These are beliefs we inherited, absorbed or built without even realising it. And quietly, they shape all our financial decisions.
Where do these beliefs come from?
In the psychology of money, these are called limiting beliefs. They do not come out of nowhere. They form early, often at home, and are then reinforced by the environment we grow up in and the experiences we live through.
What we inherit from our family
We learn a lot about money long before we earn our first franc. It is our parents' gestures, silences and remarks that lay the first foundations, often without them realising it themselves. A phrase repeated at the dinner table, tension when the bills have to be paid, or on the contrary complete calm about spending: all of this can leave a mark on the way we see money.
Some grew up with the idea that money does not buy happiness, or that you have to fight hard to earn even a little. Others heard that wealthy people must have taken advantage of the system or trampled on others to get there. These phrases can become reference points or filters that still influence our relationship with money years later.
The cultural and social context
Family is not the only source. The social environment we grow up in, the culture around us and the experiences we go through, whether periods of scarcity or, on the contrary, of comfort, also shape our relationship with money.
An environment marked by financial uncertainty can encourage greater caution, or even a fear of running short. Conversely, a more stable setting can encourage a more relaxed attitude to risk and opportunities. Neither of these tendencies is better than the other. They simply reflect what we have lived through, and it helps to recognise them to understand why some financial decisions feel natural to us, while others seem almost impossible.
The most common beliefs
Some beliefs come up again and again, whatever the starting point. Here are some of the most common ones, without judgement: you may recognise yourself in some of them, and there is nothing unusual about that.
"Finance isn't for me"
This is the feeling of not being entitled to talk about money, investing or financial management. This belief is often fed by a lack of reference points: we have not seen people close to us move comfortably in this area, or we grew up in an environment where the subject was reserved for certain people only. As a result, we avoid it, put it off, or let someone else decide for us, even though nothing objectively justifies being left out like this.
"Money is complicated"
This conviction rests on the idea that finance is a field reserved for experts, full of technical terms and obscure mechanisms. Yet the more we avoid dealing with it, the more the belief reinforces itself: we unconsciously look for information that confirms it is too complicated for us, and miss everything that could prove the opposite. Many essential notions of financial management can, however, be understood step by step, without needing to become a finance expert.
"Talking about money is vulgar"
In many households, talking openly about income, savings or wealth remains a delicate subject, sometimes even taboo. This silence, which often comes from a wish for discretion or modesty, prevents valuable conversations: comparing choices, learning from other people's experiences, or simply feeling less alone with your financial questions. Making these subjects more accessible and encouraging conversations can therefore help reduce this distance from finance.
"You need a lot of capital to get started"
Many people think that structured saving or investing is only for those who already have some wealth. This money block discourages people before they have even tried. In reality, once a reserve for unexpected expenses is in place, starting with amounts suited to your situation can already set up a lasting habit of saving or investing.
Waiting until you have "enough" is in fact one of the most common financial mistakes, whereas consistency can play an important role over the long term.
"I'll enjoy life now and think about the rest later"
Picturing yourself in ten, twenty or thirty years takes an effort of imagination that does not come naturally to everyone. As a result, the emotions of the moment can win over a distant and abstract goal. This tendency can be explained in part by what is known as present bias: we naturally tend to give more weight to immediate gratification than to a benefit in the distant future.
This helps explain why saving is so often put off until next month, even when you earn a good living.
How to work on your beliefs
Your relationship with money is not set in stone. A few simple steps can help it evolve at your own pace: spotting your beliefs, testing them against the facts, then learning.
Identify them before trying to change them
You cannot change what you cannot see. The first step is therefore to spot these beliefs in your own inner voice: which phrases come back when you think about money, saving or investing? Where do they come from? Asking yourself these questions calmly, without judging yourself, already helps you step back from thoughts you believed were absolute truths.
Tell beliefs apart from facts
A belief is not a fact. It is an interpretation, built at a given moment, in a specific context, which may once have been useful but is not necessarily so today. It can therefore be questioned, tested and replaced by a more helpful thought. For example, the idea "finance isn't for me" can become "I can gradually learn to understand my finances better", which opens the door to action rather than avoidance.
To sort this out, a short exercise can help:
- Write down three phrases about money that you have often heard or that you often tell yourself.
- For each one, write down one fact from your life that confirms it and one fact that contradicts it.
- Rephrase the sentence in a fairer way.
Financial education as a tool for change
Financial education can be an important lever for changing certain beliefs about money. The more concrete reference points you gain, the more accessible and less intimidating some financial subjects can become.
Above all, it is about understanding enough to ask the right questions and make informed decisions. A belief such as "money is complicated" can lose its grip as soon as you understand a first subject from start to finish, for example what an ETF is.
Conclusion
Limiting beliefs about money are not inevitable. They often come from childhood and the environment we grew up in, and they influence our decisions without us realising it.
Recognising them, testing them against the facts and learning step by step can change your relationship with money.
To take a first step today, write down the phrase about money that comes to mind most often, and ask yourself where it comes from.
Your story with money began long before your first salary. What comes next, however, is up to you.
To get started: the Academy's Foundations programme, free, helps you lay the groundwork for your financial freedom, with a "Relationship with Money" workbook to understand your behaviours.
To go further: the Academy's one-on-one support offers a space for strategic reflection on your financial decisions.
FAQ
How can you identify your limiting beliefs about money?
The simplest way is to pay attention to the phrases that come up spontaneously when you think about money, saving or investing. Writing them down for a few days often helps you spot recurring patterns you were not aware of.
Can money beliefs really hold back financial success?
They can influence some financial decisions, such as avoiding looking at your accounts, putting off a step, not daring to ask questions or thinking that investing is not for you. However, they are only one factor among others: income level, fixed costs, personal circumstances and access to information also play an essential role.
Where do the money beliefs we have had since childhood come from?
They can be built from many influences: watching parents and the people around us, phrases heard in childhood, the economic and social context, and our own experiences with money. They say nothing about your abilities. They mainly reflect the context in which you grew up.
How can you change your relationship with money?
First, by identifying your beliefs, then by questioning them so that you can separate what is a fact from what is an interpretation. After that, financial education, combined with support if you need it, can help you build a calmer and freer relationship with money.
Do women have specific limiting beliefs about money?
Some women may feel more distant from certain financial subjects, or less entitled to engage with them. According to a representative study by the Lucerne University of Applied Sciences and Arts (2025), women invest less often than men. But the gap is explained by income, wealth, financial knowledge, interest in the subject and fear of losses, not by being a woman.
⚠️ Important notice ⚠️
The information presented in this article is provided for purely informational and educational purposes. It does not in any way constitute a personalised recommendation, investment advice, an offer or a solicitation to buy or sell financial products.
Any investment decision should be made after a thorough analysis of your personal situation, your objectives and your risk profile, and may require the advice of an authorised financial adviser.
Past performance is no guarantee of future results. Investments involve risks, including the risk of capital loss.