EPISODE SUMMARY Ever walk into Target for milk and leave with a cart full of things you didn't plan to buy? You're not alone, and it's not a willpower problem. In this episode of the Money Healing Club podcast, host Rachel Duncan speaks with Stacy Peterson, to explore the connection between your nervous system and your spending habits. Stacy is a licensed therapist & a certified financial therapist. Together, Rachel and Stacy unpack how to recognize when you're in the right state to make conscious money decisions, what to do in the Target parking lot when you feel activated, and how to come back to center after overspending. 💬 "The goal is not to always be regulated. No human can exist and nor do we want you to because our survival expects us to be able to have our threat responses work appropriately. We just don't want them to happen at unnecessary times." - Stacy Peterson Key Takeaways: Your spending is not a willpower problem, it's a nervous system awareness process Making conscious money decisions happens when you're in your "window of resilience" Notice what's happening in your body before making purchases (the Target parking lot check-in) Understand the difference between hyper arousal (activated, anxious) and hypo arousal (shut down, disconnected) Ask yourself: "What is the want beneath the want?" to uncover deeper emotional needs Practice "pendulation", the natural movement between different nervous system states Self-compassion is essential when you spend more than you intended About Stacy Peterson: Stacy is a licensed therapist and certified financial therapist with over a decade of experience. A former teacher, she brings a patient and encouraging approach to her work. She's a Trauma of Money Methods certified practitioner and is pursuing her polyvagal informed certificate. Stacy offers individual and group financial therapy through River Bend Financial Therapy, blending practical tools with nervous system awareness.   ⏰ EPISODE BREAKDOWN 03:00 | The Window of Resilience Understanding when you're in the best nervous system state to make conscious money decisions. 07:00 | The Target Parking Lot Exercise A powerful guided practice for checking in with your body before shopping, noticing what's happening in your nervous system as you pull into the parking lot. 14:00 | What Is the Want Beneath the Want? Going deeper than surface-level desires to uncover the emotional needs driving your impulse purchases. 30:00 | Pendulation: The Word That Rocks Our Socks Learning about the natural movement between nervous system states and why regulation isn't about staying calm all the time. 📚 Resources Mentioned Trauma of Money professional training course & book Consumerism Documentary: Century of Self Window of Tolerance Connect with Stacy Peterson: Website: riverbendfinancialtherapy.com Instagram: @riverbendfinancialtherapy Facebook: River Bend Financial Therapy LinkedIn: Stacy Peterson 💬 Join the Conversation What's your "Target parking lot" moment? Where do you notice your nervous system getting activated around spending? Click on the big orange button on our site right from your phone or browser and let me know what store or situation tends to trigger impulse spending for you, and what you're learning about your nervous system in those moments! https://www.moneyhealingclub.com/podcast   🎧 Your next listen: Check out Episode S2E36 about buying no new things and what happens when you commit to a spending pause. https://www.moneyhealingclub.com/podcast/s2e36   💫 Visit the Money Healing Club website to start your money healing process! https://www.moneyhealingclub.com   💌 Free Email Course: Curb impulse spending with compassion and mindfulness https://www.moneyhealingclub.com/challenge   Full transcript: https://www.moneyhealingclub.com/podcast   🎙️We're a proud member of the Feminist Podcasters Collective where creators like me are uplifting diverse voices and driving meaningful change.