213: The Promises Behind Your Purchases: Why you're never really buying what you think you are

If clothes are your biggest spending weakness, this episode is for you. I'm joined by Hannah Blass, founder of The Style Audit, to talk about how our love of clothes can cross the line from something we genuinely enjoy into something that consumes our money, time, energy, and mental space. Hannah knows this firsthand. After years of compulsively shopping for clothes, overspending every month, and repeatedly running up a credit card balance despite earning six figures, she realized that making more money wasn't going to solve the problem. She had to change her relationship with shopping. And the answer wasn't giving up fashion, becoming a minimalist, or never shopping again. In this episode, we talk about: Why clothes can be such an emotionally charged category of spending How to love fashion without constantly needing something new Hannah's 3 C's of intentional shopping: calm, considered, and compatible Why no-buys often backfire—and how to do one in a way that creates lasting change The simple 5-minute pause that can help interrupt an impulse purchase How social media and "girl math" culture normalize compulsive shopping Why being able to afford your shopping doesn't necessarily mean your relationship with it is healthy How to know when your wardrobe is finally "enough" Why your closet should contain clothes for your real life—not the fantasy version of yourself The problem with calling expensive clothes "investment pieces" How to build a wardrobe you actually love wearing Hannah also shares the freedom she found on the other side of compulsive shopping: fewer packages, fewer returns, less time thinking about clothes, and—ironically—more enjoyment from the things she does choose to buy. If you've ever looked at a closet full of clothes and still thought, I have nothing to wear or I just need one more thing, this conversation will help you rethink what it actually means to have enough. You can also connect with Hannah below:

Have you ever found yourself shopping because you're stressed, anxious, lonely, bored, or overwhelmed? You're not necessarily shopping because you need something. You may be shopping because you're trying to change the way you feel. And while buying something might give you a temporary hit of relief, it doesn't make the emotion go away. Eventually, that feeling comes back—often accompanied by guilt, shame, clutter, financial stress, or regret. And that can send you right back into the emotional shopping cycle. In this episode, I'm sharing a coaching call from inside my Overcoming Overspending community where we dive into why we shop our feelings away—and, more importantly, how to actually feel an uncomfortable emotion without needing to escape it. We cover: Why shopping can become a form of emotional avoidance The hidden emotional "promise" behind the things you buy Why consumer culture teaches us that buying something will make us feel better The emotional shopping avoidance loop and why shopping can actually make the emotion you're avoiding worse The difference between running from your emotions like a sheep and facing them like a buffalo The 3 A's of emotional resilience: Awareness, Allowance, and Autonomy A practical 4-step process for actually feeling your feelings instead of shopping them away Why building your emotional capacity is one of the most powerful ways to change your spending The goal isn't to never feel bored, lonely, anxious, ashamed, or overwhelmed. It's to become someone who can say: I can feel this. I can handle this. And I don't need to buy something to make it go away.

What if becoming "good with money" had less to do with spending less—and everything to do with learning how to spend well? In this episode, I'm joined by Jesse Mecham, founder of the budgeting software YNAB and author of the new book Never Worry About Money Again. Jesse has helped millions of people change their relationship with money, and his approach challenges much of what traditional personal finance has taught us. The central idea is simple but powerful: Money is meant to be spent. Every money decision is ultimately a spending decision. Saving is spending later. Investing is spending much later. Giving money away means choosing what mission or person will spend it next. So instead of asking whether spending is good or bad, Jesse encourages us to ask one three-word question: What's it for? That question helps you move away from guilt, deprivation, and financial confusion—and toward clarity, confidence, and intentional spending. In this conversation, we discuss: Why being good with money is a learnable skill What Jesse means when he says "your money is you" Why earning more does not automatically eliminate money worry How restrictive budgeting can make you feel trapped rather than empowered Why there is rarely such a thing as a truly "surprise" expense How to stop living paycheck to paycheck by getting one month ahead Why your spending should reflect your values, personality, and current season of life The difference between spending based on social expectations and spending authentically Why more money only amplifies the spending habits you already have How to spend money you actually have instead of relying on future income If you earn good money but still experience the constant low-grade hum of financial stress, this episode will help you rethink what's actually causing it. You may not need more money. You may need to decide what the money you already have is for. Learn more about Jesse's new book here.

What does it actually take to build wealth as a woman today? In this episode, I'm joined by Haley Sacks (aka Mrs. Dow Jones) for a powerful conversation about money mindset, overspending, investing, and the identity shifts required to become a "future rich person." Building wealth isn't just about making more money. It's about changing the way you think about money, spending, and yourself. Inside this episode, we talk about: Why so many women were conditioned to believe it's "cute" to be bad with money The hidden mindset patterns keeping women stuck in overspending cycles Why building wealth starts with learning how to stop spending everything you make The difference between impulsive spending vs. values-based spending How to create "action money" (the gap between inflow and outflow) The role of automations, investing, and negotiation in building long-term wealth Why investing is actually less risky than not investing at all And how to become someone who consistently follows through with money Haley also shares her powerful IBIZA framework for shifting your money mindset and explains why identity—not information—is the real key to financial transformation. Haley's book Future Rich Person is out TODAY (Tuesday, May 12th). Grab your copy here! You can also connect with Haley below:

Join Overcoming Overspending HERE