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How We’re Set Up to Fail 

Before we even hit adulthood, the game is stacked against us, and most of us are still playing by the wrong rules.

Here’s what they never tell you about money. (Prefer to watch instead? Check out the video here.)

1. Schools Don’t Focus Enough on Personal Finance

I can’t help but feel that it’s intentional that schools don’t teach more about personal finance.

Money is something we’ll manage until the day we die. It’s honestly the one thing that affects everyone’s life, yet for the most part, we have to figure it out on our own. I have a theory as to why.

It really comes down to this: financial irresponsibility makes the economy thrive.

Think about it. Financially literate people who save, spend wisely, and avoid unnecessary debt don’t exactly benefit retailers and banks.

If a bigger percentage of the population truly understood how to manage money, avoid impulse purchases, and use credit responsibly, the flow of money in the economy would slow down.

I can say that because I can’t tell you the number of comments and messages I receive from people who’ve watched my finance videos or read my articles saying, “I didn’t know, but now that I do, I’m making changes.”

Granted, some people aren’t going to care either way.

But if more people were introduced to personal finance at an early age, and it was included throughout the curriculum like history, math, and science, we’d see a completely different outcome.

Imagine the ripple effect: fewer people in debt, more emergency savings, and less unnecessary spending. It would be great for individuals, but the world we live in doesn’t exactly benefit from that kind of responsibility.

Now to be fair, some states have recognized this gap and now require personal finance education. But even then, it’s usually only a single semester, which is barely enough to scratch the surface.

And in other states, personal finance is optional, meaning many students still graduate high school without learning anything meaningful about managing money.

Some argue that it’s the responsibility of parents to teach kids about money. While parents do play a role, this thinking ignores the fact that many parents never learned about personal finance themselves. That’s how the cycle continues.

2. We’re Constantly Pushed to Spend

Everywhere you go, everything is built to encourage spending.

Have you ever noticed how every store seems determined to get you to open their credit card? Even if you’ve got a perfectly good Visa or Mastercard in your wallet, the clerk still asks, “Would you like to save more today by opening our card?”

For some people, it’s tempting. They might get a perk or a small discount. But ultimately, it’s designed to encourage overconsumption.

This isn’t limited to retail. Even banks and lenders push products you didn’t plan to get.

I remember when we were closing on our house. We went to the bank to wire the money to our closing agent. The cubicles didn’t really offer much privacy, so you could hear other bankers talking to customers.

One guy came in with a simple question about his account. After addressing his issue, I overheard the banker immediately start upselling him on a home equity line of credit.

He hadn’t asked for it, and I could hear the hesitation in his voice. He said, “No, I haven’t thought about that.” But the banker kept going, explaining how he could use the money and how it was good to have just in case. Within 20 minutes, he had agreed and applied for a new line of credit that wasn’t even on his radar when he walked in.

Now, I’m not against loans if they’re part of a plan, but our economic system is designed to make you spend more and pay interest. That’s how banks profit. Unfortunately, most people are constantly being nudged into financial decisions they didn’t even realize they were making.

It’s subtle, it’s everywhere, and it’s easy to fall into the trap if you’re not paying attention.

3. Success Isn’t What You See

Finally, let’s talk about the illusion of success.

So many people equate success with what they can see: big houses, luxury cars, expensive vacations. I’ve seen videos of people driving through neighborhoods with massive homes, saying they do it to be inspired by people who’ve made it. But what some people forget is that appearances can be deceiving.

Just because someone has a large home doesn’t mean they’re doing well financially. It doesn’t mean they’re happy, and it doesn’t mean they’re successful.

I can say this because I’ve had many conversations and seen countless forum posts about downsizing. People buy a large house thinking it will be their dream, only to become overwhelmed by expenses, utilities, and maintenance.

One thing people don’t always consider until they’re in it is that high expenses mean less freedom and fewer options.

Someone with a $4000 or $5000 mortgage and high utility bills can’t as easily leave a toxic job, switch to a one-income household, or take a mental health break compared to someone with a $2000 mortgage (who earns the same amount). You have to continue earning at that level, which can keep you stuck and unhappy.

On the other hand, people with smaller or average-sized homes often have more flexibility and are able to live life on their own terms. (Related: Download your mindful spending Money Mindset Bullet Journal — it’s your personal spending coach). 

They may not have luxury cars or enormous houses, but they have peace of mind. Yet so many people still believe the idea that bigger always equals better.