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Our Brain on Money Scripts

Our Brain on Money Scripts

What if the reason we keep screwing up with money... has nothing to do with math?

Chris (Loogie) Luger
August 08, 2025

This week on The Extreme Personal Finance Show, I sat down with money psychology expert, CFP®, and certified badass Hanna Horvath, creator of Your Brain on Money. We talked about how your unconscious money beliefs—the ones formed when you were three years old—are still controlling your adult wallet.

Let that sink in.

Key Takeaways From the Episode:

Money Isn’t Math—It’s Emotion.

We’ve all heard the advice: “Save more. Budget better. Stop buying $6 lattes.”
But here's the truth: if logic was enough, we’d all be rich.
Money is not just spreadsheets. It’s emotion. Identity. Childhood baggage.

“Money isn’t a math problem. It’s a human problem.”

What’s a Money Script?

These are the unconscious beliefs you picked up as a kid:

“I’m bad with money.”
“There’s never enough.”
“Rich people are greedy.”
“I’ll never get ahead, so why even try?”

These beliefs drive our behavior until we shine a light on them.

Gen Z Is Freaking Out—and for Good Reason.

They’ve grown up comparing themselves to Instagram influencers flexing Lambos and private jets they probably don’t even own. So yeah, some think you need $500k/year just to be “financially successful.”
Result? Doom spending. Financial nihilism. Delayed adulthood.

“If the American Dream is dead… it’s time to write a new one.”

Money Anxiety Is Real (and Common)

From compulsively checking your bank account to avoiding money entirely, anxiety shows up in weird ways. You’re not broken. You’re reacting to a system built to make you feel like you’re never enough.

“If you’re struggling with money, it’s not a character flaw. It’s a normal response to a system designed to mess with your head.”

Action Steps: Rewire Your Money Mind

If this hit home, here’s how you start breaking the cycle:

1. Ask yourself:

What did your parents teach you about money—explicitly or implicitly?
What early money memories shaped your view of saving, spending, or earning?
What financial behaviors do you repeat that no longer serve you?

2. Get Clear on Your Values.

Figure out what actually matters to you. Then align your budget around that. (Spoiler: You don’t have to give up your overpriced latte if it brings joy and connection.)