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When you think of addiction, you might automatically think of people who are dependent on drugs or alcohol as a coping mechanism. But it’s also possible to be addicted to money. This issue can manifest itself through unhealthy behaviors such as gambling, frequent overspending, or extreme saving (yes, it’s possible to overdo a good thing).

Having an addiction to money can be harmful financially and emotionally; it can also put a strain on your personal relationships. Recognizing the signs of a money addiction can be the first step in making a recovery. Read on for a closer look at the signs and symptoms of money addiction, how it can impact your life, and strategies that can help you overcome it

What Is Money Addiction?

Broadly speaking, addiction is defined as a chronic disease that leads people to engage in compulsive behaviors, even when the consequences of those behaviors may be negative. The precise cause of addiction isn’t known, but it is believed to be a combination of a person’s genetics, brain circuitry, environment, and life experience.

When someone has a money addiction, their compulsive behaviors are centered around money, and they may approach their finances in a way that’s outside the norm of what people typically do.

For example, having a lack of savings or too much debt are common financial challenges that many people face. If you have a healthy relationship with money, you might try to remedy those issues by opening a high-yield savings account and setting up an automatic transfer of 5% or each paycheck into the account, or by creating a workable debt payoff plan. While your finances might not be in great shape, there isn’t any indication of compulsive behavior.

Someone with a money addiction, on the other hand, will typically have a different relationship with their finances. They might commit to an aggressive savings plan, for example, because they believe they have to save even if it means sacrificing basic needs. Or they may compulsively shop for emotional fulfillment while turning a blind eye to their debt.

Can You Be Addicted to Money?

Money addiction is a real thing for many people. The Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (DSM), which is the official manual of the American Psychiatric Association, specifically recognizes certain financial behaviors as addictive. For example, the DSM classifies gambling disorder as an addictive disorder.

Whether you end up addicted to money can depend in part on your experiences and the money values you developed in childhood. If you frequently ask yourself, “Why am I bad with money?” the answer could be that you learned negative financial behaviors from your parents and the people you grew up around. Genetics and biology also play roles.

What money addiction looks like for one person might be very different for another. And it can sometimes be difficult to recognize those behaviors as addictive. For example, someone who spends $20 a day on lottery tickets in the hope of someday winning the jackpot might not see that as compulsive or having a money addiction. They could fail to realize how that behavior might be harming them financially because they’re so focused on the idea that they’ll win eventually.

Signs You May Be Addicted to Money

How do you know if you have an addiction to money or are just bad at managing it? As mentioned, experiencing common money issues such as debt or a lack of savings can indicate that you might need to work on learning personal finance basics like budgeting. But there are other signs that could point to a full-fledged money addiction. Here are some signals:

Life Revolving Around Obtaining Money

One major clue that you might be addicted to money is feeling obsessed with the idea of getting it. It’s one thing to wonder how you’re going to stretch your finances until your next paycheck; it’s another to spend most of your waking hours thinking about how to get money. If you often think of how you can obtain money instead of considering how to make the most of the money you do have, that could be a sign of a money addiction.

You don’t have to be broke to have this mindset either. You might be making $250,000 a year at your job, for example, but still not think it’s enough and constantly consider ways you could make more money.

Engaging in Dangerous or Risky Behavior

Certain behaviors could signal a money addiction if they involve your taking big risks that you’re not necessarily comfortable with. For example, when a money addict gets paid, they might take that money to the casino instead of using it to pay bills. Their addictive mindset doesn’t allow them to factor in the risk that instead of winning big, they might lose it all.

Money addiction can play out in other ways that might not seem risky at first glance. Trading stock options or futures, for example, is something plenty of people do every day. If your guess about which way a stock will move pays off, you could net some decent profits.

Where that kind of behavior becomes problematic is if you’re constantly losing money, but you continue investing anyway. It’s similar to the person with a lottery ticket addiction. You keep telling yourself that your winning number is sure to come up eventually, but in the meantime, you’re steadily losing money.

Not Wanting Others to Know Your Money Struggle

Covering up your money behaviors can be another strong hint that you have a financial addiction. That includes things like hiding receipts, credit card bills, or bank statements, or hiding the things you’re purchasing from a spouse, significant other, or another family member. You may act defensive or defiant when someone tries to ask you about your money situation.

Here’s another simple test to determine if you’re addicted to money. If you have to ask yourself, “Why do I feel guilty spending money?“, that could suggest that you know there’s a problem with what you’re doing.

