Emotional Spending After a Pay Raise

According to psychology, people who overspend when they start earning more aren’t bad with

money. They’re trying to heal something emotional. When income rises, the brain releases

dopamine— the reward chemical. But for many people, that rush isn’t about joy.

It’s about relief. Especially for those who grew up with scarcity, where money meant

survival, safety, or self-worth. So when they finally earn more,

the brain says: Now I’m safe. Now I’m enough. That’s why spending feels comforting.

It’s not about the item. It’s about touching a feeling that once felt unreachable.

But here’s the trap. The dopamine fades quickly. The emptiness comes back.