Let’s talk about something I wish someone had told me sooner:

More money doesn’t always mean more freedom.

Last week, I talked about the hidden costs of avoiding your finances. This week, I want to dig into a question that so many ambitious humans (like you and me) bump up against:

✨ Why doesn’t making more money automatically make everything feel easier?

Here’s the thing—there’s a fascinating concept called the Easterlin Paradox, which basically says this: Beyond a certain point, earning more money doesn’t necessarily make people happier. Crazy, right?

It’s not because money doesn’t matter. (It does. A lot.) It’s because how we engage with our money and how we feel when we do matters just as much as how much we earn.

Why More Can Sometimes Feel Like Less

Here’s what I’ve learned:

✨ If your financial systems are messy or unclear, more money just amplifies the chaos.
✨ If your nervous system doesn’t feel safe holding wealth, “more” can actually feel heavier or anxiety-provoking.
✨ If your spending isn’t aligned with what really matters to you, the joy fades fast—and guilt takes its place.

I used to think I could just out-earn my way to ease. But no matter how much I made, I still felt some degree of financial anxiety.

What Freedom Really Feels Like

True financial freedom isn’t a number—it’s a feeling.

(Though, you can actually calculate your Freedom Number, something we do in Relaxed Money, and I highly recommend honing in on both the number and the feeling.)

✨ It’s the confidence of knowing exactly where your money is going—and how it’s growing.
✨ It’s the clarity of making choices that are aligned with your values and dreams.
✨ It’s the ease of trusting yourself and your systems, so money stops feeling like a source of stress.

And here’s the best part: Freedom isn’t about being perfect with money. It’s about building a clear, loving, and conscious relationship with it.

The Secret to Real Ease

There’s another layer to this conversation that most people overlook:

Your nervous system plays a huge role in how you experience money.

When your body doesn’t feel safe with abundance—because of old patterns, stress, or beliefs—it runs survival patterns like:

✨ Avoiding money altogether (“I’ll just focus on earning more.”)
✨ Overspending or guilt-spending (“I deserve this, but why do I feel bad afterward?”)
✨ Being unreasonably frugal (“If I save all my money I’ll finally feel safe!”)

✨Overworking (“If I just hustle harder, I’ll finally feel in control.”)

But here’s the truth: Those patterns aren’t your fault—they’re your body’s way of trying to protect you. And they’re absolutely changeable.

Why This Matters

Research backs this up. Studies show that while more money doesn’t guarantee happiness, what money does bring is choice—and more choices can lead to greater well-being. (source)

But here’s the catch: To truly benefit from those choices, you need systems that work and a relationship with money that feels safe and aligned.

This shift takes intention, but it’s so worth it. When you stop focusing solely on “earning more” and start creating alignment, money transforms from a source of stress into a tool for freedom, ease, and joy.

What’s Next?

Next week, I’ll share why even high-achievers can struggle to sustain abundance—and how you can start breaking that cycle today.

In the meantime, take a moment to reflect: How does freedom with money feel to you? And what’s one small step you could take to align your finances with that feeling this week?

Here’s to building a life that feels as good as it looks.

Xo,
Kate