Ep. 20: More Than Dollars - 12 Financial Habits that Could be Costing You Your Health

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In this episode we explore the powerful, often hidden link between money and health. Financial stress doesn’t just affect your bank balance—it shapes your physical health, mental wellbeing, and even your daily choices. Through 12 common behaviours, based on psychology, behavioural science, and finance research, we reveal how everyday financial decisions ripple into our health—and how health struggles can drive financial stress in return. From skipping medical care and eating cheaper junk food, to compulsive spending, avoidance, and social comparison, this conversation shines a light on how to spot the traps and take back control.

Key Takeaways

• Financial stress and health are deeply intertwined – it affects sleep, diet, exercise, and decision-making.
• Behavioural biases shape our choices – like present bias, loss aversion, and mental accounting.
• Everyday habits matter – small shifts in money decisions can either protect or harm long-term health.
• Awareness is the first step – naming behaviours like avoidance, compulsive spending, or social comparison helps break the cycle.
• Practical tools exist – reframing health spending as investment, pairing money and health goals, and using the “future self” perspective are all powerful strategies.
• Relationships aren’t immune – money secrecy and comparison create relational and emotional strain that impacts wellbeing.
• Sustainable change comes from small, consistent steps – behaviour is changeable, and progress compounds over time.

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Intro and Outro music: Inspirational Acoustic - Organic Harmony by Sonican; and Andrii Poradovskyi from Pixabay.

Disclaimer: This content is general in nature and intended for educational purposes only. It is not deemed as psychological treatment and does not replace the advice from your health professional or need for psychological treatment.