Let me be brutally honest with you about something.
You’re lying to yourself about money.
I don’t mean you’re intentionally deceiving yourself. I mean you’re telling yourself stories that feel true, sound reasonable, and give you permission to stay exactly where you are financially.
And those stories? They’re keeping you broke.
I see this constantly in my practice here in Houston. Successful professionals, business owners, high achievers who are absolutely crushing it in their careers – but when it comes to money, they’re living in a fantasy world.
Today, we’re going to shatter those illusions.
Because until you stop lying to yourself about money, you’ll never build the wealth you deserve.
Why Smart People Tell Themselves Financial Lies
Before we dive into the lies themselves, let’s talk about why intelligent, accomplished people fall into these traps.
It’s not because you’re stupid. It’s because financial self-deception serves a purpose – it protects your ego and gives you permission to avoid doing the hard work of wealth building.
Think about it. It’s easier to tell yourself “I don’t make enough to invest” than to admit you’re spending money on things that don’t build wealth. It’s more comfortable to believe “investing is too risky” than to acknowledge you haven’t educated yourself about wealth-building strategies.
These lies feel safe. But safe doesn’t build wealth.
As someone who participated in the Goldman Sachs Small Business Program, I’ve learned that the biggest difference between people who build lasting wealth and those who don’t isn’t income level, education, or even intelligence.
It’s honesty. Brutal, uncomfortable financial honesty.
Financial Lie #1: “I Don’t Make Enough Money to Start Building Wealth”
This is the biggest lie I hear, especially from professionals making $75,000 to $150,000 annually.
Here’s what you’re really saying: “I’ve structured my lifestyle to consume all my income, and I don’t want to make changes.”
The uncomfortable truth: Wealth building isn’t about having leftover money. It’s about prioritizing wealth building BEFORE lifestyle inflation.
Let me paint you a picture of how this lie manifests:
You got a $10,000 raise last year. Where did it go? A nicer apartment in The Heights? A car upgrade? Better restaurants? More expensive vacations?
Meanwhile, your investment accounts look exactly the same as they did before the raise.
The Real Cost of This Lie
When you tell yourself you don’t make enough to build wealth, you’re actually saying you don’t make enough to live your current lifestyle AND build wealth. So you choose lifestyle.
Here’s what that choice costs you:
A 30-year-old Houston professional making $80,000 who invests just $300 monthly will have over $650,000 by age 60. The same person who waits until age 40 to start (when they’ll “make enough”) will have less than $250,000.
That delay costs $400,000. For $300 a month.
But here’s the real kicker – by age 40, they’re probably making $120,000+. They still feel like they “don’t make enough” because their lifestyle expanded to match their income.
The Truth You Need to Face
You make enough. You’ve just chosen to spend it all.
What you need to start doing:
- Pay yourself first – automate investments before you see the money
- Track every dollar for 30 days (no judgment, just awareness)
- Calculate what you’re actually spending on “lifestyle” vs. wealth building
- Redirect just 10% of your income to investments before lifestyle gets it
Stop saying: “I’ll invest when I make more money” Start saying: “I’ll invest first, then live on what’s left”
Financial Lie #2: “I Can’t Afford It” (While Living a $100,000+ Lifestyle)
This lie is particularly popular among high earners. You’ll say “I can’t afford” a $500/month investment plan while spending:
- $200/month on restaurants and takeout
- $150/month on subscription services you barely use
- $300/month on a car payment for a vehicle that’s more than transportation
- $400/month on clothes, entertainment, and impulse purchases
What you’re really saying: “I won’t prioritize it.”
The Psychology Behind This Lie
“I can’t afford it” feels better than “I choose not to afford it.” It makes you the victim of circumstances rather than the author of your choices.
But here’s what successful wealth builders know: You can afford anything. You just can’t afford everything.
The Real Question
The question isn’t “Can I afford this investment/financial strategy?”
The question is: “How can I restructure my spending to afford this wealth-building opportunity?”
Example: Instead of “I can’t afford to max out my 401k,” ask “What would I need to change about my spending to contribute the maximum?”
Suddenly, you’re not a victim of your income. You’re the strategist of your wealth.
What You Need to Start Doing
Stop saying “I can’t afford…” Start asking “How can I afford…”
- I can’t afford a financial advisor → How can I restructure my finances to invest in professional guidance?
- I can’t afford to invest more → How can I reduce expenses to increase investments?
- I can’t afford that real estate investment → How can I position myself financially to qualify for that opportunity?
This shift in language creates solutions instead of excuses.
Financial Lie #3: “I’ll Figure It Out Later” (The Hope Strategy)
This is the most dangerous lie because it sounds so reasonable.
“I’ll get serious about investing after I pay off my student loans.” “I’ll create a real financial plan once I get that promotion.” “I’ll start building wealth when my business is more established.”
What you’re really saying: “I’m hoping my future self will magically be better with money than my current self.”
Why This Lie Is So Seductive
“Later” feels like a perfectly reasonable time to start building wealth. Future you will be smarter, more disciplined, and probably making more money, right?
Wrong.
Future you will have the same personality, the same decision-making patterns, and probably more financial complexity, not less.
