🟡 I’ve been retired since the age of 26 due to an accident
🟣 Orsi Temesvári, 32, e-book & speciality coffee addict
Welcome to the Money Feelings Questionnaire—the most detailed (and, I’ve been told, ‘so much fun!!’) money psychology survey. Today, we're diving into the financial habits, psychology, and philosophy of 👇
NAME:
AGE: 32
FROM: I was born and raised, and I’m currently living in Budapest, Hungary.
ASTRO: Leo
LOVES: I genuinely enjoy getting lost in a good book or sharing a coffee with a friend. I love writing and exploring new places. I also love getting up early and engaging in conversations about crazy topics like atomic physics (not that I know too much about it).
MISSION(S): My mission is to show people the richness and availability of their inner resources, and to make them aware that the quality of our lives depends on the quality of the stories we tell ourselves.
JOB(S)/PROJECT(S): I work as a personal life coach and I’m also a keynote speaker and resilience trainer for companies.
My Substack:
SURPRISE(S): I used to eat Nutella out of the jar with a tablespoon when I was little. I never learned to properly ride a bike. I have a playlist with guilty pleasure songs from the 90s.
🟣 Which types of purchases do you tend to buy impulsively? What is your kryptonite? E-books
🟣 What is one positive thing about your money behavior?I have been saving money since I received my first paycheck.
🟣 Which one of your money habits do you suspect annoys your partner/family/friends?Spending too much on speciality coffee. And e-books.
🟣 On a scale of 1 to 10, how wealthy do you feel today? (1 not at all - 10 very)8
🟣 On a scale of 1 to 10, how emotionally rich do you feel today? (1 not at all - 10 very)7
🟣 What do you picture for your retirement era (or the life you would like to lead when you no longer want to work or rely on work to sustain your lifestyle)?Fun fact: I’ve been retired since the age of 26 due to an accident, resulting in a spinal cord injury, leaving me in a wheelchair. The government reduced my working capacity for 16% out of 100%, therefore I qualify as retired due to health reasons. I think I already live a really good life for a retired person. I wake up early, I shower, eat a good breakfast, have coffee, read, write, work a bit, have physiotherapy, meet my friends, should we want more?
🟣 How do you feel about talking with others about how much you make, navigating raises, or the stress of job negotiations?🔘 Open: “I’m comfortable talking about this openly with anyone.”
✅ Selective: “I’d discuss this, but only with certain people.”
🔘 Taboo: “This topic is off-limits—I’m not comfortable talking about it with anyone.”
🟣 Do you ever catch yourself saying things like, 'Investing is just for smart people,' 'Math was never my thing, so finance isn’t for me,' or 'I’m just not good with numbers, so why even try'?🔘 Yes
🔘 Occasionally
🔘 Not often
✅ No
🟣 Are you more envious of:
(A) someone who is similar to you in most respects but is a bit wealthier (say 50% wealthier) or
(B) more envious of Bill Gates?I guess I’m more envious of people who have an abundant mindset and are emotionally rich. It has nothing to do with finances.
🟣 Celebrate the wealth you already have by finishing this sentence: "I feel rich because..."I feel rich because I have a roof above my head and food on my table and two beautiful nurses who take care of me 24/7. Life is good. 😌
🟣 What's a purchase that brought you lasting joy?I recently moved in to my new apartment I bought in the spring of 2024. It has been giving me a lot of joy ever since.
🟣 You just won the lottery. What is the first cause you support?Mental health support in high schools.
🟣 If you had to choose just one emotion that makes you hit ‘buy now’ the most, what would it be?Lacking and not feeling good enough.
🟣 When did you last feel financially envious of someone close to you?Interestingly, I don’t really envy people based on money. I envy some of my friends for becoming mothers when I can’t. I envy successful business people because they were courageous enough to go after their dreams. I envy published authors for having their names printed. But it’s never about the money.
🟣 How would you feel sharing with others about debt, unpaid bills, or living paycheck to paycheck?🔘 Open: “I’m comfortable talking about this openly with anyone.”
✅ Selective: “I’d discuss this, but only with certain people.”
🔘 Taboo: “This topic is off-limits—I’m not comfortable talking about it with anyone.”
