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✥ SPENDER   –  “Because life is for the living!
Compulsive (big) Spenders are prone to extremes in all areas of life, such as going through phases of intense exercise followed by periods of inactivity & lethargy.  Buying is about personal enjoyment as well as making a statement to others. They’re all about the finer things in life – usually the first to try new trends, travel to new places, and indulge in life’s pleasures. They have a taste for luxury, the latest tech, designer clothes…..

They’ll often over-spend on unnecessary things to make themself feel good, especially when stressed. Then they’ll feel guilty for spending so much – making a big point of  justify splurges to themself & others – ” I’m just taking a break from the stress from work / family obligations…”.  But it can make them vulnerable to sales pitches – lists of services & offers that encourage the adrenalin high, but the rush after purchases is fleeting.

They’re comfortable with debt, & and often take bold investments risks.  Not afraid to use money to enhance their lifestyle, they often prioritizing immediate gratification over long-term savings. They say they do want to save & be able to control over-spending, but don’t know where or how to start.

✥ SOCIAL VALUE Spender (variation)
They are the type who feel very happy by shopping – maybe getting a hit of enjoyment from looking at things in a shop, or handing over your card. But spending & buying too much could subconsciously be using money as a proxy for love & affection

It boosts their self-esteem – like when wearing something new for the first time, & people say it looks nice. They may think they’ll be more accepted in a group if you own the right things. Women are more likely to spend on clothes, but men will try to enhance their  own sense of value with a single status symbol, like an expensive car.

Or over-give, to feel loved by blowing the budget for holiday giving, & buying loved ones presents “just because”…. which can easily put them in debt.  At its most extreme, this pattern can resemble alcoholism. Some even have bags of new clothes hidden all over the house so their loved ones cannot see them, the way problem drinkers stash empty bottles.

✥ Cash Splasher  (variation)
They see themselves as generous, but use money to make others think more highly of them.  A close cousin of the social value spender, Splashers are more likely to be males who tends to spend on others very visibly, motivated by a need to be admired. The implication is that “Having a lot of cash makes me popular & I can be loved”
EXP : He’ll declare at the beginning of a restaurant meal that he’s going to cover the bill. Then it’s all about him & how generous he is – entirely different from paying for something quietly.

✥ WORRIER
Financial security is paramount from a fear-based relationship with money, a scarcity mindset that can lead to excessive anxiety about financial stability.

The compulsion to save goes beyond having a solid emergency fund & retirement account. At some point, holding tightly to their money may have kept themself or their family safe, but they continue hoarding long after circumstances have changed.

They have trouble differentiate levels of financial threat, struggling with what it means to have & spend money, so end up keeping their savings under the mattress (literally!).
EXP : buying ice cream feels as stressful as paying for a new roof

They excel at saving money, planning ahead, & working toward a debt-free life. But this financial anxiety makes it hard to enjoy daily life. There’s a strong emphasis on preparing for worst-case scenarios, but it comes at a high cost. While preparing for worst-case scenarios isn’t inherently foolish, it’s important to find a balance.

VARIATIONS : ◆  Doomsday Prepper
◆ Guardian  – Safety is their highest priority, with the intention of being careful, alert & prudent. But when worry gets the best of them, the anxiety can become intolerable, & to the point they may worry that catastrophe is imminent.

NEXT : MM – Archetypes, #4