Psychology of Money, Ego Spending & That TikTok Cart

I picked up The Psychology of Money by Morgan Housel expecting budgeting tips and investment logic.

What do I get instead? A gentle unravelling of my beliefs around money, ego, and success.

Housel doesn’t just talk about money, he talks about us. The fears, pride, trauma, hope, and identity that show up in every money decision we make. One line that stuck with me:

“There is no reason to risk what you have and need for what you don’t have and don’t need.”

Read that again. Slowly.

This week, I had a casual convo with a friend that made it all hit even harder.
We were talking about social media and consumerism. You know the drill - influencers recommending “must-haves,” TikTok Shop hauls, sales that feel personal, untouched supplements from brands I convinced myself I’d use. Some of these buys? Genuinely helpful. But many? Just clutter. Digital, emotional, and physical.

And it made me ask: Where’s the line between wanting to look good and just… buying too much to feel better about myself?

💭 4 Lessons from the Book That Slapped Me Gently

1. “Wealth is what you don’t see.”
True wealth is invisible. It’s not the show, it’s the silence. It’s the confidence to keep what you’ve built rather than spend it proving something.

2. “Savings is the gap between your ego and your income.”
This line still echoes. I’m learning that not every swipe is aligned. Some are loud expressions of ego. And ego is expensive.

3. “The ceiling of social comparison is so high, no one will ever hit it.”
There will always be someone richer, softer, cooler. If you’re waiting to feel like you’ve finally “caught up,” you might be waiting forever.

4. “Not all success is due to hard work. Not all poverty is due to laziness.”
This one shook me. It’s a humbling reminder to respect the roles of luck, privilege, and timing, and to be gentler with others and myself.

🍩 Still Chewing

This book is quietly challenging the way I see not just money, but self-worth.

It’s helping me untangle the difference between real freedom and performative abundance.
Between genuine desire and algorithm-fed want.
Between values and vibes.

And maybe most importantly, it’s helping me pause before hitting “add to cart.”

If you’ve read The Psychology of Money, what stuck with you most?

And if not, let this be your soft nudge.

Till next time,
Toby

Popped Chips and Iced Water