First Psychology blog

Have you ever wondered why spending money can feel like a quick fix when you’re feeling down? Whether it’s treating yourself to a new outfit or booking a spontaneous holiday, spending can provide a temporary emotional lift. But behind this brief satisfaction often lies a deeper connection between money, spending habits, and mental health – something that becomes even more apparent during the festive season. The connection between money, spending, and mental health Many people use money as a way to gain control when life feels overwhelming. Whether it’s buying things to gain approval, "keep up appearances," or escape uncomfortable emotions, spending often serves as a temporary mood booster. Yet, these purchases can lead to a cycle of overspending and feelings of inadequacy when the initial emotional lift fades. Social media and advertising only add to this problem, making us believe that owning certain items will make us happier or more successful. But the sense of fulfilment ...

In a society filled with expensive technology, designer clothing and flash cars, you can see how tempting it is to want the best of everything. But do we want these things to make us feel good or is it ultimately to impress the people around us and post about it on social media? Sadly, much of the time, people crave belongings to increase their social status rather than to make themselves happy. Although our possessions might impress some people, generally, most of us are more impressed by how a person behaves. Imagine, if you were the only person to exist on the planet, would you really strive so hard to possess all the same unnecessary belongings? Would you still wear designer clothes, or would you opt for something more comfortable? What many of us don’t realise is that we also buy unnecessary things to fill a void within ourselves or to cheer ourselves up when we’re feeling down. However, these are just temporary fixes and even though you might feel good initially, the feel-good ...

Now we're into December, we start to field the barrage of advertisements in readiness for Christmas. The sharing of gifts is a great way to show those closest to you that you care about them and it’s all too easy to get wrapped up in the excitement of glitzy presents and the latest must-have gadgets. However, according to the Citizen Advice Bureau, they helped an astonishing 350,000 people to get to grips with their debt last year alone. While excessive spending is not the only reason people end up in debt, it can be a contributory factor. Psychologists have been studying the emotions that we feel when we buy things and have found that people tend to fit into two distinct groups. Those of us who like spending and those of us who don’t. It’s as simple as that. They then looked at the spending habits of those who spend more, to evaluate the effect that their spending habits had on their happiness. For many, the act of buying things makes them feel good. It releases feelings of exci...