🟣 Does your spending style resemble your parents, or did you rebel?In some ways, I did both. I’m probably a bigger risk taker in terms of spending, but I also know more about saving and investing, therefore, hopefully I make smarter decisions. What is for sure is that I have a stronger financial awareness than they have ever had.
🟣 When was the last time money stress had you wanting to scream into a pillow?I recently bought and renovated a new apartment. Do you wanna talk about it? :)
🟣 Do you ever notice when you're spending because of emotions, rather than because you actually need something?🔘 Yes
✅ Occasionally
🔘 Not often
🔘 No
🟣 On a scale of 0 to 10, how often do you feel like you’re caught in the cycle of wanting the next big thing, without it necessarily bringing happiness? (1 Never - 5 Always)3
🟣 Do you pass the compulsive buying test?[You can take the test here.]
My score was lower than 3, so I guess I passed!
🟣 How do you feel talking with others about how money worries impact your mental health or trigger anxiety?🔘 Open: “I’m comfortable talking about this openly with anyone.”
✅ Selective: “I’d discuss this, but only with certain people.”
🔘 Taboo: “This topic is off-limits—I’m not comfortable talking about it with anyone.”
🟣 What are three core values that you want to influence your financial decisions?Clarity, stability, purpose
🟣 Who handles the finances in your home?I do.
🟣 Clarify your wealth goals by finishing this sentence: "I would like to get richer so I can..."I would like to get richer so I can buy specialty coffee every day.
Otherwise, I’m perfectly fine. :) Putting jokes aside, I think I don’t need to get richer. It’s not about the huge amount of money. It’s about the safety and stability I’ve been building for myself and the happiness that has nothing to do with my money. Sometimes I think about what would I do with more money. Would I buy more fancy clothes? Probably, but would I be happier in Gucci? I don’t think so. I would still be a 30 something woman in a wheelchair. :)
🟣 What’s the one thing that makes you feel like you need to have more?Advertising.
🟣 Do you ever find yourself saying things like, 'I never have enough money,' or 'I can’t afford it,' even though you have savings, access to money if you needed it, or own more than one property?🔘 Yes
🔘 Occasionally
✅ Not often
🔘 No
🟣 Is there a money habit of someone you know that secretly drives you insane?The scarcity mindset in general, as well as the crazy spending at Christmas or on vacation - I know people who usually go in debt around these times.
🟣 Were you told you were not good at math as a kid? Has it affected your ability to handle money matters? Has it affected your confidence to handle money matters?There was no connection between math and money. In my family it was more like a way of thinking.
🟣 On a scale of 0 to 10, how intense is the pressure to keep up with trends for you? (Like fashion or tech trends.) (0 Not intense at all - 10 Very intense)6
🟣 What are you currently craving to buy that you know you don’t actually need?Online courses
🟣 Do you ever catch yourself holding onto your money tightly, not spending it even when you could, and feeling like most people are just takers, always asking for more?🔘 Yes
✅ Occasionally
🔘 Not often
🔘 No
🟣 How often do you find financial terminology and jargon confusing or intimidating?🔘 Very often
🔘 Often
✅ Rarely
🔘 Never
🟣 What or who’s your vision of financial success?Living off of investments and only working for the fun of it.
🟣 Do you find yourself living on credit cards, constantly in debt, but still giving money away even when you know you shouldn’t?🔘 Yes
🔘 Occasionally
🔘 Not often
✅ No
🟣 What’s your go-to ‘quick fix’ when you’re feeling down? Is it buying something? Food? If so, what kind of food? Is it scrolling? Or is it something else entirely?Having a cup of coffee, eating candy or chocolate, scrolling on Instagram that makes me feel even worse, sometimes purchasing a new e-book.
🟣 What are your thoughts or feelings about the idea that "health is better than wealth"?I think health is part of our wealth. No money can buy our health, it is our most valuable “possession“. However, as I read this sentence, I have a strange sensation. It feels like people only say this sentence to find an excuse to why they are not wealthy.
