To quote Wu-Tang: Cash rules everything around me, C.R.E.A.M. Get the money. Dollar, dollar bill, y’all.

But seriously, it’s because we live in a cut-throat late-stage capitalist society and we’re a very individualistic people who pride themselves on being self-reliant.

This ethos is rooted in the foundation of our country, most notably our history of settler-colonialism, the Protestant work ethic, and the pioneering spirit, which fostered a culture prioritizing self-sufficiency, personal liberty, and "the American Dream" of self-made success. These ideals have been woven into the fabric of our society since the beginning and continues to this day.

Our Founding Fathers viewed individualism and self-reliance as foundational moral and political principles, rooted in the belief that individuals possess inherent rights to life, liberty, and property. They championed a society where the government serves the person, protecting their freedom to think, act, and pursue happiness independently.

The whole transcendentalism movement carried the torch of American individualism and self-reliance. And the belief in the dignity and power of the individual, emphasizing independent thinking over societal conformity as heralded by Emerson, Thoreau, and even Emily Dickinson would go on to influence countless other voices. Robert Frost’s poetry often highlights rugged individualism, focusing on personal choice, self-reliance, and nonconformity against nature's indifference or social pressures. Maya Angelou’s individualism was rooted in profound self-love, independence, and the courage to exist unapologetically. Langston Hughes championed a distinct form of "racial individuality” and non-conformity.

Even as FDR was creating the foundational American social safety net through his New Deal programs, he sold it to the American public as a way of redefining self-reliance. Instead of opposing government aid, FDR's philosophy was that the federal government should provide the stability and "security of a livelihood" (e.g., job programs, Social Security) necessary for citizens to reclaim their own self-reliance.

With that background in mind, it leads to Americans looking out for themselves. We neither rely on nor expect assistance from others, we “know” if we want something, we must do it ourselves.

If you’re familiar with Maslow's Hierarchy of Needs, he posited that there are levels of human motivation, from basic survival to personal growth. The theory suggests that individuals must satisfy basic physiological and safety needs before they can pursue higher-level psychological and self-fulfillment needs, such as love and belonging, esteem, and self-actualization.

If we view this theory through the lens of American individualism and self-reliance, we believe that we are individually responsible for satisfying these needs. And how does one secure their basic physiological needs of food, shelter, and safety? Money. Therefore, understanding money and being financially savvy becomes not only necessary for our most basic needs, it’s integral if we want to live a more fulfilling life, one where we are free to pursue our passions, and our psychological and self-fulfillment needs.

So, take all of that, and put it with the background of our late-stage capitalistic society. Where our reality is that we have no social safety net. We have no employment protection. Our pay gets suppressed while the cost of living and our production continues to climb. Necessities, like food, housing, and healthcare are unaffordable unless you’re good with money.