‘Money mindset’ is one of those terms that gets thrown around a lot. And honestly, It’s easy to assume it’s nonsense, or maybe even a bit on the toxic hustle culture side. But here’s the truth: the way you feel and act when it comes to money – your ability to make it, manage it, keep it – is almost entirely shaped by what your brain already believes to be true.
And most of those beliefs? They’re not even yours…
They’re shaped by your parents, your childhood, that one teacher, what society taught you, your culture, social media, what you think you should believe. And these beliefs around money often form before you’ve even hit 7 years old. Let’s untangle it.
What actually is money mindset?
It’s the collection of stories and beliefs you hold (consciously and subconsciously) about money.
It’s not just “I want to earn more.” It’s:
- Do I believe I can actually hold onto money?
- Do I believe I’m capable of managing money well?
- Do I think money is safe to have?
- Do I believe my business can make consistent income… And that I’m worthy of receiving it?
And you might not even realise you have these beliefs. You might be nodding along to money strategies on Instagram and thinking, “Yes, that makes sense,” but when it comes to actually implementing, fear kicks in. The shame, the overwhelm, the head-in-the-sand avoidance creeps back in.
It’s not because you’re lazy or “bad with money”. It’s because your brain, and everything it believes, is trying to protect you. Why?
Where do these money mindset beliefs come from?
Your money beliefs are formed mostly before the age of 7. Seven!! That’s when your brain is basically a sponge, taking in every financial interaction and turning it into long-term beliefs. Did your family argue about money? Was there never quite enough? Were you told “we can’t afford that” on repeat?
Even if your household was financially stable, you might’ve absorbed beliefs around scarcity, guilt, or fear. Maybe you went to private school, but knew your family had to really stretch to make that happen. Maybe you saw a parent go through redundancy, get fired, or struggle to find a job. These experiences sink in, and unless you rewire them, they stay running the show.
Your brain forms neural pathways around these stories, and then looks for more evidence to confirm them.
“I’m bad with money.”
“Money always runs out, I better spend it all while it’s here.”
“I’ll never be able to save.”
“My business isn’t stable enough.”
These become fact in your brain, even when they’re not true.
How do you change your money mindset?
This is where most people go wrong: they think they need to think their way into a better mindset. Positive affirmations, vision boards, journaling “I’m abundant” 50 times.
I’m not knocking those tools. But without evidence, your brain isn’t buying it.
That’s why I teach financial systems first, because the fastest way to rewire your beliefs about money is to show your brain something different. You need proof that you’re capable. You need to track your income, pay yourself consistently, build savings, and look at the numbers without spiralling.
Only then do the stories start to change.
You go from “I’m terrible with money” to “Hey, I’ve saved £2,000.”
You go from “I can’t stick to a budget” to “I’ve covered my expenses for three months in a row.”
That’s mindset and evidence working together.
Mindset is shaped on evidence
Your money mindset isn’t just a vibe… It’s a set of beliefs shaped by your past, running in your subconscious, and silently dictating how you show up in your business.
You don’t need to fix your mindset before you fix your finances.
You fix your mindset by fixing your finances.
That’s what we do inside Cashflow Confident. We build the simple systems that help you stop avoiding money and start building evidence that you can do this.
Just take a look at the proof here.
I’d love to see you on the list.
– Emilie x
Read “Why Six Months of Saving Still Doesn’t Feel Like Enough”
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