowing you to interrupt automatic behaviors.
Review each script, note signs that resonate with you, complete the self-assessments, and transfer insights to your Money Pattern Map.
Understanding Money Scripts
Money scripts are unconscious beliefs about money that drive our financial behaviors. They typically form in childhood and operate below our awareness. Most people display elements of multiple scripts, with certain ones becoming dominant in specific situations.
Money scripts aren't inherently "good" or "bad" - each has beneficial and detrimental aspects. The goal isn't to eliminate your scripts but to become aware of them so you can make conscious financial choices.
Belief that money is bad, problematic, or that you don't deserve financial success.
Common Signs
- Avoiding looking at financial statements or bills
- Feeling uncomfortable when you have more than others
- Undercharging for your services or time
- Believing wealthy people are generally greedy or unethical
- Making impulsive donations despite your own financial needs
- Feeling guilty about spending money on yourself
- Recurring financial self-sabotage when on the verge of success
- Subtle belief that spirituality and wealth cannot coexist
Maya is a talented designer who consistently undercharges clients. When asked why, she says, "I don't need much to live on." Despite struggling to pay bills, she feels uncomfortable negotiating higher rates. She often thinks, "Who am I to charge that much?" When she does earn more than usual, she quickly gives it away or spends it rather than building savings.
How strongly does Money Avoidance influence your financial life?
Belief that money will solve all problems and is the key to happiness and fulfillment.
Common Signs
- Believing most problems would disappear if you had more money
- Working excessive hours at the expense of wellbeing and relationships
- Feeling that you can never have enough regardless of amount
- Shopping or spending to improve mood or feel better temporarily
- Difficulty saying no to spending on others, even when unaffordable
- Checking account balances frequently with anxiety
- Constantly thinking about the "next" financial goal without enjoying current achievements
- Focusing primarily on income while neglecting spending management
James checks his account balances multiple times daily. He earns a comfortable salary but constantly thinks, "Once I reach $X in savings, I'll finally feel secure." However, whenever he approaches his target, he immediately sets a higher one, never feeling the security he seeks. Despite earning well, he works overtime and weekends, believing "just a bit more money" will solve his stress and relationship problems.
How strongly does Money Worship influence your financial life?
Belief that your net worth equals your self-worth and that money signifies success and importance.
Common Signs
- Purchase decisions heavily influenced by what others might think
- Paying for things you can't afford to maintain appearances
- Comparing your possessions, home, or vacations to others frequently
- Strong brand consciousness in purchasing decisions
- Feeling embarrassed by financial limitations or setbacks
- Reluctance to drive an older car or wear last season's styles
- Tendency to mention prices or brands to impress others
- Avoiding social situations when finances are tight to save face
Sarah financed a luxury car despite the payments straining her monthly budget. When asked about the purchase, she admits, "I couldn't show up in my old car—what would my colleagues think?" Her credit cards are near their limits from buying designer clothes and dining at expensive restaurants. She frequently posts her purchases on social media and feels anxious when friends acquire something she doesn't have.
How strongly does Money Status influence your financial life?
Belief that money must be carefully guarded, saved, and monitored with constant attention and caution.
Common Signs
- Anxiety even when looking at healthy savings
- Difficulty spending on enjoyment, even when easily affordable
- Secrecy around money matters with family or partners
- Pride in frugality that sometimes becomes extreme
- Constant worry about "having enough" regardless of actual resources
- Difficulty delegating financial tasks due to trust issues
- Elaborate systems for tracking every penny spent
- Postponing present enjoyment for a future that never seems to arrive
Michael has substantial savings but still carefully checks prices on everything. He tracks each expense in a detailed spreadsheet and feels genuine anxiety when considering a vacation, despite having more than enough saved. He often says, "I might need this money someday," which prevents him from enjoying experiences now. When his partner suggests a nice dinner out, he immediately calculates how that money could grow if invested instead.
How strongly does Money Vigilance influence your financial life?
When Scripts Combine
Most people exhibit a combination of money scripts, which can create internal conflicts. For example:
- Money Avoidance + Money Status: Feeling guilty about wealth while simultaneously purchasing status symbols
- Money Worship + Money Vigilance: Working excessive hours to earn more while being unable to enjoy spending
- Money Status + Money Worship: Spending beyond means on visible luxuries while believing more income will solve the resulting debt
These combinations often create uncomfortable tensions in your financial life. Awareness of these patterns is the first step toward resolving them.
Your Money Script Reflections:
Next Steps
After identifying your dominant money scripts and how they manifest in your daily life, return to your Money Pattern Map to document specific triggers and responses. Then use the STOP and SHIFT technique to practice new responses when your scripts activate.
