Financial Social Worker Explains Why Your 'I Don't Have Enough' Is Usually Wrong

I bought pizza last night. House full of groceries. Zero capacity to cook. Then guilt.Sound familiar?Financial social worker Shirria McCullough, LCSW says this isn't failure — it's data. And the data looks very different depending on whether you're 24 or 42.In this episode, we break down what survival mode spending actually looks like:Gen Z — impulsive Klarna purchases, DoorDash three times a day, buying convenience because figuring out groceries requires mental real estate you don't have.Millennial moms — overcompensation spending. The expensive party because you feel like you're not "mommying enough." The toy run because guilt won. The trip because your spouse needs proof you're still showing up.And then the question nobody asks: Is emotional spending ever actually protective?Shirria argues yes — when you can afford it and you're conscious. The $20 instead of $5 for the person asking for help. Panera instead of McDonald's. It's not overconsumption if you chose it.We also cover what Shirria sees when she holds women truly accountable — not cruelty, but clarity. The moment they realize "I don't have enough" is usually an excuse, not math. (Spoiler: 8 times out of 10, the math says otherwise.)Plus: when to call a financial social worker instead of a coach. Why Shirria looks at your entire ecosystem — family, neighborhood, church, trauma patterns — not just your budget. And her own money mindset shift: losing her brother at 25, then watching her millionaire aunt die two years before retirement, still sacrificing. Two griefs. Two completely different lessons.Shirria's planning a year of rest for her 45th birthday in 2028 because of decisions she made years ago. Not luck. Not inheritance. Deliberate work.Find her @mentalwellnessclinicalcounseling and Services on Instagram, Shirria McCullough's life on TikTok and YouTube.🎯 moneytalkwitht.com/start📬 moneytalkwitht.com (Thursday newsletter)#survivalmodemoney #emotionalspending #financialsocialworker #mommoney #genzmoms #millennialmoms #moneymindset #overcomingsurvivalmode #financialliteracy #personalfinancepodcast #moneytalkwithtiff #shariamccullough #stewardship #blackmomsandmoney #restisproductive