How Subconscious Beliefs Shape Financial Behaviour & The Path to Money Confidence
Where Money Beliefs Come From
Our relationship with money doesn’t start when we open our first bank account or earn our first salary. It begins much earlier, shaped by the experiences, messages and emotions we absorb throughout childhood. Whether we saw money as a source of stress, a tool for freedom, or something that was always scarce, these early influences form the foundation of our financial beliefs.
Many of us unknowingly carry these beliefs into adulthood, allowing them to dictate how we spend, save, invest, or even talk about money. If you grew up in a household where financial conversations were tense or avoided altogether, you may find yourself repeating the same avoidance behaviours. If you were told, “Money doesn’t grow on trees”, you might have internalised a scarcity mindset, making it difficult to believe in your own ability to build wealth.
The problem isn’t that we have money beliefs, it’s that we don’t always question them. And when they operate beneath the surface, they influence our financial decisions in ways we don’t realise, often creating self-sabotaging habits that keep us stuck.
From Subconscious Beliefs to Conscious Decisions
Our financial habits, whether they involve overspending, undercharging, or avoiding financial planning, are rarely just about the numbers. They are the result of how confident we feel in handling money. Someone who believes they’re “bad with money” may shy away from checking their bank account, missing opportunities to take control. A business owner who doubts their worth may consistently undercharge for their services, reinforcing a cycle of financial struggle.
This is where Money Confidence comes in. Money Confidence is more than financial literacy, it’s the ability to make financial decisions with clarity, self-trust, and a sense of control. It means knowing that you are capable of managing money well, even when faced with financial challenges. It’s the difference between feeling powerless over money and feeling empowered by it.
Many people set financial goals, such as to save more, invest smarter, earn more, but fail to achieve them because they haven’t addressed the underlying beliefs that drive their behaviours. You can set a goal to save £500 a month, but if your subconscious belief is “I never have enough money“, you will unconsciously find ways to spend that money before it reaches your savings account.
Rewiring Your Money Mindset
The good news is that financial beliefs aren’t set in stone. We can rewrite the money narratives that no longer serve us and build new ones that align with financial confidence, security and success. The first step is recognising your money story. Understanding where your financial beliefs come from, helps uncover the invisible patterns shaping your current behaviours. Think back to the messages you received about money growing up. Were they positive or negative? Did they encourage a sense of control or a feeling of limitation?
Once you recognise these beliefs, the next step is to challenge the ones that hold you back. Not all money beliefs are true. The belief “I’m bad with money“ is not a fact, it’s a story you’ve told yourself based on past experiences. Instead of accepting it, question it. Ask yourself whether this belief is serving you. If not, it’s time to let it go.
Replacing limiting beliefs with empowering ones is essential to developing Money Confidence. Reframing how you talk about money can make a significant difference. Instead of saying, “I’ll never be financially secure“, shift your language to “I am learning how to build financial security.” Instead of “Money is stressful,” start affirming that “I am developing a confident relationship with money.“ The way we speak about money directly impacts how we behave with it. When we repeat negative statements, we reinforce negative behaviours. When we shift our language, we give ourselves permission to act differently.
Building Money Confidence is also about taking small, consistent actions that reinforce trust in yourself. Checking your bank balance without fear, negotiating a salary increase, setting a realistic budget, each step strengthens the belief that you are capable of managing money well. The more you take control, the more confident you become. Confidence is built through action, and the more you engage with your finances, the more empowered you will feel.
Surrounding yourself with financially confident role models can accelerate this transformation. Money Confidence is contagious. When you engage with people who approach money with clarity and self-trust, it challenges your own limiting beliefs. Observing financially confident individuals, learning from their habits, and adopting their mindset can help shift your perspective. Seeking mentorship, engaging in financial education and actively managing money with intention all help replace old narratives with empowering ones.
The Power of Money Confidence in Financial Decision-Making
Financial wellbeing isn’t just about having more money, it’s about having the confidence to manage money in a way that supports your goals and values. It’s about making financial decisions without fear, shame, or hesitation. When you develop Money Confidence, you stop feeling intimidated by financial conversations. You stop undercharging, under-saving, or avoiding your finances. Instead, you step into a place of ownership over your financial future.
Understanding the psychology of money is the first step toward real financial transformation. When you rewrite your money beliefs and strengthen your Money Confidence, financial decisions become intentional, wealth-building opportunities become clearer, and money becomes a tool for freedom, not a source of stress. When you change how you think about money, you change what’s possible for your financial future.
This shift is about more than just numbers, it’s about stepping into a financial identity that supports growth, security, and success. Developing Money Confidence is a process, but every step you take moves you closer to financial freedom, stability, and a future where money works for you, not against you.
Lesley Thomas, is the founder of The Money Confidence Academy and host of the Let’s Talk Money and More podcast.
For more information visit, www.themoneyconfidenceacdemy.com, to find out more about Lesley, her coaching and resources. Or connect with her on Linkedin
www.linkedin.com/in/lesley-thomas
Tune into the ‘ Let’s Talk Money and more’ podcast, to hear from Lesley and her guests, talking everything money, mindset and financial growth.
