What Are Money Blocks? Here are 5 Action Steps To Remove Them

What Are Money Blocks?

The importance of challenging money blocks

Money is a critical aspect of our lives, and it is natural to want to have more of it. However, many people struggle to achieve financial stability and wealth, even when they work hard and make good financial decisions. One factor that may be holding them back is their money blocks.

Money blocks are those negative beliefs about money that are deep in your subconscious mind, and they limit your ability to achieve financial goals. These money beliefs can be deeply ingrained and may stem from childhood experiences or societal messages about money. Money blocks can manifest in various ways, such as overspending, avoiding financial decisions, or experiencing guilty feelings about money.

Identifying and overcoming common money blocks is essential for achieving financial freedom. By understanding the root causes of our limiting beliefs and working to change them, we can free ourselves from financial constraints and create a more abundant life.

In this article, I’ll explain what money blocks are, how they can affect your finances, and what you can do to overcome them.

Let’s get started.

What are money blocks?

The concept of money blocks refers to the negative beliefs and emotions that we hold about money, which can prevent us from achieving financial success.

These beliefs and emotions can be deeply ingrained and may stem from past experiences, cultural conditioning, or childhood upbringing. They can result in anxiety about money and create an aversion to wealth.

Examples of subconscious money blocks can include beliefs such as “money is the root of all evil,” “I am not good enough to manage money,” or “I can’t be spiritual and rich at the same time.” These beliefs can lead to self-sabotaging behaviors around money, such as bad spending patterns, procrastination, or behaviors of money avoidance.

These unhelpful beliefs about money can manifest in different ways in your everyday life, and they can affect anyone regardless of their income level or financial situation. Some examples of the biggest money blocks include procrastination, fear of success, and a lack of confidence in managing finances.

In real life, this could look like setting up a budget but then not following it. Or, creating a savings plan but then overspending. Many times a person can have good intentions with their money, but then self-sabotage their efforts.

It’s important to recognize and address your subconscious money blocks in order to overcome them and achieve your financial goals. This can involve identifying the negative beliefs and emotions that are holding you back, challenging them with positive affirmations and actions, increasing financial literacy, and seeking support from a financial coach or therapist.

Breaking through your negative beliefs around money can be a challenging process, but it’s an essential step towards achieving financial freedom. By recognizing and addressing those limiting beliefs that are negatively affecting your personal finance situation, you can create a healthier attitude about finances and unlock your full potential for financial success.

How are money blocks created in the mind?

We all develop beliefs as children through the influence of our parents, teachers, friends and environment. Our young, impressionable minds naturally interpret the words and actions of those we trust as truth we must adhere to. By the time we reach adulthood, those beliefs have developed at a subconscious level and can drive our decisions in different areas of life.

This is true for relationships, religion, education, and yes – even money.

Unfortunately, the influences we were subject to as kids were not always positive. Sometimes those experiences will create unhealthy ideas about money that keep us from experiencing our best lives.

Whether you grew up in a family with an abundance of money, or you were always scraping by, your money blocks start developing when you’re young. The messages you internalized as a child can ultimately lead you down a dead-end path in your adult life. The hard part is that many times you won’t even realize you’re aligning your actions with these negative beliefs.

For example, if your parents often fought about money, you may experience some anxiety when talking about finances with your spouse. Or, if you grew up in a poor family but went to a school in an affluent neighborhood, you might think you don’t deserve to have financial security.

On the other hand, if you witnessed your parents having productive and meaningful conversations about money on a regular basis, you probably are very comfortable talking about money.

We often don’t have control over which messages we receive as children, because we can’t choose our parents or teachers or where we live. This is why it is critical to challenge your beliefs as an adult, to ensure you are operating out of an abundant mindset that will help you achieve everything you want in life.

Here are just a few ways money blocks can be formed as subconscious beliefs:

  • Childhood experiences: Negative experiences with money during childhood, such as growing up in poverty or witnessing a constant struggle with money, can create deep-seated beliefs about finances that persist into adulthood. Your parent’s bad decisions may still be influencing your personal money story and beliefs about wealth.
  • Family and cultural beliefs: Beliefs about money, negative money stories, and poor money habits that are passed down from family members or cultural norms can be limiting and keep individuals from achieving financial success.
  • Fear: Fear of failure, fear of success, fear of losing money, or fear of making money mistakes can all contribute to money blocks. Any anxiety around money can keep you stuck in a scarcity mindset.
  • Self-doubt: A lack of self-confidence can lead individuals to avoid taking risks or pursuing opportunities that could lead to financial success.
  • Limiting beliefs: Beliefs such as “money is the root of all evil” or “rich people are greedy” can create negative associations with money and limit one’s ability to accumulate wealth.

