I was out on the street in my usual vibe—mic in hand, asking strangers to talk about money like it’s not weird.
I walked up to a woman and asked her one simple question:
“What’s the first word that comes to mind when you think about money?”
She paused.
Laughed nervously.
And said:
“Eek.”
One syllable. Total honesty.
And I thought, yep—there it is.
Let’s Talk About “Eek”
“Eek” is the sound of fear, shame, pressure, confusion, and memories of overdraft emails rolled into one. It’s the universal noise we make when something feels both important and completely overwhelming.
This wasn’t the first time I’ve heard this kind of answer. It won’t be the last.
But what she said next made me stop:
“I try not to live in fear around money. If money showed up at my door, I’d invite it in and say, ‘What do you wanna do? Let’s go for it.’”
Let’s go for it.
That line stuck with me. That’s the version of money we’re all trying to build a relationship with—the kind that doesn’t judge or scold or ghost us when we need it most.
But before we can say “let’s go,” we have to talk about why so many of us still live in “eek.”
Why Women Have Such a Complicated Relationship With Money
Here’s the truth: the way women relate to money isn’t personal failure—it’s cultural inheritance.
Let’s break it down:
- Women couldn’t open a credit card in their own name until 1974. That’s not ancient history. That’s your mom, your aunt, maybe even you.
- We’re taught to budget, not build. Most financial advice for women is about coupon clipping, not wealth creation.
- Money shame runs deep. We’re expected to be good with money but rarely taught how to feel good about it.
- 70% of women say they learned more about managing money from past mistakes than from formal education.
(And still, we blame ourselves for not knowing better.) - And let’s not forget: most of us were raised to believe talking about money is taboo, tacky, or selfish.
So yeah—no wonder the word that comes to mind is “eek.”
But Here’s the Plot Twist: You Can Rewrite That Word
You don’t have to be fluent in investing or have zero debt to shift your relationship with money.
You just need to get honest about what you feel—so you can start deciding what you want to believe.
Journal Prompts to Go From “Eek” to Empowered
Grab a notebook or your notes app. Let these questions be your invitation in:
- What’s the first word you think of when you hear the word “money”? Why that word?
- What’s one memory that shaped how you feel about money today?
- If money were a person, how would you describe your relationship? (Friendly? Distant? Complicated? Controlling?)
- What would you want money to say to you if it showed up at your door today?
- What kind of future would feel exciting to fund? Not practical. Not responsible. But exciting.
Don’t overthink it. Just write. You can’t change what you don’t first name.
Your Money Story Is Not Final
If “eek” is your honest answer right now, that’s okay. That’s real. That’s human.
But it’s not your ending.
You get to unlearn the fear.
You get to build safety.
You get to invite money in like it’s not a threat, but a partner.
And when you do?
You get to ask, just like she did:
“What do you wanna do? Let’s go for it.”
P.S.
If this post made your stomach flip a little, that’s your sign to start with Bank Account Therapy. It’s a free 4-day audio reset to help you stop emotional spending, ditch money shame, and finally feel safe with your finances. Like a cozy blanket for your bank account—without the spreadsheets.
