Today, Amy Walls and Jag dive into why it feels like everyone around us has more money, more freedom, or more upgrades than we do — and why that perception is often just that: perception. Social media plays a huge role in this feeling. The constant exposure to curated highlight reels makes it easy to believe others are winning financially, while we’re falling behind. Amy points out that what we see online is rarely the whole picture. People share the new boat or vacation, not the credit card debt, parental help, or stress behind the scenes.

We also talk about how older stats around side hustles — like claims that 50% of people have them — still influence how we think today, despite more accurate 2025 data showing only 25% of adults actually have one. And affluence is often funded by invisible resources like family wealth or debt, which makes comparisons misleading and self-defeating.

Psychologically, we’re wired for social comparison, but our brains focus upward. We look at those doing better, rarely at those with less. That creates ever-shifting benchmarks for “enough,” raising the bar as others share their wins. On top of that, algorithms feed us more of what we engage with — usually success stories — which can skew our sense of what’s normal.

Amy walks us through the reality: the national savings rate is low (4–5%), emergency funds are thin (1 in 5 adults can’t handle a $100 surprise), and credit card debt is at an all-time high in 2025. Even those who look like they have it all together might be stretched thin.

Why does this all sting so much? Because we’ve tied our identity to our finances. Falling behind feels like failure. It hits at our self-worth and creates a stress loop: we feel behind, we spend to catch up, and that spending adds more stress. It’s emotional and financial burnout.

So how do we break the cycle? First, redefine goals based on our own needs. Track progress against your own goals — like building savings or reducing debt — not against someone else’s vacation photos. Curate your feeds to remove content that sparks comparison. Write down what “enough” looks like for you in terms of comfort, flexibility, and fun. Celebrate quiet wins like financial stability, and be cautious of lifestyle creep when your income rises.

Lastly, Amy reminds us to stay curious instead of competitive. Learn from others without turning it into a race. Real wealth and well-being come from clarity, control, and peace of mind — not what someone else posts online.

00:00 – Intro
00:35 – Why social media skews our perception
01:30 – Debt and side hustle myths
03:00 – Why we compare ourselves psychologically
04:50 – The illusion of success online
05:50 – What’s really going on financially nationwide
06:50 – Why it hurts to feel behind
07:40 – The emotional and financial cost of comparison
08:45 – How to reset your goals
09:40 – Avoiding lifestyle creep
10:25 – Final takeaways and closing

To get in touch with Amy and her team at Thimbleberry Financial, call 503-610-6510 or visit thimbleberryfinancial.com.