Living in Denial About Spending

Your spending patterns can be one of the best gauges of whether you have a money addiction, provided you own up to them. Avoiding your financial life can be a symptom: If you shy away from checking your bank statements or adding up how much credit card debt you have, those could be red flags for money addiction.

Understanding why you spend the way you do can be a first step toward recovery. For instance, there’s a difference between compulsive vs. impulsive spending. Knowing which one you engage in more often can help you identify the triggers that are leading to bad money habits.

Unwilling and Unable to Change Money Habits

Another sign of money addiction is a sense of resignation, or knowing that you have a problem with money but not doing anything about it. You might feel ashamed to let someone else know that you need help with money, for instance. Or you might take the attitude that things have been the way they are for so long already that there’s no point in trying to change the situation.

Fearing the Loss of Money

No one wants to lose money but having an unnatural fear of doing so could be a clue to a money addiction. Being afraid of losses can keep you from making smart decisions with your money that could actually improve your financial situation. For example, you might be so afraid of losing money in the stock market that you never invest at all. In the meantime, you could potentially miss out on thousands of dollars in compound interest growth over time. Or it might have you working 24/7 and never enjoying downtime because you are so focused on making as much as possible to avoid feeling poor.

Another expression of money addiction could be saving so much that you have very little spending money. If you feel compelled to save a certain, possibly excessive, amount, it could keep you from paying bills on time and enjoying the occasional dinner out or movie because you feel every penny must go into your bank account. This behavior can be akin to hoarding and can likewise interfere with daily life.

Effects of Money Addiction

How money addiction affects you personally can depend on what form your addictive behaviors take. Generally, there are a number of negative side effects you might deal with as a result of money addiction, including:

•   Constantly feeling worried or stressed over money

•   Failing to set or reach financial goals

•   Carrying large amounts of debt

•   Having little to no money in savings

•   Missing out on legitimate opportunities to grow your money

•   Getting no enjoyment from the money that you do have

•   Living with a scarcity mindset

•   Having strained personal relationships because of money.

In short, money addiction can keep you from having the kind of financial life and daily life that you want. The longer you’re addicted to money without addressing the causes, the more significant the financial and emotional damage might be. The sooner you learn to manage money better, the less you will pay (literally and figuratively) for it.

Tips to Recover From Money Addiction

If you have a money addiction, you don’t have to stay stuck with it. There are things you can do to cope with and manage an addiction to money, similar to how you’d deal with any other type of addiction.

Improving your money mindset can lead to positive actions and break the addictive cycle. Here are some key steps on your path to recovery.

Being Honest

Before you can break your addiction to money, you first need to be honest with yourself that you have a problem. It can be difficult to acknowledge that you have an issue with money, but it’s necessary to identify what’s behind your compulsive behaviors.

You may also need to come clean with others around you if your financial behaviors have affected them directly or indirectly. For example, if you’re hiding $50,000 in credit card debt from your spouse, that’s a conversation you need to have. They probably won’t be thrilled to hear that you’ve run up so much debt, but they can’t help you address the problem if they don’t know about it.

Seeking Help

Fixing a money addiction might not be something you can do on your own. You might need professional help, which can include talking to a qualified therapist to understand your money behaviors and improve them. Or it could mean working with a nonprofit credit counseling company to hammer out a budget and a financial plan for getting back on track. Or it might mean taking both of these steps.

Even having an accountability partner can be helpful if you’re struggling with overspending. Any time you’re tempted to make an impulse buy, you can call up your accountability buddy and ask them to talk you through it until the urge to spend passes.

Using Money for Good

Depending on how it’s used, money can do a lot of good. If you have negative associations with money, you can help turn that around by using it for positive purposes.

For example, you might start making a regular donation to a charitable cause you believe in. Or if you’ve neglected saving in favor of spending, you might try paying yourself first by putting part of every paycheck into a high-interest savings account. Prioritizing savings and focusing on your needs vs. wants can be a form of financial self-care that can help with breaking a money addiction.

Understanding Why Basing Your Self-Worth on Money Is Unhealthy

When you’re addicted to money, you might have a mindset that the amount of money you have determines your value. That’s an easy trap to fall into if you spend a lot of time on social media, where you’re likely to see a steady stream of influencers living dream lives. You can end up in a cycle of FOMO (or fear of missing out) spending in an effort to live a lifestyle that you can’t really afford.

That’s not a healthy place to be financially or mentally because you can find yourself constantly chasing “things” in order to feel whole. Recognizing that your self-worth goes beyond how much money you have in your bank account or which designer brands you wear can be a key step in recovering from a money addiction.

