Straight Fire Money is not just another personal finance site. It is the sum total of our actual, real-life experiences growing up and navigating adult life.
Author: Alexander Whaley
-
The Deceptive Shine: Planning Finances Beyond the Halo Effect
When it comes to financial planning, it’s essential to be aware of cognitive biases that can cloud our judgement and lead to poor decision-making. One such bias is the Halo Effect, which influences how we perceive and evaluate companies based on their overall performance. The Halo Effect can have a significant impact on financial planning,…
-
Money Mindset: Keeping Loss Aversion at Bay
When it comes to money management and securing our wealth, there is a powerful psychological bias that we must overcome – loss aversion. This instinctive fear of losing is deeply ingrained in our decision-making processes, often causing us to prioritize avoiding losses over pursuing gains. In fact, studies have shown that the fear of loss…
-
Economic Instincts: The Role of Heuristics in Economic Behavior
Heuristics play a pivotal role in economic behavior, influencing our intuitive judgment and shaping our economic decisions. In this article, we will explore the concept of heuristics in economic behavior and examine how our instincts and cognitive shortcuts impact our economic choices. By understanding the role of heuristics, we can gain insights into consumer economics…
-
Mind Over Money: Managing Your Spending for Mental Wellness
Managing your spending can have a direct impact on your mental health and overall well-being. By understanding the connection between money and mental health, you can take practical steps to manage your finances and improve your mental well-being. This article will provide you with helpful tips and strategies to help you create a budget, avoid…
-
When Anxiety Hits Your Wallet: Understanding Spending Habits
Anxiety can have a profound impact on our spending habits, leading to impulsive purchases and financial troubles. Many individuals turn to emotional spending as a way to cope with stress and anxiety, seeking temporary relief or a sense of control through buying things. However, this coping mechanism can be just as damaging as other unhealthy…
-
Budgeting with a Clear Mind: Mental Health’s Role in Finance
Money is more than just a practical matter – it can impact mental health. Financial stress and worries can lead to anxiety, insomnia, relationship conflicts, weight gain or loss, withdrawal from friends, and substance use. Taking charge of finances and creating a budget can improve mental health by reducing anxiety and stress, providing a sense…
-
Therapy Sessions and Cents: How Mental Care Influences Spending
People’s mental health has a direct impact on their financial habits. In the United States, accessing behavioral health care services has been a longstanding struggle, particularly for low-income individuals and those with disabilities. The COVID-19 pandemic has only worsened the behavioral health crisis, leading to a significant increase in self-reported anxiety and depression symptoms. Recognizing…
-
The Financial Blues: Navigating Spending When Depressed
Depression can have a profound impact on various aspects of our lives, including our financial decisions. When dealing with mental health challenges, it becomes crucial to safeguard our finances while ensuring our overall well-being. In this article, we will explore the connection between depression and financial strain, delve into interventions that can help alleviate depressive…
-
Stress Spending: Why We Buy on Impulse and How to Stop
Impulse buying is a common behavior among Americans, with an average of $314 spent impulsively every month, totaling $3,768 per year and $226,080 in a lifetime. Emotions, past experiences, good deals, and the love of shopping all contribute to why we keep impulse buying. However, there are effective methods to break the cycle and stop…
-
Saving Sanity: Setting Savings Goals with Mental Health in Mind
Financial stress is a common cause of mental health issues and can have severe effects on your overall well-being. According to the American Psychological Association, 72% of Americans experience stress about money. Symptoms of financial stress may include anxiety, avoidance behaviors, feelings of shame or embarrassment, and physical health problems. Chronic financial stress can lead…