Episode 45: The time I bought $200 worth of candles. A lesson in Self-Soothing, Spending & Financial Awareness

In this episode, I share a personal (and slightly funny) story about the time I bought $200 worth of Bath & Body Works candles while recovering from a traumatic accident and why it had nothing to do with the candles. This conversation isn’t about “bad spending.” It’s about awareness. We explore how emotional spending, self-soothing, and instant gratification quietly shape our financial lives—especially for high-earning women who still feel stuck, anxious, or disconnected from their money. This episode is a reminder that wealth isn’t built through perfection. It’s built through honesty, nervous system awareness, and new habits that don’t rely on shame. The real reason behind the $200 candle purchase Why emotional spending isn’t about the dollar amount How self-soothing with money becomes a habit (and how it compounds) The difference between one conscious choice and repeated unconscious behavior Why financial shame keeps people stuck in the spending cycle How to pause before purchases without deprivation or rigidity Simple ways to regulate your nervous system without hurting your finances Why learning to say “no” to yourself builds financial confidence How to shift from instant gratification to aligned wealth Awareness is the first step to changing your relationship with money Emotional spending doesn’t make you bad with money—it makes you human Wealth grows when spending aligns with priorities, not emotions You don’t need dramatic changes—small pauses create big shifts Financial confidence comes from trusting yourself, not being perfect What emotions usually show up before you spend? Are your purchases bringing relief—or reinforcing shame? Is this choice moving you closer to or further from the life you want? Emotional spending & self-soothing Nervous system regulation and money Dopamine, shopping, and instant gratification (future episode) If this episode resonated, share it with a woman who needs to hear that she’s not broken—she just needs a different relationship with her money. And if you enjoyed this episode, leaving a rating or review helps spread the message of financially empowered women. 💸✨