Money on Your Mind: The Unconscious Beliefs That Sabotage Your Financial Well-Being—and How to Break Free

by Vicky Reynal

Discover how your thoughts, emotions, and past experiences shape your money habits—and find your way to financial freedom.

Do you overspend or make impulse purchases you regret later?
Do you never feel like enough money is enough?
Do you hide purchases from your partner?
Do you spend extravagantly on others to win their approval?
Do you resist spending money even on things you know you need?

One of your most important relationships is the one you have with money, yet you may not be aware of the complex web of emotions and past experiences that are really driving your money habits.

Money on Your Mind helps you unpack these psychological hurdles and start making better financial choices. Through a mix of case studies, client stories, and her expertise in psychotherapy, financial psychotherapist Vicky Reynal reveals how an emotionally absent parent can result in comfort shopping, how bullying in school can lead to overspending, how absorbing a parent’s lack of boundaries can interfere with making rational financial decisions, and much more. Then, she helps you shift those ingrained attitudes and beliefs so you can stop falling into the same old spend-ing traps. You’ll learn to

Recognize your spending triggers
Let go of a scarcity mindset
Free yourself of spending anxiety
Take control over your money habits


With a better understanding of the root causes of your money struggles, a more secure financial future is possible.

Genres: Nonfiction, Psychology, Finance, Self Help, Money

320 pages, Paperback

Published January 7, 2025

Reviews

[Mary · Rating 5 out of 5]

A really fantastic all-rounder for anyone wanting to go deeper into the underlying dynamics surrounding our relationship with money. Helps remove stigma and taboo from the topic and begin to make progress into repairing our relationship with this fundamental part of life. Highly recommended

[Lisa Osada · Rating 4 out of 5]

In „Deine Psyche, dein Umgang mit Geld und du“ beleuchtet Vicky Reynal auf einprägsame Weise die psychologischen Hintergründe menschlichen Verhaltens in finanzieller Hinsicht. Die zentrale These, dass es bei Geld selten nur ums Geld geht, wird nachvollziehbar und mit vielen Beispielen aus dem Alltag untermauert. Dabei gelingt es der Autorin, komplexe psychologische Zusammenhänge auf verständliche Weise darzustellen.

Die vorliegende Rezension bezieht sich auf die 1. Auflage des im Kösel Verlag (erstmalig 2025) erschienenen Titels.

Inhalt und Aufbau
Reynal geht davon aus, dass finanzielle Entscheidungen häufig Ausdruck unbewusster Muster und Erfahrungen, insbesondere aus der Kindheit, sind. Sie beschreibt nachvollziehbar, wie finanzielle Instabilität in der frühen Lebensphase beispielsweise zu Vermeidungs- oder Kontrollstrategien im späteren Leben führen kann.

Ein prägnantes Beispiel dafür ist folgender Gedanke aus dem Buch: „Vielleicht horten solche Menschen dann ihr Geld, anstatt es zu genießen, »nur für den Fall«, dass etwas passiert, und werden von Katastrophenphantasien heimgesucht, die es ihnen nicht erlauben, sich an ihrem Geld zu erfreuen.“ (S. 19)

Neben individuellen Prägungen werden in Teilen auch sozioökonomische Einflüsse berücksichtigt – etwa die Rolle der sozialen Schicht oder des Bildungshintergrunds: „Ein interessanter Aspekt ist auch die Schichtzugehörigkeit […] wie das Erleben unserer Schichtzugehörigkeit unsere Einstellung und unser Verhalten im Umgang mit Geld geprägt haben.“ (S. 20)

Stärken des Buches
Die Autorin geht davon aus, dass finanzielle Entscheidungen häufig Ausdruck unbewusster Muster und Erfahrungen, insbesondere aus der Kindheit, sind. Sie beschreibt nachvollziehbar, wie finanzielle Instabilität in der frühen Lebensphase beispielsweise zu Vermeidungs- oder Kontrollstrategien im späteren Leben führen kann. Sie schreibt dabei nie moralisierend, sondern empathisch und praxisnah. Ihre Hinweise auf finanzielle Allgemeinbildung stützen diesen Ansatz zusätzlich: „Finanzielle Bildung ist wichtig, denn davon hängt es maßgeblich ab, wie sicher wir uns bei unseren finanziellen Entscheidungen fühlen.“ (S. 21)

Kritische Betrachtung
Weniger überzeugend ist die stellenweise fehlende Einordnung struktureller Faktoren. Die Perspektive bleibt stark individuell geprägt. Aspekte wie geschlechtsspezifische oder rassifizierte Erfahrungen im Umgang mit Geld werden nicht näher thematisiert. Gerade in einem Buch, das den Anspruch erhebt, umfassend über Geld und Psyche zu sprechen, ist eine solche Leerstelle erstaunlich und einige Themen bleiben hier unangesprochen.

Wer sollte dieses Buch lesen?
Mit diesem Buch können alle, die ihr eigenes Finanzverhalten besser verstehen möchten, sich selbst besser kennenlernen. Sei es, weil sie zu viel Geld ausgeben, Geldthemen vermeiden oder Schuldgefühle bei finanziellem Erfolg haben. Es ist besonders wertvoll für Menschen, die die unbewussten Muster hinter ihren Geldentscheidungen erkennen und verändern möchten. Aber auch für psychologisch Interessierte sowie für Fachleute in Beratung und Therapie bietet es tiefgehende Einblicke. Wer bereit ist, sich mit der emotionalen Dimension von Geld auseinanderzusetzen, wird hier wichtige Impulse finden.