The Takeaway

Money addiction can strain or even wreck your finances, but it doesn’t have to. If you identify the issue and then are willing to take steps to manage it, you may well be able to thrive. Consider taking some first steps, whether that means opening a new bank account for savings and automating deposits into it, or contacting a credit counselor. Moves like these can help you develop a positive relationship with money.

Interested in opening an online bank account? When you sign up for a SoFi Checking and Savings account with direct deposit, you’ll get a competitive annual percentage yield (APY), pay zero account fees, and enjoy an array of rewards, such as access to the Allpoint Network of 55,000+ fee-free ATMs globally. Qualifying accounts can even access their paycheck up to two days early.

FAQ

What is it called when you are addicted to money?

It’s called a money addiction when you have an unhealthy relationship with money that leads to compulsive or dangerous behaviors. Being addicted to money means that you have an emotional or mental dependence on it that can have potentially harmful side effects.

Can saving money be an addiction?

Saving money can be an addiction if you’re so focused on saving that you neglect meeting your basic needs or you’re blind to your ability to use money for good. If you’re only interested in seeing your savings account balance go up, you might miss out on opportunities to put your money to work in other ways or enjoy life.

Does money create dopamine?

The release of dopamine in the body is associated with pleasurable or novel experiences. If you get a rush from certain money behaviors, like saving excessively or impulse shopping, then that’s a sign that those behaviors might be triggering a dopamine release.

About the author

Rebecca Lake

Rebecca Lake has been a finance writer for nearly a decade, specializing in personal finance, investing, and small business. She is a contributor at Forbes Advisor, SmartAsset, Investopedia, The Balance, MyBankTracker, MoneyRates and CreditCards.com. Read full bio.

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Editor's Note: Options are not suitable for all investors. Options involve risks, including substantial risk of loss and the possibility an investor may lose the entire amount invested in a short period of time. Please see the Characteristics and Risks of Standardized Options.

A protective put is an investment strategy that uses options contracts to help reduce the risk that comes with owning a particular security or commodity. In it, an investor buys a put option on the security or commodity.

Typically, put options are used by investors who want to benefit from a price decline in a given investment. But in a protective put strategy, the investor owns the underlying asset, and is positioned to benefit if the price of the asset goes up.

The investor purchases the protective put, in this case, to help limit their potential losses if the price of the stock they own goes down.

An investor may use a protective put on various investments, including equities, ETFs, and commodities. But if the investment they own does go up, the investor will have to deduct the cost of the put-option premiums from their returns.

Recommended: How to Trade Options: A Beginner’s Guide

What Is a Protective Put?

Investors typically purchase protective puts on assets that they already own as a way of limiting or capping any future potential losses.

The instrument that makes a protective put strategy work is the put option. A put option is a contract between two investors. The buyer of the put acquires the right to sell an agreed-upon number of a given asset security at a given price during a predetermined time period.

Definition and Basic Concepts

There is some key options trading lingo to know in order to fully understand a protective put.

•   The price at which the purchaser of the put option can sell the underlying asset is known as the “strike price.”

•   The amount of money the buyer pays to acquire this right is called the “premium.”

•   And the end of the time period specified in the options contract is the expiration date, or “expiry date.”

•   In a protective put strategy, the strike price represents the predetermined price at which an investor can sell the underlying asset if the put option is exercised. However, the true floor price, the minimum amount the investor would effectively receive, is the strike price minus the premium paid for the option. This also accounts for the cost of protection.

For complete coverage in a protective put strategy, an investor might buy put option contracts equal to their entire position. For large positions in a given stock, that can be expensive. And whether or not that protection comes in handy, the put options themselves regularly expire — which means the investor has to purchase new put options contracts on a regular basis.

Setting Up a Protective Put

To set up a protective put, an investor must first own the underlying asset they want to protect. The investor purchases a put option contract for the same asset. This put option allows the investor to sell the asset at a predetermined price, known as the strike price, within a specific time frame.

Setting up a protective put involves:

•   Determining the Level of Protection Needed: Investors should evaluate how much of their position they want to protect. A full protective put strategy involves buying put option contracts to cover the entire position. However, for cost-saving purposes, some investors may choose partial coverage.

•   Selecting the Strike Price: The strike price represents the minimum price at which the asset can be sold if the put option is exercised. Higher strike prices provide more protection but come with higher premiums. Lower strike prices reduce premium costs but offer less downside protection.