It’s important to identify the root causes of your money blocks in order to overcome them. This may require some introspection and self-reflection, but it can ultimately lead to a healthier and more positive relationship with money.

How can I tell if I have money blocks?

A good way to tell if you’re struggling with limiting mindset blocks around money is if you feel stuck in your current financial situation.

Maybe you’re taking the right steps towards saving more money or getting out of debt, but you don’t seem to be making any progress. Every time you think you’re getting one step ahead, you end up taking two steps back. This can be very frustrating, especially when you have the desire to succeed.

Another big clue that you have money blocks holding you back is when you’re close to reaching a goal but then you make a poor decision that keeps you from it. This usually indicates a fear of success because you don’t believe you’re capable of it or deserve it.

When you’re challenged with money blocks, you’ll often process information with what’s known as confirmation bias. This means you seek out and interpret information so it supports your beliefs and values.

So, if you believe that you’ll never get out of debt, you’ll interpret your circumstances to support this belief. Then, you’ll act out on that belief by sabotaging any efforts to pay off your debt. You will make decisions that prove your own negative belief so you can prove you’re right. It’s a vicious cycle.

Here are a few common signs that you may be experiencing money blocks:

  • Frequent feelings of jealousy and bitterness: If you find yourself frequently comparing your financial situation to others and feeling envious or resentful, this may be a sign of a money block.
  • Hoarding what you do have: If you have trouble spending money on things that you need or want, and instead hold onto it tightly, this could be a sign of a money block. This is a clear indication of a scarcity mindset, which will keep you from a healthy relationship with money.
  • Refusing to invest in yourself: If you are hesitant to invest in your own personal or professional growth, this also may be a sign of a money block.

These signs can be indicators of deeper issues that are preventing you from achieving financial success. It’s important to recognize them and take steps toward an abundance mindset in order to overcome your money blocks.

The good news is that most people struggle to some degree with money blocks, but are successful at identifying and overcoming them.

Let’s go over a few simple steps you can take to break down your money blocks and start reaching your goals. Later, I’ll list some common money blocks that might be holding you back.

5 Steps to Overcome Money Blocks

Overcoming any type of money block is not an easy task, but it is possible with the right mindset and approach. In fact, you’ve already begun the process by learning what they are! This will help you build the self-awareness necessary to identify your limiting beliefs.

Here are 5 actionable steps to help you create a more positive attitude towards money:

1. Identify your money blocks

The first step in overcoming your money blocks is to identify them in your daily life.

Take some time to reflect on your attitude towards money and success. Are they serving you, or are they limiting you?

Write down your thoughts and beliefs about money and look for patterns. Look for the money blocks listed later in this post that you identify with.

2. Challenge your money mindset beliefs

Once you have identified your money blocks, it’s time to challenge them.

Ask yourself if your beliefs are based on facts or just assumptions. Look for evidence in your past money experiences that supports or contradicts your beliefs.

This will help you gain a more accurate perspective on your financial situation and help you come up with more positive, alternative beliefs.

3. Get support with your finances

Working with a financial coach or advisor can help you overcome your money blocks and improve money management. They can help you identify your limiting beliefs and create a plan to overcome them.

In addition, they can provide you with the tools and resources you need to improve your spending habits and create realistic money goals.

If you don’t have access to a financial advisor, there are many websites, podcasts, and YouTube channels that provide personal finance education for free (including this one!). Also, your local public library is a great resource to learn more about good money management and building wealth.

4. Take action

Overcoming your unresolved money blocks requires action.

Start by setting financial goals and creating a budget. Here are a few posts on Finance Over Fifty that may help you:

This will help you stay focused and motivated. Remember, small steps lead to big changes.

5. Practice gratitude

Practicing gratitude can help you shift your focus from what you don’t have to what you do have. This can help you feel more positive and optimistic about your financial situation and lead a more fulfilling and happy life. Take some time each day to reflect on what you are grateful for.

