Overspending Is Not a Willpower Problem

It is a systems problem and it affects more than our bank accounts.

If managing money feels harder than it should, it is not because you lack discipline. It is because we are living inside systems that make balanced consumption incredibly difficult.

Jaelyn Vickery, CFT™, was recently interviewed and featured in a CNBC article by Kamaron McNair that explores why so many people are struggling with overspending and what actually helps create lasting change. The conversation reflects what we see every day in our work at Dimensional Wealth. People are not failing at money. They are responding to a system that constantly pushes urgency, comparison, convenience, and emotional spending while offering very little support for regulation, reflection, or recovery.

This is not a willpower problem. It is a systems problem.

Why ridgid budgets keep failing:

When spending feels out of control, most people assume they need stricter rules. Tighter budgets. Less flexibility. More self control. But rigid systems often backfire. They ignore the reality that emotions drive spending far more than logic does.

In the CNBC article, Vickery explains that people often swing between two extremes. Chaos, where spending feels impulsive and out of control. And rigidity, where financial rules are so tight that there is no room for flexibility or enjoyment. Moving back and forth between these extremes creates burnout and reinforces cycles of guilt and rebound spending.

What supports long term change is adaptability. The ability to recognize when spending patterns are shifting and respond intentionally rather than reactively.

Overspending: Coping Strategy or Character Flaw?

Our current culture makes it easy to spend and hard to pause. Rising costs, digital advertising, buy now pay later options, and constant comparison all reinforce consumption as a quick solution to discomfort. In a culture that constantly encourages spending as a solution, it becomes easy to confuse relief with regulation.

This is why overspending affects more than money. It can erode self trust, increase stress, and create tension in relationships. When we focus only on stopping the behavior without understanding the need underneath it, the cycle continues.

Money behavior is communication. It is telling a story about stress, safety, worth, and support. Understanding what triggers overconsumption allows individuals to adjust more quickly and redirect their energy toward choices that align with their values and goals.

Is Money Clarity & Confidence Possible?

Financial therapy and financial coaching create space to step out of survival mode and into awareness. They help you understand your patterns, identify your triggers, and build systems that support real life instead of fighting against it.

At Dimensional Wealth, the focus is not on perfection or restriction. It is on clarity, adaptability, and intentional decision making. Over time, this approach builds financial confidence, not because challenges disappear, but because people gain the skills to navigate them with awareness and resilience.

Readers who want a deeper look at these concepts can explore the full CNBC article by Kamaron McNair featuring Jaelyn Vickery here.

If you are ready to stop the money shame and start building systems that actually support you, financial therapy and financial coaching are powerful places to begin. Build your Wealth with Wellness!