Signs You're Doing Well Financially (Even If It Doesn't Feel Like It)

I've got something to confess: I am constantly worrying about my finances.

That gnawing feeling in your stomach when you check your bank account? I know it well. The crushing weight of comparing yourself to friends who seem to have it all figured out? Been there too.

Every day I battle thoughts like:

• "I should be making more by now"

• "Everyone else has their finances figured out except me"

• "I'm falling behind and will never catch up"

That persistent voice of doubt that whispers you're not doing enough, saving enough, or earning enough.

But here's the truth: Most of our money anxiety comes from measuring ourselves against an impossible standard.

4 Signs You're Actually Winning at Money (Even If It Doesn't Feel Like It)

1. You're Comparing Bank Accounts to Instagram Lifestyles

I remember my teenage years in secondary school. I was DESPERATE for status symbols - that Ralph Lauren polo, the latest Blackberry phone. My parents went into debt just to help me fit in.

When I got my first fast food job at 16, I immediately bought that shiny iPhone 7 I'd always craved with my first paycheck. The dopamine hit lasted about two weeks before I realized something profound:

The lifestyle you see others flaunting often hides financial disaster behind the scenes.

According to a 2024 Federal Reserve study, 72% of Americans who appear "wealthy" on social media carry an average of $38,000 in high-interest consumer debt. That luxury vacation? Financed. That designer bag? Still making minimum payments.

THE MONEY TRAP: You're torturing yourself comparing your financial reality to others' carefully curated illusions. This comparison game is rigged from the start and leaves you feeling perpetually inadequate.

THE SOLUTION: Start measuring yourself against your past self, not others' highlight reels. Are you more financially secure than you were a year ago? That's the only comparison that matters.

ACTION STEP: Limit social media app usage on your phone for just one week and track how your financial anxiety changes. I noticed a massive reduction in money stress from this simple exercise.

2. You're Playing the Long Game in a Short-Game World

While others chase immediate gratification, you're quietly building something sustainable.

True wealth isn't measured by what you spend but by assets that generate income while you sleep.

Even small, consistent investments in low-cost index funds can transform your financial future. A 25-year-old investing just $300 monthly in an S&P 500 index fund could amass over $1 million by retirement age (assuming historical returns).

Meanwhile, the person financing the latest luxury car is playing a losing game.

THE FINANCIAL FRUSTRATION: It feels like you're missing out when friends are posting about luxury purchases while you're quietly funding your savings/investments. The constant FOMO can make you question your choices.

THE SOLUTION: Celebrate each step you take toward long-term financial independence. Every $100 invested is buying your future freedom. Visualize what that freedom will mean in the future - perhaps working because you want to, not because you have to.

ACTION STEP: Calculate your "freedom number" - the amount your investments need to reach before work becomes optional. Having this concrete goal turns abstract saving into a meaningful mission.

3. You Have an Emergency Fund

The harsh reality? According to a 2024 Bankrate survey, 57% of Americans couldn't cover an unexpected $1,000 emergency without going into debt. Let that sink in.

If you've managed to set aside even one month of expenses, you're already outperforming most of your peers. Three months? You're in the top 30% financially.

THE MONEY STRUGGLE: Building an emergency fund feels like watching paint dry. It's not sexy, nobody compliments you on it, and the money sits there "doing nothing" while you could be using it for something more exciting.

THE SOLUTION: Reframe your emergency fund as "sleep-well-at-night" money. When your car breaks down or your roof leaks, you'll experience financial peace while others spiral into panic and debt.

ACTION STEP: Keep your savings in a high-interest savings account so that it does not lose it’s value to inflation.

4. You Live Below Your Means

This is the ultimate financial superpower.

In an era where the average American carries $9,800 in credit card debt (with 22% interest), simply spending less than you earn puts you ahead of 63% of consumers.

No fancy investment strategy or side hustle can outperform the simple practice of living within your means.

THE WEALTH BLOCKER: In a world shouting "treat yourself" and "you deserve it," choosing financial restraint can feel like you're missing out on life's pleasures. The constant barrage of marketing makes delayed gratification feel like deprivation.

THE SOLUTION: Instead of restricting all spending, ruthlessly eliminate expenses that don't bring genuine happiness while protecting those that do. Most discover their most joyful activities cost relatively little.

ACTION STEP: Track your spending for just one week. Most people discover they're leaking hundreds of dollars monthly on subscriptions and impulse purchases they don't even remember making.

The Mindset Shift That Changes Everything

The most powerful financial tool isn't a budget spreadsheet or investment strategy—it's your mindset. When you stop seeing money as a scorecard and start viewing it as a tool to create the life you want, everything changes.

I've seen this transformation numerous times: Once you break free from comparison and reconnect with your actual values, financial decisions become clearer and anxiety diminishes.

THE EMOTIONAL BURDEN: Society has programmed us to believe that net worth equals self-worth. This toxic equation creates perpetual dissatisfaction, regardless of your financial progress.

THE SOLUTION: Create your own definition of financial success based on what truly matters to you—perhaps it's travel flexibility, creative freedom, or family security—not what others tell you to value.

ACTION STEP: Write down what "enough" looks like for you. Having a clear finish line prevents the endless pursuit of more that keeps so many financially stressed despite their success.

The Bottom Line: Give Yourself Credit

If you've hit even two of these four markers, you're doing better than you think. Your anxiety isn't reflecting reality - it's reflecting the impossible standards we've internalized.

The next time financial panic sets in, remember: The path to wealth isn't a sprint—it's a marathon with countless small decisions that compound over time. You're making those decisions daily, even when it doesn't feel like progress.

Have you ever felt behind financially despite doing many things right? Hit reply and tell me your story - I personally read every response.

Until next time,

Rashid from Savvy Pockets ©

@RashidSaves on X