There’s a surprising connection between gratitude and using your money well. When you combine gratitude with a clear financial plan, you get something powerful: greater calm, better choices, and a higher chance of achieving the future you want.
Studying how to think about gratitude and money
Gratitude has many benefits. However, you may be surprised to learn that important research shows that feeling and practicing gratitude can actually support better financial decisions.
1. Gratitude helps us delay gratification
In one experiment, participants could choose between $54 now or $80 in 30 days. those who are invested in grateful People who felt neutral (by recalling things they were grateful for) were more willing to wait for larger, later rewards than those who felt neutral or just generally happy.
In other words, gratitude makes people Be more patient and less impulsive Make real money online. Subsequent summaries of this work suggest that grateful people tend to be less impatient in their overall economic decisions.
This is the core of long-term planning: swapping “now” for “later” in a way that still feels good.
2. Gratitude reduces materialism and thoughts of “never enough”
Research on adolescents found that when gratitude is actively encouraged, materialism decreases and generosity increases.
Materialism, striving for status, stuff, and comparison, are associated with lower happiness and greater money stress. As gratitude rises, the “I'll be happy when I have more” mentality softens. It’s not just an emotional shift; It changes the way people spend, save and give.
Emerging research on “grateful consumers” finds similar patterns in adults: Gratitude is associated with better financial decisions, more prosocial giving, and healthier spending behaviors.
3. Gratitude prompts us to make more thoughtful financial choices
Recent finance-focused research looks at how reminders of gratitude influence charitable giving. When people are prompted to reflect “Three good things” In their lives (a classic practice of gratitude), their willingness to give increased. But when these reminders are narrowly limited to financial Good things have weaker effects, or even negative ones.
Key points:
- Broad, lifelong gratitude seems to open people's hearts,
- While focusing too much on money can lead us back into worry or scarcity.
For planning, this suggests that we make money choices in the context of a larger, more grateful view of life—not just spreadsheets and account balances.
So, how do you apply gratitude to your financial planning?
Gratitude won't magically increase your 401(k). Fundamentals still matter—your income, health, caregiving responsibilities, housing costs, debt, and dozens of structural factors that impact your financial reality. But be thankful Do Influence the parts of your plan that you actually have control over: the decisions you make today and the constraints you place on those decisions.
A grateful mindset can help you slow down, focus on what's important, and reduce the stress of constantly “catching up.” It shifts planning from fear-driven (“I’m behind”) to values-driven (“Given what I already have, what’s the next right step?”).
This is where mindset turns into meaningful action:
- Patience → Stick to your savings plan rather than pounce on it for every short-term temptation.
- Reduce materialism → Buy less “because everyone else has it” and spend more on the things that really matter to you.
- Better decisions→ Align your money with your values (family, freedom, flexibility, generosity) rather than just chasing numbers.
A good plan gives you a clear idea of what might happen. A grateful mindset can help you make trade-offs and stick with them.
Together they change the problem from “Will I be okay?” arrive “Given what I already have and what I can control, what is the best life I can build?”
A good plan gives you a clear idea of what's possible. Gratitude can help you make trade-offs and stick with them. Together they free you from the question “Am I going to be okay?” to “What is the best life I can build with what I already have and what I can control?”
Here are three small ways to incorporate this mindset directly into your planning:
1. Start your planning meeting with “Three Good Things”
Before checking your plans or accounts, jot down three things you are grateful for—It's not just about money: A relationship, your health, a skill, a second chance, time with the one you love. Research shows that this broader sense of gratitude can support better, more patient decision-making.
Then look at your plan from that place: “Given all of this, what’s the next right financial step?”
2. Notice your “enough” moments
Once a month, reflect on one or two financial decisions that you are grateful for.
This practice can eliminate the persistent feeling of falling behind and strengthen your Past plans have changed your lifeeven if you're not “done” yet. This makes it easier for you to continue investing in your future self.
3. Integrate your values and generosity into the plan
Even a small project to donate, support a family, or contribute to a cause can make your plans feel more meaningful rather than deprived.
This meaning is very important. People are more likely to stick to plans that reflect who are theynot just what they “should” do.
Explore questions to help you understand your values and attitudes about money so you can live a happier life.
Boldin’s point of view: mathematics + meaning + mentality
At Boulding, we believe financial planning is more than just optimizing numbers. This is about:
- Know what you have and what you can influence
- See your future clearly and take action today
- Connect your money to the life you really want.
Gratitude does not replace planning. but it change your performance In the process: Be less fearful, more grounded, and better able to choose long-term well-being over short-term noise.
If you're ready, this season is a great time to do both of the following:
- Take a moment to notice what's already here
- Create or update a plan to help you protect it, grow it and get the most out of it
About Boulding
Boulding is shifting financial power into the hands of individuals to improve financial confidence and outcomes. We help people manage retirement plans they can understand and trust. Our retirement planning software puts you in control of your future, while our coaching, classes, and expert advice from Boldin Advisors' CFP® professionals ensure you don't have to do it alone.
Whether you're planning for retirement, dealing with a life transition, or just want to make smarter financial decisions, Boldin combines clarity, confidence, and affordability to help you move toward your goals.
The article Gratitude and Money: How Gratitude Supports Financial Success appeared first on Boulding.
