Why Quick Fixes Miss the Mark—And What to Do Instead
by
Wendy Wright, Financial Therapist, Money Coach
Picture this: You check your bank balance and your stomach drops. A wave of shame, fear, or frustration hits hard. Instantly, the fix-it brain kicks in:
“That’s it. I’m making a budget.”
But here’s the truth: you can’t “budget” in a panic. And more importantly—I don’t recommend budgeting at all. At least not the way most people define it.
The word “budget” sounds appealing when you’re overwhelmed because it promises structure and control. It feels like something you can do—quickly, easily, and definitively—to stop the financial chaos. But more often than not, it delivers a false sense of control and deeper disconnection.
Why? Because panic hijacks your brain.
When you’re in a state of financial panic, your nervous system is in survival mode. Your prefrontal cortex—the part of your brain responsible for logic, planning, and wise decision-making—goes offline. You’re not building a sustainable relationship with money in that state. You’re just reacting.
And reacting rarely leads to lasting change.
In my work as a financial therapist, I’ve seen this pattern again and again: the impulse to clamp down, restrict, track every penny, and force yourself into discipline. But long-term transformation doesn’t come from control—it comes from connection.
Here’s what I recommend instead:
- Calm your nervous system first.
- Get present with what’s really happening—not just in your bank account, but in your body and your emotions.
- Understand the patterns beneath your money behaviors.
- Take grounded, aligned action—one step at a time.
That’s the foundation of a relationship with money that actually works.
🎧 Listen to my podcast conversation with Michelle Perkins
If you want to explore this further, I recently joined Michelle Perkins on her podcast Limit Free Life, where we talked all about the connection between mental health and money.
We discussed how nervous system regulation is a missing piece in so many “money plans,” and what it actually takes to create lasting financial wellbeing.
👉 Click here to listen to the episode.
You deserve individualized support.
If you’re stuck in a cycle of panic, shame, or avoidance around money, let’s change that. I work with midlife women and couples to help them create a sustainable, empowered relationship with money—without shame, overwhelm, or quick-fix solutions.
👉 Book a free discovery call with me today.
Together, we’ll look at what’s really going on—and what’s actually possible.
