Will you have enough money?

Get the right people on your side to prioritise your mental and financial wellness.’

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Do you suffer from money dysmorphia? If it seems like no matter how much money you make, you feel financially insecure, or no matter how stretched you are, you still spend impulsively, you may be experiencing money dysmorphia.

René Basson, head of brand at Satrix, says the term money dysmorphia is an internet term, not a clinical one, but it describes a very real feeling of a rocky, warped relationship with your finances.

"Social media exacerbates feelings of inadequacy, making many people wonder why they cannot keep up with their peers," Basson says.

Basson says money dysmorphia "shows up" in two ways.

"A social media scroll can make you feel as if everyone is holidaying in exotic destinations, making you wonder why you are falling behind when in reality, you are fine financially. Or perhaps you are deep in debt but you keep chasing dopamine hits from retail therapy that stretch your finances further."

A survey by Credit Karma found that 43% of Gen Z and 41% of millennials have experienced some form of money dysmorphia.

Basson says these generations, known for their addiction to digital savviness, seem particularly prone to financial insecurities.

This can lead to irrational decision-making, which affects future outcomes. The antidote? Having a solid plan in place and pursuing empowering patterns of behaviour like investing, Basson says.

"Anyone, in any stage of their financial journey, can feel dysmorphia," she says.