Life Beyond The Numbers – Episode 4
Dr Perpetua Neo – The cost of comparison. Why comparing yourself to others damages financial outcomes.
What if one of the biggest threats to your financial wellbeing isn’t a market crash, a bad investment or a missed opportunity — but the quiet, relentless habit of comparing yourself to others?
Comparison is deeply human. We are wired to look around us, measure ourselves against our peers and calibrate our choices accordingly. But in the age of social media, curated lifestyles and visible wealth, the pressure to keep up has never been greater. And when comparison drives financial decisions, the consequences can be significant — from lifestyle inflation and impulsive investing to anxiety, vulnerability and decisions we later regret.
In this episode of Life Beyond the Numbers, Scott Stevens is joined by Dr Perpetua Neo, clinical psychologist, executive coach and expert in high performance, emotional intelligence and the psychology of decision-making. Perpetua works with high achievers and leaders around the world, splitting her time between London and Singapore, and brings a rare blend of clinical depth and practical clarity to some of the most pressing questions in modern financial life. Together, they explore the hidden cost of comparison and how we can make calmer, more intentional financial decisions. They discuss:
- Why human beings are so naturally wired to compare themselves to others
- How social media has amplified financial comparison and the pressure to keep up
- The most common financial behaviours driven by comparison — from lifestyle inflation to FOMO investing
- Why people often feel financially behind even when they are objectively doing well
- How emotional pressure reduces the quality of financial decision-making
- Why comparison can make people more vulnerable to scams and financial manipulation
- The difference between healthy benchmarking and destructive comparison
- How to define financial success on your own terms
- Practical tools and habits to reduce unhealthy comparison and make better financial choices
Whether you have ever made a financial decision because of what others around you were doing, felt the creeping anxiety of being left behind, or simply want to think more clearly and confidently about money, this episode offers a thoughtful, practical and genuinely reassuring look at how to take back control.
Guest: Dr Perpetua Neo
Website: https://perpetuaneo.com/
Topics: Financial comparison, behavioural finance, financial psychology, decision-making, emotional wellbeing, social media and money, financial confidence, money and identity.