•   Choosing the Expiration Date: The expiration date of the put option determines the duration of the protection. Shorter-term options are generally less expensive but require frequent renewal if protection is still needed. Longer-term options, while more costly, may offer stability for investors seeking extended coverage.

•   Purchase the Put Option: Once the strike price and expiration date are chosen, the investor buys the put option from the market. The cost of this purchase is the premium, which varies based on market conditions, volatility, and the specific terms of the contract.

By following these steps, investors can effectively set up a protective put to help manage downside risk while maintaining the opportunity for upside gains if the asset increases in value.

Uses of Protective Puts

Protective puts are primarily used by investors to mitigate downside risk while maintaining the potential for upside gains. This strategy can be applied across a variety of scenarios to suit individual investment goals and market conditions.

•   Portfolio Protection: Investors holding significant positions in a stock, commodity, or index can use protective puts to safeguard their portfolio against sudden price declines. By setting a strike price near the current value, they establish a “floor” that limits losses in the event of a market downturn.

•   Market Volatility Management: Protective puts can help investors reduce uncertainty during periods of heightened market volatility. If a stock begins to trade below the strike price of the contract, they can choose to exercise their option to sell the stock at that higher strike price.

•   Strategic Planning: Protective puts can also be part of a larger investment strategy, allowing investors to take calculated risks in other areas of their portfolio. With downside risk managed, they can explore opportunities for higher returns elsewhere without jeopardizing their core holdings.

•   Hedging Concentrated Positions: Investors with concentrated positions in a single stock or sector can use protective puts to hedge against adverse price movements. This is particularly useful for individuals or institutions holding stock grants, company shares, or positions they are reluctant to sell.

Overall, protective puts provide a flexible means of managing risk, ensuring investors can participate in potential market gains while limiting their exposure to significant losses.

Recommended: How to Sell Options for Premiums

Calculating and Choosing Strike Prices and Premiums

When implementing a protective put strategy, selecting the right strike price and premium is critical. These choices directly affect the level of protection, the cost of the hedge, and the potential returns. Understanding how to calculate and balance these factors helps investors tailor their strategy to their goals and risk tolerance.

Calculating Strike Prices

Investors should consider the following factors when choosing a strike price:

•   Risk Tolerance: A strike price closer to the asset’s current market price offers maximum protection but comes at a higher cost. Conversely, a lower strike price provides less protection but reduces the premium paid.

•   Market Outlook: If an investor expects minor fluctuations, they may opt for a lower strike price to balance cost and protection. For significant downside risks, a strike price near the current price may be preferable.

•   Investment Goals: Whether the focus is on preserving capital or limiting minor losses, the strike price should align with the investor’s specific financial objectives.

Premium Considerations

The premium is the cost of purchasing the put option. It represents the upfront expense for securing downside protection and affects the overall profitability of the strategy. Key considerations include:

•   Cost vs. Protection: Higher premiums may provide greater protection but can erode potential returns. Investors should weigh the cost of the premium against the likelihood and impact of a price decline.

•   Option Moneyness: Options can be in the money (ITM), at the money (ATM), or out of the money (OTM). ITM options have higher premiums but provide immediate protection, while OTM options are cheaper but only activate under significant price drops.

•   Time Decay: The time until expiration impacts the premium. Longer-term options, which are typically more expensive, provide extended protection, whereas shorter-term options have lower premiums but require frequent renewal.

By carefully calculating strike prices and evaluating premium considerations, investors can design a protective put strategy that aligns with their risk profile and financial objectives. Striking the right balance between cost and protection is essential to maximize the benefits of this strategy.

Real-World Examples and Scenarios

Protective puts are widely used by investors to manage risk across various market conditions. Examining real-world examples provides a practical understanding of how this strategy works and its potential outcomes in different scenarios.

Scenario Analysis

A protective put strategy can help an investor manage risk by limiting potential losses while maintaining exposure to gains. For example, if an investor owns 100 shares of XYZ stock, currently trading at $100 per share, and buys a protective put option (also for 100 shares) with a $95 strike price for a premium of $2 per share, the position will perform differently depending on the stock’s movement.

Let’s say the stock price drops to $85 near the expiration date. The investor can exercise the put option, selling the shares at the $95 strike price instead of the lower market price. Let’s say the stock price drops from $100 to $85. Without a protective put, the investor would face a $15 per share loss ($1,500 total for 100 shares). However, with a put option at a $95 strike price, they can sell at $95 instead of $85, recovering $10 per share. After subtracting the $2 premium paid, the net gain from the put is $8 per share ($800 total). This offsets part of the stock’s decline, reducing the total loss to $700 instead of $1,500.

