Am I Actually Getting Better with Money?
Acknowledge emotional and behavioral signs of financial progress beyond just your bank balance; they reflect your growth.
You’ve been trying to handle money better for weeks or months. But when you look at your bank account, you wonder if anything’s actually changed.
But, you’re looking in the wrong place because your bank balance is usually the last place progress shows up.
Real change happens first in how you feel and what you do. And those matter more than you think.
The Signs You’re Actually Growing
You check your accounts without dread. Maybe you still feel nervous, but you’re not avoiding it for days anymore. You open the app, which is huge.
You pause before buying. Even for a second. You used to click “buy now” on autopilot. Now there’s a moment where you ask “Do I actually want this?” You don’t always say no, but that’s not the point. The pause itself is progress.
Money thoughts don’t spiral as much. You still worry sometimes. But it doesn’t take over your whole day like it used to. The anxiety has an end point now.
You know what you spent money on this week. Not perfectly. Not tracking every penny. But you have a general sense of where your money went. That awareness is everything.
The Quiet Wins That Count
You stayed within your spending plan for eating out three weeks this month. That’s not failure; hat’s three times you made intentional choices.
You have $200 more in savings than six months ago. Or $50. Or $10. The number matters less than the fact that it’s moving in the right direction, even slowly.
You talked about money with someone you trust without feeling crushing shame. You said the real number out loud.
You made a financial mistake and didn’t use it as evidence that you’re hopeless. You just thought “okay, what happened?” and moved on. That’s massive growth.
What You’re Really Measuring
Financial progress isn’t about perfection. It’s about direction. You can check your progress by asking these questions:
Are you slightly less anxious than last month?
Are you making more intentional choices than automatic ones (besides saving)
Are you facing your finances instead of hiding from them?
The bank balance will catch up. But first, your relationship with money has to change. And that’s happening in small moments you might not even notice.
When you start looking for the right signs such as less avoidance, more awareness, and intentional choices instead of autopilot, you’ll see you’re probably doing better than you thought.
Progress is happening in the pause before you spend, the prayer before you check your balance, the moment you choose not to shame yourself for a mistake.
That’s getting better with money.
This content is for educational purposes only and should not be construed as financial or therapeutic advice. Consider speaking with qualified professionals for personalized guidance.