Fazit
★★★★☆
Insgesamt ist es ein empfehlenswertes Buch für alle, die sich intensiver mit der psychologischen Dimension ihres Finanzverhaltens auseinandersetzen möchten. Trotz der Vernachlässigung der gesellschaftlichen Dimension überzeugt es durch persönliche Nähe und psychologischen Tiefgang. Ich bewerte das Buch mit BB+, was hier 4 Sternen entspricht.


Bildquelle: Deine Psyche, dein Umgang mit Geld und du

[Cleon · Rating 5 out of 5]

"Money on Your Mind" by Vicky Reynal offers remarkable insights into human behavior surrounding our financial habits.

The author convincingly surfaces a key paradox: “it's never about the money.” Our financial habits - conscious or not, constructive or destructive - are manifestations of past trauma, which Gabor Maté defines as "what happens inside you as a result of what happens to you."

Feeling neglected by our parents can cause us to seek dependence on them as adults.
Feeling overshadowed by a sibling can lead us to fight extra hard for our share of inheritance.
Perceiving rich people as unfairly advantaged can induce guilt when we achieve wealth ourselves.
Experiencing financial instability in childhood can result in hoarding money or possessions.
Being rewarded with money for good behavior can create a lifelong association between self-worth and financial success.
Witnessing parental conflicts over money can make us avoid financial discussions in our relationships.

This book made me introspect like few others. It will make you uncomfortable...but stick with it.

Reynal concludes with humility, acknowledging that understanding the roots of our financial habits is not a simple journey. Even with profound self-reflection, we may only glimpse "what can be seen from a keyhole of the room that is our mind."

[Laila Alodaat · Rating 3 out of 5]

Informative but failed to address the intersectional nature of economic and financial concerns for the majority of population. Completely oblivious to the gendered and racialised experience of money.

[Reader · Rating 5 out of 5]

Great book with a deeper approach on why we act the way we do with our money and the origins of those behaviours. Very insightful! Brings up many topics and surprising connections between our life experiences and our own relationship with money

[Iryna Tokarchuk · Rating 4 out of 5]

Great non-fiction book about money, written by an experienced therapist. While it leans more toward psychological perspectives, it’s still an engaging read for anyone who has felt tension around money topics. This book won’t necessarily answer why you have certain financial struggles in daily life or how to resolve them — in fact, you may walk away with even more questions. But it’s great for reflection on a wide range of money-related topics, from personal and impersonal dynamics to salary, overspending, hoarding, and financial relationships within families and friendships.

I’d definitely recommend it if you’re into psychology books — but don’t expect to find here all the money-answers.

[Thomas H · Rating 5 out of 5]

Really enjoyable read. A lot of relatable anecdotes that will leave you with questions around your own experiences with money.

The book looks at how our early experiences of money can develop into future attitudes like overspending, self sabotage, super saving etc. Also explores what these attitudes can look like in relationships.

Definitely one to read if you want to reflect on your own relationship with money.

[M. · Rating 5 out of 5]

It was a good read.

[Alina · Rating 5 out of 5]

4,5 🌟
I loved the psychological, in-depth approach to money and I felt I got a lot of insight into my own spending, and also a lot of knowledge over the psychology of spending in general.

[Mary · Rating 4 out of 5]

Fascinating, always interesting to see how our minds work. For an area of life that needs to be dealt with every day , it doesn't attract the importance it requires.

[Justina Lee · Rating 3 out of 5]

I think this book achieve what it sets out to achieve which is highlighting that your spending habit goes beyond who you are. It could stem from insecurities and your upbringing. Each topic covers pretty similar spending patterns but it explores individuals’ motivation in-depth. The book explores various case studies on individuals and their struggles. Reading these stories feels like I am reading notes taken down by a psychologist during sessions and his patients.

This book does not provide anymore insights to the issues experience by its readers but rather, providing cues to the readers to explore in their own time.

[Richard Jenkins · Rating 5 out of 5]

It's rare to find a book both thoughtful and accessible, and this is one on a really difficult subject. I've found this useful personally, in my practice and in recommending it to others. The book aims to trace the ways in which early experiences and intimate relationships get played out in later life. I found the case studies and personal experiences really helpful in showing how money related issues and patterns are often replays of early relationships, which awareness can help unblock.

[Irene · Rating 5 out of 5]

Loved it I found it very useful and clear. Practical examples and useful information. I have gifted it already to several friends who benefited from reading it.

[Carina · Rating 4 out of 5]

A very uncomfortable mirror to look into when it comes to my financial habits 🪞

As with so much of our behaviours, they are shaped by our childhood's and this applies to our view of money and finances as well.

I'd recommend this to anyone who has identified an abnormal or unusual money behaviour, for me it has been financial overspending that inflates alongside my increasing success - tied in with self sabotage to boot. This book helped me stare into the depths of my behaviour and I'm already making changes to how I behave and handle my success and finances.

In short, a worthy read!