Picture this: You’re at a party, feeling pretty good about life. Maybe you just got a raise, or were able to meet your savings goal for the month. Then a guy sidles up to you, all cologne and bad intentions. He leans in with his million dollar smile…
“Hey there,” he says, “you’ve been working hard. Don’t you deserve a little treat?”
You know him. He’s the guy who convinces you to splurge on the gadget, or tack on that extra streaming service. “What’s 20 bucks a month, right?”
At first, he makes you feel amazing! Your life is better, shinier, more luxurious. But then, before you know it, he’s overstayed his welcome, raiding your wallet, and leaving you wondering, “What happened?”
I call him The Creep. And he will ruin your dreams!
Want to keep him at bay? Let’s understand his game and talk ways to beat him. First, let’s get clear on why its important.
The Creep is dangerous
The Creep can seem harmless, even fun, at first. But he’s not. He is a thief who takes your money and costs you your freedom.
The Creep is a slow burning villain. He sneaks in quietly, convincing you to trade your future for a string of tiny, seemingly harmless upgrades. A little treat here, a slightly nicer version there. You barely notice as your expenses exceed your income.
But then one day, you wake up as if from a dream and you realize you’re broke.
Every dollar he convinces you to spend on maintaining an inflated lifestyle is a dollar you can’t use to buy your actual dreams.
That trip you swore you’d take? Delayed. The time you wanted to spend with loved ones? Replaced by more work to sustain the life he built for you. The ability to walk away from a job you hate? Gone.
And worst of all? You never made a conscious choice. You just let it happen.
If you want your dreams, if you want freedom and control over your own life, you have to recognize The Creep for what he is. He is not your friend. He is not here to make your life better. In fact, he is here to steal it right out from under you.
Understand The Creep
The Creep preys on human nature. Our brains are wired for hedonic adaptation, meaning we quickly adjust to improvements in our lives and start taking them for granted. Flying first-class, the fancy apartment, the daily latte that once felt like a luxury? Soon, they don’t bring as much happiness – they just feel normal.
We sprint on the hedonic treadmill, mistaking motion for progress. Spending more and acquiring things, but feeling the same.
He whispers things to you like:
“You work hard, you deserve a nicer car.”
“Everyone is doing it, you have to keep up!”
“Wouldn’t delivery make your evening perfect?”
And we’re more likely to fall for The Creep’s traps when we’re feeling emotioinal. Its easy to turn to a little retail therapy when we’re feeling down, anxious, or frustrated. Positive emotions aren’t off limits, either. Celebrations are often a good excuse to splurge!
The Creep feeds on social pressure and insecurity, nudging us to match the spending habits of friends, coworkers, or influencers whose lives seem just a little better than ours. We can think upgrading our wardrobe, our car, or our social status will make us feel happy.
He counts on distracting us and lulling us to sleep, so we turn the wheel of the car over to him.
Now that we know his game, we can talk about how to beat The Creep!
How to beat The Creep
1. Get Clear on Your Vision
If you don’t have a rock-solid vision of what you actually want, it’s easy to let The Creep influence you. And, the more vivid your vision, the less you will be tempted by fleetinig imitations.
So, get crystal clear. What does your ideal life really look like? Not in vague terms like “more freedom” or “less stress,” but in tangible, sensory-rich detail.
Write down your perfect day, step-by-step, from morning to night. Where are you? What do you see? Who are you with? What are you doing? How do you feel? The more specific you get, the more powerful this exercise becomes.
If your dream life involves financial independence, write down what that actually means? Does it mean not worrying about bills? Traveling whenever you want? Work optional?
Now, make that vision impossible to ignore.
Create a vision board with images that represent your future and put it somewhere you see everyday. Choose a song that embodies your goals and play it often. Set a reminder on your phone that says, “Freedom over fleeting.”
(I had a shell from my favorit beach in Mexico with a personal mantra taped to it on my cubicle desk, which helped remind me of my goal of financial independence!)
The more present your goals are in your mind, the easier it is to ignore The Creep.
2. Avoid comparison
The Creep loves scrolling Instagram with you, whispering in your ear: “See? They just got a sleek new couch. Your place looks like a thrift store exploded.” Or “Everyone’s taking amazing vacations, I deserve one, too!”
The problem? You’re comparing your behind-the-scenes life to someone else’s highlight reel. You don’t see their credit card statements, their financial stress, or the fact that they’re trapped in a cycle of working harder just to keep up appearances.
Instead of measuring your life against someone else’s, measure it against your own goals. What leads to enduring happiness for you? What purchases actually improve your life? If a little splurge genuinely adds value, great. But if it’s just to keep pace with someone else, you’re letting The Creep drive.
3. Monitor your emotions around spending.
The Creep loves when you’re emotional. And he encourages you to make money decisions during these times because logic is his enemy. A quick check-in with yourself can keep you from falling for one of The Creep’s false promises of happiness.
So, before you swipe, ask yourself: Why do I want this? Am I am I chasing a feeling? Is it about comfort, status, or escaping stress? Try delaying the purchase by 24 hours, if you still really want it, go for it.
Another way to avoid emotional spending is to have a go-to list of non-monetary ways to process your emotions. Try a long walk, or journal to get your thoughts out of your head. Call a friend, rewatch a favorite movie, or dive into a creative hobby that brings you joy.
Can you write down 3 alternatives right now?
Identifying these alternatives in advance, The Creep won’t even has a chance to whisper in your ear.
Ready to kick The Creep to the curb?
Start with identifying one time The Creep snuck in on you recently. Think back to the last time you made a purchase that, in hindsight, didn’t really add much to your life.
What was going on in your head? Maybe you were celebrating something, and The Creep slid in with, “Go big! You earned it.” Or maybe you were having a rough day, and he convinced you that a shiny new toy would fix everything.
Now, imagine that moment again, but this time, imagine recognizing The Creep in real-time. Picture yourself pausing, taking a breath, and thinking: “Wait. Is this me making this decision, or is it him?” That’s how you start winning!
Naturally, the goal isn’t to never spend money, it’s to spend it on purpose. When you can spot The Creep in action, you take back control. And before long, he gets the message: you’re not an easy target anymore.
Of course, The Creep is going to win a few battles. Its okay, forgive yourself and focus on winning the war!
Now you know
Remember, the Creep doesn’t actually care about your happiness. He’s not here to enrich your life. He’s here to distract you from momentary discomfort, boredom and insecurity.
When you ditch The Creep, you don’t lose joy – you gain control! You get to invest in the things that actually bring you fulfillment.
So, the next time The Creep shows up with his slick smile, you know what to do. Tell him to take his overpriced brunches, unnecessary upgrades, and high-interest temptations elsewhere.
You’ve got bigger plans.
Live a Life You Love
Tired of feeling stuck? Let’s create your escape plan. Schedule your free session today.
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