From Scarcity to Strength: How gratitude reshapes your relationship with money
- Dec 4
- 3 min read
By Maria Kamilla Gonzalez
Co-founder, Finanzo.ca
As the year comes to a close, many of us feel the weight of unmet financial goals, rising costs, or the emotional burden of trying to provide for our families. For immigrants and first-generation wealth builders, that weight can feel even heavier.
But at Finanzo, we’ve learned that transformation doesn’t always start with more money—it starts with a shift in mindset. And one of the most powerful mindset shifts is gratitude.
Gratitude isn’t just a feel-good emotion; it’s a proven tool for mental clarity and financial resilience. Studies show that people who practice gratitude experience lower levels of stress and anxiety, are more likely to stick with financial goals, and make more thoughtful spending decisions.
At Finanzo, we see this daily in our community: individuals who come to us feeling overwhelmed by debt or disconnected from their finances often begin to shift the moment they start acknowledging what is working in their lives.
From survival mode to strategic action
Financial scarcity can push us into survival mode, where every decision feels urgent and fear-based. Gratitude acts as a circuit breaker. It brings us back into the present and helps us recognize that while we may not be where we want to be, we are not powerless. We have made progress. We have strengths. We have options.
When people in the Finanzo program begin to regularly journal what they’re grateful for—even if it’s just being able to cover rent that month or learning one new concept about investing—they start to reclaim agency. That small shift opens the door to bigger changes: negotiating salaries, paying off debt, starting investment accounts, and helping others in their community do the same.
Client stories: from modest investments to multiple income streams
When Natalia moved to Canada, she learned to budget and
understand the financial system. She understood that financial instruments such as Tax Free Savings Accounts and investment accounts were essential to growing wealth.
“Knowing how to manage money, not just earn it, changed everything. Going from zero to earning nearly $3,000 a month may not seem like a lot to some, but for me, it's monumental,” she explains.
Another client, Claudia, set aside $6,000 into investment. Today, that money has enabled her to earn income through eight accounts in different stocks, and two in crypto.
“I entered during a market dip and followed Finanzo's advice closely,” she adds. “In just four months, some investments doubled. I set up automated transfers to invest as soon as I'm paid. I monitor the markets daily—not with panic, but with awareness. I'm fascinated by how society is influenced through finance.”
A year-end gratitude ritual
If you’re feeling discouraged or behind financially, take 15 minutes this week to try this exercise:
List five financial decisions you made this year that you're proud of. They don’t have to be big.
Write down three things you learned about money in the past 12 months.
Name one person (including yourself!) who helped you grow financially.
Set an intention for how you want to feel about your money in 2026.
This simple act of reflection turns the page emotionally and energetically—so you can enter the new year from a place of strength, not shame.
Gratitude as financial Strategy
At Finanzo, we believe that financial education must be emotional, not just informational. Gratitude isn’t a distraction from strategy; it is the foundation of one. When you can acknowledge your own progress, no matter how small, you build the confidence needed to take the next step.
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