Spending as Symbolic Relief

For some people, money meant safety. For others, it meant dignity. For others,

it meant not being a burden. And for many, it meant finally feeling “enough.”

So when they begin to earn more—when the struggle eases even slightly—the brain doesn’t interpret

that as luxury. It interprets it as safety finally arriving. The subconscious

message becomes: “I survived.” “I can relax now.” “I don’t have to be afraid anymore.”

And that feeling is powerful. That’s why spending feels comforting. Not because of the

item itself, but because of what the item represents emotionally. The shoes aren’t

just shoes. They’re proof you can afford them without panic. The new phone isn’t