The Compound Cost of “Later”
Here’s what waiting costs you in Houston’s thriving economy:
Scenario: Two energy professionals, both 28, both making $85,000.
Professional A starts investing $400/month immediately. Professional B waits 5 years to “figure it out later,” then invests $600/month.
At age 65:
- Professional A: $1.2 million
- Professional B: $890,000
Professional B invested $200 more per month for 5 additional years and still ended up with $310,000 LESS.
That’s the cost of “later.”
The Truth About “Later”
Later never comes. There will always be another reason to wait:
- After you pay off debt (then you get a mortgage)
- After you get married (then you have wedding costs)
- After you have kids (then you have childcare costs)
- After the kids are older (then you have college costs)
- After they graduate (then you’re behind on retirement)
There is no perfect time. There is only now.
What You Need to Start Doing
Stop waiting for perfect conditions. Start with imperfect action.
- Open an investment account TODAY, even if you only put in $50
- Set up automatic transfers for next week, not next month
- Schedule that financial planning consultation for this month, not “when things settle down”
- Make one wealth-building decision every week, even if it’s small
Perfect is the enemy of wealth.
The Deeper Problem: You’re Treating Wealth Building Like a Side Hustle
Here’s what I’ve observed after working with hundreds of Houston professionals: most people treat wealth building like a hobby they’ll get to “when they have time.”
But successful wealth building requires the same focus and intentionality you bring to your career.
You wouldn’t wing your professional development. You wouldn’t hope your way to a promotion. You wouldn’t “figure out later” how to succeed in your industry.
So why are you approaching wealth building with hope instead of strategy?
Why These Lies Feel So True
Financial lies persist because they serve psychological functions:
They protect your ego: “I don’t make enough” sounds better than “I spend too much.”
They reduce guilt: “I can’t afford it” feels better than “I won’t prioritize it.”
They postpone difficult decisions: “I’ll figure it out later” avoids action today.
But comfort and wealth building are opposites.
The Truth That Will Set Your Finances Free
Here’s what I tell every client, and what I learned through my training in the Goldman Sachs program:
Wealth building isn’t about having money. It’s about making money decisions.
You will never feel like you make “enough.” You will never have perfect financial conditions. You will never stumble accidentally into wealth.
Wealth building requires intentional, strategic decisions that prioritize your future self over your current desires.
Your Financial Truth-Telling Challenge
For the next seven days, I want you to catch yourself in these lies and replace them with truth:
When you think “I don’t make enough”:
Ask: “How am I currently prioritizing spending over wealth building?”
When you say “I can’t afford it”:
Ask: “What would I need to change to make this a priority?”
When you tell yourself, “I’ll figure it out later”:
Ask: “What one wealth-building action can I take today?”
What Happens When You Stop Lying to Yourself
When my clients stop telling themselves financial lies, everything changes:
They start making intentional money decisions instead of default ones. They prioritize wealth building instead of hoping it happens accidentally. They create financial strategies instead of financial wishes. They build real wealth, not just earn good money.
Most importantly, they stop being victims of their circumstances and become architects of their financial future.
The Bottom Line Truth
Do you know what the real difference is between people who build wealth and people who don’t?
People who build wealth tell themselves the truth about money.
They admit when they’re prioritizing lifestyle over wealth. They acknowledge when they’re making excuses instead of making progress. They recognize when they’re hoping instead of planning.
And then they do something about it.
Your Next Step: Stop Lying, Start Building
If you’re tired of financial lies keeping you broke, if you’re ready to face the truth about your money habits, and if you want to build real wealth instead of just earning good income, then it’s time for some professional accountability.
I work with Houston’s most honest professionals – people who are ready to stop making excuses and start creating wealth.
Here’s what I know about you:
- You’re successful in your career but know you could be more strategic with money
- You’re tired of financial stress despite earning good income
- You’re ready to prioritize wealth building over lifestyle inflation
- You want a clear, honest assessment of your financial situation
- You’re willing to make changes to build the wealth you deserve
Here’s how I can help you:
- Create brutal honesty about where your money goes
- Show you precisely what’s keeping you from building wealth
- Design a personalized strategy that prioritizes wealth-building
- Hold you accountable to wealth-building decisions instead of wealth-hoping dreams
As a participant in the Goldman Sachs Small Business Program, I bring institutional-level honesty and strategy to personal wealth building—no financial lies, no comfortable excuses – just clear strategies that work.
Ready to stop lying to yourself and start building wealth?
Book a 30-minute truth-telling session with me. We’ll identify exactly which financial lies are keeping you stuck and create a clear plan for wealth building that’s based on reality, not hope.
Schedule your honest conversation here: https://calendly.com/bridgett-thefinanciallady/30min
Because the truth about your money might be uncomfortable, but it’s the only foundation for building real wealth.
Ready to face the truth about your finances? I’m here to help you build wealth based on honesty, not hope. Let’s make this the month you stop lying to yourself and start building the financial future you deserve.
P.S. Want to learn more truth-telling strategies for wealth building? Join my Money Mindset Makeover webinar on June 24th at 1 PM. I’ll be sharing the exact mindset shifts my clients make to go from financial lies to financial success. Register at https://www.thefinanciallady.com/ – Because honest money conversations create lasting wealth.