Remember, overcoming your money blocks is a process. It takes time, effort, and patience. But with the right mindset and approach, you can overcome your limiting beliefs and achieve financial success.

15 money blocks that can keep you from success

Below is a list of 15 money blocks to help you start identifying those that you might need to replace in your own money mindset.

As you read through each one, take note of any that you identify with.

1. “I’m terrible with money”

A major money block that will keep you from financial success is giving in to the idea that you’re just not good with money.

Maybe you’ve made some mistakes in the past, or you think you’re not disciplined enough to manage your money well. Therefore, you think you just don’t have what it takes to get better at handling your finances.

Blaming your personality for your money struggles is an easy excuse to not try harder. However, it’s not a sound argument to keep practicing bad money habits.

Anybody can learn to budget and save money if they set their mind to it. It might be more challenging for some, but it’s not impossible. You must determine what your priorities are and what you’re willing to do to reach your goals.

2. “I’m not smart enough to build wealth”

If you’ve been living paycheck to paycheck for a long time, you may have developed this very deceiving money block. You don’t think you have the intelligence or intuition to “crack the wealth code.”

Maybe you see friends and family experiencing greater financial success and it seems so easy for them. But, as much as you try, your efforts never seem to amount to anything. This leads you to believe that there’s some secret knowledge to building wealth that you’ll never figure out.

Don’t let this money block keep you from achieving your goals. Find someone who’s had the success your seeking and ask them to mentor you. There is no secret to building wealth – you just need to take the right steps consistently over time.

3. “It’s out of my control”

This money block is often evident in those who complain about their lack of income or financial opportunities. They shift the blame for their money struggles to their employer, the economy, parents, government, etc.

The fact is, each one of us are ultimately responsible for our financial situations. If you’re always trying to shift this responsibility to other external sources, you may subconsciously believe you are just a victim of your circumstances and powerless over your life.

This mindset will keep you stuck in a scarcity mindset and victim mentality.

4. “I’m okay with where I’m at”

Some people are very resistant to believing they deserve more in life. They fool themselves into accepting their current money struggles as just a “way of life” and so they learn to live with it.

This really comes down to a lack of self-value and self-confidence. You keep your expectations low so you’re not disappointed or feel like a failure.

This money block will keep you from taking risks and dreaming big. If you get stuck in this mindset, you’ll never achieve your best life.

5. “Money is evil”

Some people will get stuck in an unhealthy money mindset because they believe that wanting or having a lot of money is unethical.

The fact is, money is just a neutral tool that can be used for good or bad. It’s not the money itself that creates greed, selfishness, or corruption. It’s the person who’s given control over that money that determines whether the results are positive or negative.

Consider all of the good things you could do if you had more money. Like, donating to your favorite charities, getting a better education for your kids, or moving to a safer neighborhood. In the right hands, money can be a powerful agent of positive change.

6. “I’m afraid to have more money”

Yes, some people actually believe this. It’s a fear of the unknown, of the worst happening, or of making irrecoverable mistakes.

This money block can trick you into thinking you’re actually being responsible by limiting your income. Less money equals fewer problems and lower risk, which means a less complicated life.

You can also be convinced that more money will cause your closest relationships to change. Either some will no longer want to be your friend, or you fear others will try to take advantage of you.

Don’t let fear keep you from building your dream life. Besides, research tells us that over 90% of what people worry about never comes to pass!

7. “I don’t have the education for a better-paying job”

Many people hold themselves back from greater wealth because they don’t have a college degree or advanced training. So, they keep themselves in low-paying jobs, convinced that this is all they’re qualified for.

In this internet-age, side-hustle world we live in, there has never been a better opportunity to increase your income without needing to pay for college.

Pursuing a career such as a content writer, YouTube creator, social media manager, or website designer has the potential to create an extra income stream of over $40k a year.

There are also many more traditional options to make a great salary even without a higher degree. You just need to do a little research and find that opportunity you’d like to pursue.

Check out this chart of 80 jobs that pay over $50k a year without a degree.

8. “I need to give more”

While some have money blocks that prevent them from making more money, there are others who struggle with giving too much away.

This can happen when someone believes it is their duty to fund the needs (or wants) of others at their own expense.

Giving to those in need is an important part of a healthy money mindset. But, if you feel compelled to give beyond your means, then there may be an imbalance that is preventing you from building financial security.

