Beyond Money: Exploring Financial Well-Being through a Human Lens is a research report from ERSTE Foundation, in partnership with Erste Group and the University of Tartu.
Summary: This is a study based on interviews with 630 people that looks at what financial well-being actually feels like, not just what it looks like on paper. It busts a few myths along the way: most people don’t want to be rich, don’t want their finances “fixed,” and just want a simple, stress-free life. The researchers found financial well-being has two sides, a practical one (can you pay your bills) and an emotional one (do you feel secure and able to enjoy life). The report also digs into what shapes those feelings, like gender, work, and identity.
Big Idea: Financial well-being comes down “security, freedom and pleasure,” not how much money someone has.
Playable Takeaway: The nine self-assessment statements from the research (covering things like confidence, freedom, and ability to enjoy life) could become branching dialogue prompts or a hidden stat, giving players a way to experience financial well-being as a feeling, not just a number going up.