🧭 Anxiety Is Expensive (And No One Talks About It)

The Class We Never Had — Chapter 1, Lesson 5

No one tells you this when you’re growing up, so I will:

Anxiety costs money.

Not because you’re careless.Not because you’re irresponsible.

But because anxiety quietly makes decisions for you.

How anxiety sneaks into your finances

When you’re anxious about money, your brain isn’t focused on long-term planning.

It’s focused on relief.

That can look like:

• avoiding checking your accounts

• paying late fees instead of asking questions

• putting things on credit to feel temporary calm

• ignoring bills because opening them feels overwhelming

• choosing the fastest option instead of the smartest one

None of that comes from laziness.

It comes from stress.

The psychology behind it (simple version)

Anxiety pushes the brain to prioritize short-term relief over long-term results.

So instead of thinking:

“What’s the best decision?”

your brain thinks:

“What makes this feeling stop right now?”

That’s how:

• late fees happen

• interest builds up

• problems grow quietly in the background

By the time we look, the situation feels bigger — and scarier — than it needed to be.

Why avoidance feels “easier” (but costs more)

Avoidance gives temporary peace.

But temporary peace usually comes with a price tag:

• extra fees

• higher interest

• missed opportunities

• more stress later

That’s why people say:

“I don’t even want to look.”

And that’s understandable.

But later is usually more expensive.

What to do instead (calm > fast)

Today’s goal is not to fix everything.

It’s to pause before reacting.

Here’s your step:

When you notice money anxiety, stop for a moment and ask:

“What’s the calmest option here?”

Not the fastest.Not the most dramatic.The calmest.

Sometimes that looks like:

• opening the bill instead of ignoring it

• sending a small payment

• asking a question

• waiting 24 hours before making a purchase

Calm decisions save money.

A small reminder that matters

Being calm with money is not being passive.

It’s being intentional.

And learning to pause — even briefly — is one of the most powerful financial skills you can build.

What’s next

In the next lesson, we’ll talk about something people feel deeply but rarely connect to money:

👉 Why financial stress affects your health.

Because money doesn’t just live in your bank account —it lives in your body.

You’re doing important work just by reading this.

Welcome back to The Class We Never Had 💛📚🧭