Another way this money block can present itself is when someone feels obligated to spend a lot on vacations, gifts, education, etc. in order to make someone else happy. If you’re spending beyond what you can afford, this will result in debt that can take years to pay off.

Paying yourself first, saving for your future, and making your goals a priority will actually help you to be a more generous giver later on. You must first focus on your own financial well-being.

9. “Rich people are crooks”

Blanket statements like this keep someone in a black and white mentality that prevents them from fully understanding the world around them.

The reality is, there are some wealthy people who are dishonest. But, there are many who have a high sense of integrity and are very generous with their wealth.

If you let a bias like this keep you from building wealth, then you may want to ask yourself what kind of person you would be if you were rich. Because, this is the only answer you need to know.

10. “I avoid dealing with money matters” (aka money avoidance)

Do you avoid making a budget, looking at credit card and bank statements, or paying your bills on time?

If so, you may be challenged with the money block called “money avoidance”.

Money avoiders who put off dealing with their finances often experience anxiety around money matters. They don’t want to face the reality of their financial situation because they’re afraid of what they’ll find.

However, ongoing money avoidance can lead to serious consequences. Debt balances can get out of control, your house can go into foreclosure, and you can even be forced into bankruptcy.

11. “I’ve made too many mistakes”

This is a common money block that will keep you from achieving your goals. The regret and guilt you feel from past financial mistakes will convince you that it’s too late for you to reach financial freedom.

When we keep looking back to our past, we’ll miss the opportunities we have right in front of us. Letting your past define your future will keep you from reaching your full financial potential, and trap you in a cycle of decisions based on low self-worth and doubt.

No matter what decisions you’ve made in the past, you can take control to create a better future.

12. “My self-worth is in my net worth” (aka money status)

There are many people who perceive wealth as a status symbol, and believe their value is based on their bank account balance.

People with money status scripts can fall for the lie that your self-worth depends on your net worth.

This money block can lead to living beyond your means and going into debt in order to convince others that you are wealthier than you really are. The motivation behind these poor financial decisions is to gain the respect and admiration of those around you.

However, many people who struggle with this false mindset can become financially dependent on others because of overspending and gambling.

13. “I need more money to be truly happy” (aka money worship)

This money block is a limiting belief that more money leads to more happiness. It’s also known as “money worship” because it idolizes money as a source that leads to ultimate fulfillment and success.

Money worshippers will often hoard their money, for fear of running out. Because they find their security and happiness in money, they feel the need to hold onto as much as they can. This prevents them from making wise investment decisions or being a generous giver.

It also drives them to work too much in order to build up their savings. Unfortunately, this can negatively affect important relationships and mental health.

14. “I’ll always be broke”

This defeating money mindset often stems from generational poverty. If you’ve always known your family to be broke from generation to generation, you assume that’s your destiny as well.

When you are stuck in a scarcity mentality cycle, you believe you do not have the ability to break out of poverty and achieve financial freedom. This blinds you to those opportunities that are available to you.

15. “Money is for saving, not enjoying”

Those who are money vigilant have mastered the discipline of saving their money. This is a powerful habit that can build wealth and lead to financial independence.

However, sometimes this practice can turn into an unhealthy compulsion which can lead to anxiety around financial matters and an avoidance to enjoy wealth.

This money block can lead to extreme frugality, financial stress, and distrust toward others. Being overly money vigilant will disrupt a healthy balance between spending and saving.

Conclusion

Money mindset blocks are mental and emotional obstacles that can prevent financial success in your life. These blocks are often beliefs that control the way you think about money and behave with money. They can manifest in different ways, such as a fear of earning more money, a lack of confidence in managing money, or a belief that money is evil.

However, by identifying and addressing your money blocks, you can develop a healthier relationship with money and achieve financial success in your personal life.

Some practical ideas to clear your money blocks include:

  • Identifying your biggest blocks and challenging them with positive affirmations
  • Reading personal finance books
  • Creating better financial habits
  • Tracking your expenses and creating a budget to gain control of your finances
  • Visualizing your financial goals and taking small steps towards achieving them
  • Seeking support from a financial advisor, coach, or therapist to overcome your money blocks

Remember, clearing those major money blocks is a process that requires patience, persistence, and a willingness to change.

With the right mindset and tools, you can overcome your money blocks and create the ideal life of financial abundance and freedom you desire.

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What Are Money Blocks? Here are 5 Action Steps To Remove Them

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