91: Taking Control of Your Screentime

We're back, baby! Season 9 and feeling fine! 

We are living in a time where our attention is constantly being pulled in every direction — notifications, scrolling, ads, emails, content, news, shopping, and algorithms designed to keep us looking just a little bit longer.

The average person now spends over 7 hours per day looking at screens. Gen Z? Nearly 9 hours a day. And mobile screen time alone sits around 5 to 7 hours daily.

In this episode of Money Feels, Alyssa and Bridget explore the emotional, psychological, and financial reality of living on our phones, and how screen time is quietly shaping not just our focus, but our spending, habits, and sense of control.

We talk about what happens when our attention becomes fragmented, how constant exposure to ads and aspirational content drives spending, and why reducing screen time can have a surprisingly powerful impact on your finances.

We’re your hosts, Alyssa and Bridget. Welcome to the podcast where we explore the emotional side of money, and why your screen time might be costing you more than you think.

In this episode, we discuss:

•  The average screen time statistics (and why they’re shocking) 
•  How 5 hours per day equals 2.5 months per year 
•  Why more screen time = more spending 
•  The link between ads, scrolling, and impulse purchases 
•  How screen time reduces cognitive bandwidth for planning 
•  Dopamine, resilience, and the ability to say no 
•  Why reducing screen time improves financial decision-making 
•  The emotional pull of phones: boredom, loneliness, avoidance, habit 
•  Why screen time quietly drains both money and mental energy 

Thanks for listening to another episode! If you want bonus episodes and more, you can join our Patreon! Until then, follow us on Instagram @mixedupmoney, @bridgiecasey and @moneyfeelspodcast, and we’ll see you next time!