🟣 Break your financial habits into three categories:
"Stop": One habit that no longer serves you
"Start": One new habit you'd like to build
"Continue": One habit that is working wellStop: mindless scrolling and shopping
Start: learn more about ETFs and invest with slightly more risk risks on longer term
Continue: saving first
🟣 What would be on your dopamine menu?*
*your own curated list of activities that give you a boost whenever you need it, which doesn’t involve scrolling and buying.You can find an example and more information here.
Meditation, going out for a walk, exchange a smile with a loved one, hugging each other, engage in an interesting conversation, mindfully enjoying a cup of tea.
🟣 What's a positive money experience that shaped your financial beliefs?I learned so early in my childhood about how our narratives shape our beliefs and I assume these experiences have been shaping my money beliefs as well.
🟣 The zombie apocalypse is upon us. Which possession do you save?My wheelchair :)
🟣 How do you feel confiding in someone about hidden debt, secret spending, or financial decisions you’ve kept private?🔘 Open: “I’m comfortable talking about this openly with anyone.”
✅ Selective: “I’d discuss this, but only with certain people.”
🔘 Taboo: “This topic is off-limits—I’m not comfortable talking about it with anyone.”
🟣 At what age did you start having your own money? Did you receive pocket money, or did you earn it through work?Probably at age 16
🟣 What emotions do you most associate with money? (3 minimum, more if it brings aaall the feels)Fear, anxiety , worries, jealousy, envy, anger, fake happiness, safety, stability, adult-ness, responsibility, self doubt, feeling less than
🟣 If you could time-travel and stop one money-related mistake, what would it be?I would have started investing earlier in addition to my savings.
🟣 What are your thoughts or feelings about the idea that 'Money is the root of all evil'?This is bullshit. Money is a tool and its role is to make our lives easier. It’s more like the stories we tell ourselves in terms of money that can cause problems.
🟣 Would you rather stick to a strict budget or wear wet socks all day?Somewhere in between.
🟣 How do you feel about discussing complex feelings around inheritance or family financial support with others?🔘 Open: “I’m comfortable talking about this openly with anyone.”
✅ Selective: “I’d discuss this, but only with certain people.”
🔘 Taboo: “This topic is off-limits—I’m not comfortable talking about it with anyone.”
🟣 What steps have you taken in planning for your financial future?🔘 I haven’t started planning anything
🔘 I think I have started but not sure
✅ I’ve done some but not enough
🔘 I had but my situation has changed
🔘 I’m on top of it & review regularly
🟣 On a scale of 0 to 10, how bad is your addiction to subscriptions?3
🟣 If your bank account could talk, what would it reveal is your greatest extravagance?Coffee and foreign language books
🟣 If you could magically double your income but had to work twice as hard, would you do it?No. I feel I have enough money.
🟣 Do you know how much your friends make in real figures?No and I don’t care.
🟣 What's your favourite tool for managing your finances?My calculator :)
🟣 Who would you like to see on a new banknote?The Money Feelings publication logo
💜 Thank you for sharing with us,
!And kudos to you for dedicating these past few minutes to your financial self.
It might not seem like much, but exploring others’ money habits, psychologies, and philosophies is a great step toward making financial conversations a regular, comfortable part of your life.
If you’d like to dedicate more time to your financial well-being before our next session, here is The Reading List inspired by Orsi’s interview 👇
💜 The Reading List
👌 Orsi’s story and manifesto: My Story of Becoming a Wheelchair Fempreneur
👌 A research article: A Psychologically Rich Life: Beyond Happiness and Meaning
👌 A Reddit thread: Are You Addicted To Buying Books : r/kindle
👌 A blog article: Just Buy the F***ing Latte
👌 A news article: Bibliomania: the strange history of compulsive book buying
👌 A tool: Coffee Savings Calculator
👌 A book: The Latte Factor: Why You Don't Have to Be Rich to Live Rich
👏 Well done for making it this far and spending time on your financial well-being.
If you enjoyed this piece, just let me know by clicking the heart 💜 below or the restack button (the recycle symbol that lets you share this session with your followers). I notice and appreciate every single one of them.
To join our next session, you can always sign up as a free subscriber, but a paid subscription gives you access to all the tools, a chance to unplug with off-screen exercises, and discounts for professional help… plus, it helps keep the lights on here!
See you in 2 weeks or sooner on Notes.
Pauline 💜