If you’ve been stressing about money, you’re not alone. According to a study by Thrive Wallet, 90% of Americans are stressed about their finances. When it comes to dealing with money-related stress, we all have techniques that can either hurt us or help us.
How we cope with financial stress is often rooted in our personalities and leads us to create what is known as financial stress archetypes. These archetypes are like your alter ego: a cluster of habits and thoughts you’ve created around money. If you’re wondering which archetype applies to you, here’s how to figure it out.
Why Knowing Your Financial Stress Archetype Matters
Thinking about your money situation, you might believe that if you had more money, you wouldn’t be stressed. Perhaps you blame capitalism for your obsession with money. While having more money would certainly solve some problems, and being bombarded with advertisements is overwhelming, most money struggles run deeper.
How we think about and react to money ultimately determines whether we build wealth or remain stuck. By identifying which behaviors are keeping your bank account in the two-digit range, you can start making better decisions. If you’ve failed at budgeting or saving, your archetype may be part of the reason why.
Let’s break down the five most common financial stress archetypes and how you can move from shame to success.
Archetype 1: The Avoider
It’s the middle of the month, and your credit card bill arrives. You open it, skim the pages, and land on the current balance. Your eyes nearly pop out of their sockets. You’re shocked by how much you owe, and your mind races to remember what you spent money on.
With your stomach in knots, you toss the statement aside, telling yourself you’ll deal with it later.
If this sounds familiar, you might be an avoider. Avoiders tend to:
- Ignore bills or account balances
- Delay budgeting or financial planning
- Take an overall “that’s tomorrow’s problem” attitude
You might be this way because:
- Money was never well-explained to you, so it feels overwhelming
- You’ve made a costly financial mistake in the past
- You’ve experienced a traumatic event related to money
Avoidance feels safer than confronting the problem, but bills still need to be paid, and accounts can’t remain overdrawn forever.
How to help yourself:
- Automate payments: Set up automatic bill payments so you don’t have to think about them.
- Pair money tasks with rewards: Do your budget while listening to your favorite music or treat yourself to a snack afterward. Associating money management with something positive can help reduce avoidance.
Archetype 2: The Over-Spender
Retail therapy is a well-known practice for a reason: shopping can make us feel good. Buying a new pair of shoes once in a while is fine, but constantly buying shirts you never wear or gadgets you never use can create poor spending habits.
Overspenders tend to:
- Shop to cope with emotions
- Feel restricted by a budget
- Feel guilty after purchases, but repeat the cycle
You might overspend because shopping gives you a sense of control, relieves stress, or boosts low self-esteem.
How to help yourself:
- Identify your triggers: Do you shop after arguing with your partner or when you have a work deadline?
- Create a calming list: Keep a list of relaxing activities to try before making a purchase.
- Practice intentional spending: Give yourself a 24–48 hour waiting period for non-essential purchases. If you’re still thinking about that perfume you sampled, use that waiting time to budget for that expense.
Archetype 3: The Hoarder (The Saver)
There’s nothing wrong with saving money, but if your fear of spending is so strong that you avoid even necessary purchases, it may be a problem.
Signs you might be hoarding money:
- You debate every purchase, even for essentials
- You have plenty saved, but feel it’s never enough
- Your cuticles are worn out because you can’t justify spending money on a manicure or any other treat for yourself.
This behavior might come from childhood scarcity, past financial loss, or general anxiety about the future.
How to help yourself:
- Do the math: List your monthly expenses and compare them to your savings. If your savings exceed your monthly expenses, pat yourself on the back.
- Know your target: Aim for at least three months’ worth of expenses in your emergency fund. Once you’ve hit that, allow yourself to spend on things that add value to your life.
Archetype 4: The Overwhelmed Analyzer
You’ve read the books, downloaded the budget templates, and researched investments — but you never take action.
Signs you might be an overwhelmed analyzer:
- Taking a long time to make financial decisions
- Putting off tasks like opening a savings account or investing
- Avoiding purchases out of fear of making a mistake
Perfectionism often drives this behavior, but money management doesn’t have to be perfect.
How to help yourself:
- Start small: Open a savings account or invest $5.
- Embrace imperfection: Mistakes are part of the process, and money can be regained.
Archetype 5: The Hustler
Cue the Jay-Z song, “ I’m a hustler baby, and I just want you to know.” Our culture glorifies the hustle. You may be proud of working multiple jobs and side hustles in pursuit of financial goals, but you’re also exhausted.
Other signs you might be a hustler:
- Your self-worth is tied to your income
- You rarely rest or take time off
- You are never satisfied with doing the minimum
How to help yourself:
- Redefine wealth: Include time, peace, and energy in your definition.
- Focus on joyful income streams: Work on projects that energize you.
- Set boundaries: Schedule time for both work and fun.
Which Archetype Are You?
You might identify with one archetype or a mix of several. Whether you’re an overspender, analyzer, or hustler, you can improve your relationship with money. Start small, choose one behavior to change, and work on it until it becomes a habit.
How you think and feel about money shapes your actions. Fixing your relationship with it can lead to financial stability, balance, and peace of mind.
