Chasing financial confidence?

It isn't just a case of building more knowledge

Most people assume that confidence comes after knowledge.

So they set out to read more, learn more, devour more content from YouTube.

They read books by money gurus, buy budgeting tools, download financial apps, and watch and read anything that Martin Lewis - Moneysaving Expert has a hand in.

They go down the TikTok/Reddit/YouTube rabbit holes, scrolling through influencer after influencer telling us to cut out their daily Barista made cup of coffee and save the money instead.

They ask AI to explain another concept...which often sends them down even more rabbit holes about financial topics that don't actually matter right now.

Their head becomes full of new found knowledge…but frustratingly they still don’t have the confidence that they expected to come with it. So they double down. Read more, scroll more, watch more.

All this knowledge….but the confidence, and the results, still don’t automatically follow.

Think about it - if financial confidence came from knowledge alone, the most financially knowledgeable people would never struggle with money. The people who have certificates and job titles that SCREAM knowledge, would have the perfect balance between earning, spending and investing. And would never have to shy away from a money related conversation with their other half.

Instead, even the most knowledgable of people shy away from opening their bank statements.

They still second guess themselves.

They still panic when a bill comes in.

They still delay getting the car insurance renewal sorted.

They still hope that someone else will tell them what to do (or do it for them!).

That’s because confidence isn’t created by more information.

It’s created by repeated evidence that you can make good decisions.

That’s how your money brain works - it wants evidence over more information.

So, instead of simply ordering another money related book from Amazon, how about picking up one that you’ve already bought, read it again, and actually do the thing.

• Set up the savings account.

• Book the appointment with your mortgage advisor.

• Open the pension statement you’ve been avoiding.

• Or even just reset your password on your banking app and actually open it.

Just do the thing. One thing.

Then do it (or another thing) again tomorrow.

Most people think that the confidence needs to come first.

It doesn’t. And it won’t.

Action comes first.

Evidence comes next.

Confidence follows.

One decision at a time.

A Money Brain Note:

What's the smallest financial action you've taken recently that made you think, "Actually...I can do this"?

Now congratulate yourself - you've started building your own personal evidence bank.

Kim

Part of the ongoing Your Money Brain Notebook.