by Valéria Meirelles

This is my first article in 6 years, when I used to write for the Mulher Atual (Present Woman) column

From that time on, a lot has changed, especially after September 2008, when the mortgage crash in the USA made people start talking more openly about money, which was once considered a taboo just like sex.

Although money is part of our daily lives, come to think of it, few people, our parents included, ever dedicated their time to give us the basics of its use.

We learn a lot more by watching our parents deal well with money than with explanations, and without noticing, we repeat our families’ financial patterns that at times help us, but at other times hinder us depending on the context and on the relationship.

This learning about money we receive from our families is technically called economic socialization, and it is one of the most studied areas within the Psychology of Money, because it highly determines the way we handle our money in adulthood.

The Psychology of Money, my area of study for PhD degree in interface with Clinical Psychology, is almost unknown to most people. One of the many ramifications of Economic Psychology is intended to study the attitudes, beliefs and behaviors toward money, focusing on personal relationships and of course, the psychological aspect, which involves mental health.

The first major theory emerged in 1987 from British researchers Stephean Lea, Roger Tarpy and Paul Webley. Eleven years later, two other Englishmen, Adrian Furnham and Michael Argyle wrote the book "The Psychology of Money", detailing and refining the theory, which involves numerous issues, including financial pathologies – which are unfortunately more common than we imagine, for example, gambling addiction, consumerism, greed, among others.

Our Idea is to help you get out ‘of the automatic’ regarding the use of Money, through the identification of psychological aspects that involve its use. The idea emerged from my experience noticing people taking excellent courses in financial education area but they can´t put to practice what they have learned for the most various reasons. For example: they want to save, invest, help their loved ones, just work for fun after retirement, take their dream trip, but they can´t and end up frustrated with themselves.

We want you, reader, to be able to put to practice everything you know and have learned, studied or watched about investments and about the way to save money on your everyday life.

We would like you to have a healthy relationship with your own money, being healthy something that brings you well being, that allows you the rich your goals and have a worthy life.

That´s why we create the column “Money: keep it simple”, to make more accessible what the great names in human sciences have researched and are still researching about money and bring the psychological questions implied, that many times hinder your relationship with money.

In a capitalist society in which success is also measured by the amount of money you have in your bank account, learning more about yourself in this relationship is primordial not only to have a lot of money but to have a life full of richest.

Fell free to suggest topics, criticize or give your opinion. “Let´s keep it simple” by learning about money, clarifying doubts and transforming them into new success and achievement possibilities