Ever dream about finding that $20 bill you misplaced months ago or guessing the lotto numbers right? Well, having dreams about money can actually be about more than the state of your finances. A dream is an "interior conversation between the conscious and subconscious," explains dream analyst, founder of the Dream Interpretation Center, and monthly columnist for Oprah Daily, Layne Dalfen. The goal of analyzing a dream about money is to uncover what triggered the dream in question. This means that while dreams about money can very well reflect your stress about saving money or planning for retirement, there are other ways to interpret the green symbol popping up during your nightly slumbers.
Before we get into common dreams about money and their meanings, Dalfen explains six entry points you can practice to "enter" your dream and figure out what you are discussing with yourself internally. These six entry points are: feelings, actions, play on words, repetition, symbols, and plot. In other words, how were you feeling in your dream, what did you do, what did you say during the day of the dream, is this a repeating dream you have, what could the people, places, and things in your dream mean, and what is going on in your real life that is similar to the plot line in your dream.
Once you are able to unpack what money means to you, and why you are having that specific dream, you will better understand what your dream about money means. Read on to learn more about the possible meanings behind 10 common dreams about money — including dreaming about gaining or losing money — and how you can access these interpretation through the six entry points.
What does it mean to dream about receiving money?
Receiving a hefty sum of money can seem like an omen of upcoming prosperity (wouldn't that be nice?), but it can often be a reflection of a dreamer's current state of affairs, according to Exemplore. If you're feeling rich in friends, happiness, or self-confidence in real life, these feelings may manifest in your dreams.
What does it mean to dream about lending someone money?
Lending someone money in a dream is a way of lending them your time, energy, or concern, according to Auntyflo. Maybe something happened this week in your friend's personal or romantic life and you can't stop worrying about them. If you dream about lending them money, it could be your subconscious way of paying them extra care and attention.
What does it mean to dream about finding money?
You know that unmistakable feeling where you reach into your jeans pocket and feel the crisp folded edges of paper? You pull your hand from the pocket and you're holding a bill — it could be $5 or $20 — and you're instantly excited by your find. Somewhere in the back of your mind you know that you must've previously misplaced this money, and that this discovery means you're breaking even and not really gaining anything, but it still feels like a gain.
Well, when you find money in dreams, that same sense of excitement and happiness applies. Finding money in a dream signifies positive changes on the horizon, according to My Dream Symbolism, as well as optimism for the future.
What does it mean to dream about winning money?
Winning money in a dream might feel like you're about to hit the jackpot once you're awake, but it's not necessarily a sign of monetary gains to come. Instead, winning money can mean "that you can win big if you put your mind to the tasks on hand," according to ZodiacSigns-Horoscope. This dream is about realizing that achieving a goal (or "winning") is within your reach. That goal could be financial stability, but it could also be an accomplishment totally separate from money.
What does it mean to dream about losing money?
On the flip side, if you find yourself losing money in a dream, it may be a sign that something's up in your real-life finances. It could signal that you feel out of control of your finances, according to Her Money, or it could also represent a general worry that things in your life are beyond your control.
Dalfen says to ask yourself: "What is going on in your life this week that feels like that plot line [in your dream]?" On the surface, your dream may be about financial worry, but extrapolating the dream further can suggest a greater meaning about why you are having this particular dream sequence now.
What does it mean to dream about borrowing money?
Need to borrow money in a dream? It may mean you need to borrow time or energy in real life. Borrowing money in a dream can mean that you feel you've spread yourself too thin, according to Exemplore. It could be a sign that you should reevaluate your priorities and what you're dedicating your time to.
If you continue to have this dream, it could be your subconscious trying to tell you something, explains Dalfen. In this case, maybe its time to listen to your dreams and check in on your well-being (rather than just your money-saving goals).
What does it mean to dream about stealing money?
If you're stealing money in a dream, it could be a sign that you feel you're willing to do whatever it takes to get what you want, according to Exemplore. How you feel about having stolen the dream-money could also be an indication as to how you feel about going to extreme measures to get something done in real life.
What does it mean to dream about having your money stolen?
Alternatively, this type of dream could reflect a situation in your life this week where you felt powerless. Dalfen explains that money is the image or symbol that leads you to the conclusion that you felt your power was taken away, whether you were reprimanded at work or got into an argument with your partner. Here, the dream is less about money and more about how you felt powerless.
What does it mean to dream about finding stolen money?
If you find money that you know was stolen in your dream, you might be dealing with some kind of moral dilemma in another part of your life, according to Auntyflo. It's all about knowing something might be wrong, and having to consider what decision to make when you're in a pickle. If you keep having dreams like this, try to sort out what dilemma you need to resolve in real life.
What does it mean to dream about spending a lot of money?
Spending a lot of money in a dream can be a sign that you're a reckless spender in real life, too, according to Auntyflo. It could be your subconscious's way of telling you that you need to be more careful and considerate of the purchases you're making in daily life that might be setting you back from saving for larger goals.
Alternatively, Dalfen explains an instance of a play on words with this kind of dream. Perhaps you said at some point during the day: "I spent so much money on that handbag, when I see my next bank statement I'm going to die." After saying this in daylight hours, "you could have a dream that someone is trying to kill you, but the dream is actually about the money you spent," explains Dalfen. It's important to "listen to the language of the dreamer." That's when you are better able to crack the code on your dreams about money.
Elizabeth Berry (she/her) is the Updates Editor at the Good Housekeeping Institute where she optimizes lifestyle content across verticals. Prior to this role, she was an Editorial Assistant for Woman’s Day where she covered everything from gift guides to recipes. She also has experience fact checking commerce articles and holds a B.A. in English and Italian Studies from Connecticut College.
