Friday the 13th: a spider won’t save your finances (but a budget might)

It’s the day the superstitious dread – Friday 13th.

And there are plenty of superstitions about money. But spoiler alert: no amount of spider-stroking or coin-flipping is going to sort your finances. Still, they’re fun to talk about - so let’s run through the classics and offer some actual money tips along the way.

'Find a penny, pick it up - all day long you’ll have good luck'

Well, you’d hope so because it’s not like a penny's going to actually buy you anything. You can’t even get a plastic bag for that these days.

Reality check: Maybe pass on adding 1p to your net worth (and 100 germs to your hand) and make your own luck by starting a rainy-day fund.

Never give someone an empty purse

Legend says gifting someone a wallet without money in it means the recipient will always be skint. Because obviously, their lifelong financial future hinges on a fiver you forgot to include with their birthday gift.

Reality check: Skip the superstition, and if you know someone who’s struggling financially, give them something really valuable - like the link to our free benefits calculator. With billions in benefits going unclaimed every year, they could be missing out on money they’re entitled to.

Money spiders bring wealth

Tiny spider crawls on you = good financial fortune. That’s the belief. More likely? You just scream, fling it across the room and then spend the rest of the day googling ‘how to check for spider eggs in your hoodie’.

Reality check: If you’re relying on an arachnid for a boost in income, it might be time to update your CV. Or at least switch to a better broadband deal.

Itchy palms mean money's coming (or going)

Apparently, an itchy right palm means you’re in for a windfall, and an itchy left means you’re about to lose money.

Reality check: It’s more likely eczema making your hands itch. Our free budget planner is probably a more reliable way to keep track of your incomings and outgoings.

Don’t whistle indoors

Old superstition says you’ll ‘whistle your money away’. Honestly, they were pretty daft back in the day.

Reality check: Want to stop money mysteriously disappearing? Audit your subscriptions. If you haven’t used that meditation app since 2022, cancel it. Inner peace doesn’t need to cost £7.99 a month.

Superstitions won’t save your finances, but a plan might

Let’s be honest: if money superstitions actually worked, we’d all be rich from rubbing coins, dodging ladders and saluting magpies. In reality, the best way to improve your financial luck is to stop winging it and start planning.

If you’re worried about money - whether it’s debt, budgeting or just the general feeling that things aren’t adding up - we’re here to help. At Money Wellness, we offer confidential advice that doesn’t involve any weird rituals or lucky charms.

So this Friday the 13th, skip the nonsense and take a real step toward feeling better about your money.

Unless you see a spider, in which case, run, then budget.