On the other hand, if the stock price rises to $110, the put option will expire worthless, and the investor will lose the premium paid, which amounts to $200 (100 shares × $2). The stock’s price increase results in a $1,000 unrealized gain, and after deducting the $200 premium, the investor still sees a net gain of $800.

If the stock price remains stable at $100 until the expiration date, the investor will hold onto the shares without any price changes, but the $200 premium will be a loss. In this case, the protective put serves as a precautionary measure, providing peace of mind during the holding period, but without any real financial benefit.

These examples show how a protective put works to limit losses while allowing participation in upside potential. Although the premium represents a cost, this strategy is useful in managing risk, particularly in uncertain or volatile markets.

The Impact of Time Decay and Volatility

Time decay and volatility play significant roles in the pricing and effectiveness of a protective put strategy, impacting both the cost of the put option and its potential for profit or loss.

Time decay refers to the gradual reduction in the value of an options contract as it approaches its expiration date. As with all options, the protective put’s premium tends to decrease over time due to time decay, even if the underlying asset’s price stays stable. As the expiration date nears, the value of the put option typically declines due to time decay. This can impact an investor who wants to sell the option before it expires. However, if the investor holds on through expiration, its final value will depend on whether the underlying asset’s price falls below the strike price.

Volatility impacts the value of options by affecting their premiums. Higher volatility increases the potential for large price movements in the underlying asset, which can raise the cost of the protective put. Conversely, during periods of low volatility, premiums tend to be lower, making puts more affordable, but also potentially reducing the need for protection if the asset’s price remains relatively stable.

Advantages and Disadvantages of Protective Puts

As with most investing strategies, there are both upsides and downsides to using protective puts.

Pros of Using Protective Puts

Protective puts allow investors to set a limit on how much they stand to lose in a given investment. Here’s why investors are drawn to them:

•   Protective puts offer protection against the possibility that an investment will lose money.

•   The protective put strategy allows an investor to participate in nearly all of an investment’s upside potential.

•   Investors can use at-the-money (ATM), out-of-the-money (OTM) options, in-the-money (ITM) options, or a mix of these to tailor their risks and costs.

Cons and Potential Risks

Buying protective put options comes at a cost. There is limited upside potential, expenses involved, and may come with other tradeoffs that can impact your investing goals.

•   An investor using protective puts will see lower returns if the underlying stock price rises, because of the premiums paid to buy the put options.

•   If a stock doesn’t experience much movement up or down, the investor will see diminished returns as they pay the option premiums.

•   Options with strike prices close to the asset’s current market price can be prohibitively expensive.

•   More affordable options that are further away from the stock’s current price offer only partial protection and may result in further losses.

Alternative Strategies to Protective Puts

In addition to protective puts, investors have several other strategies to manage risk, such as covered calls and collar strategies.

A covered call involves selling a call option against a stock you own, which generates income through the premium received. This can help offset potential losses, though it caps the upside potential.

A collar strategy combines buying a protective put and selling a covered call on the same asset, limiting both downside risk and upside potential. This can be a cost-effective way to manage risk while still participating in some upside potential.

Comparing with Other Options Strategies

Each alternative strategy comes with its own set of trade-offs. While a covered call generates income through premiums, it limits the upside, as the stock is “capped” if it rises above the strike price of the sold call.

The collar strategy offers protection like a protective put but may be more cost-effective due to the income from the sold call, though it also limits potential gains. Investors should choose the strategy that aligns with their risk tolerance, investment goals, and market outlook.

When to Choose Alternative Strategies

Investors might prefer alternative strategies when looking to reduce the cost of protection or when expecting limited movement in the underlying asset. A covered call can be useful in a flat or slightly bullish market, while a collar strategy may be ideal for those seeking cost-effective protection without the full expense of a protective put. These strategies can also be suitable for investors who are more focused on income generation than on maximizing returns from significant price movements.

The Takeaway

Protective put options are risk-management strategies that use options contracts to guard against losses. This options-based strategy allows investors to set a limit on how much they stand to lose in a given investment.

SoFi’s options trading platform offers qualified investors the flexibility to pursue income generation, manage risk, and use advanced trading strategies. Investors may buy put and call options or sell covered calls and cash-secured puts to speculate on the price movements of stocks, all through a simple, intuitive interface.

With SoFi Invest® online options trading, there are no contract fees and no commissions. Plus, SoFi offers educational support — including in-app coaching resources, real-time pricing, and other tools to help you make informed decisions, based on your tolerance for risk.

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