An itchy left hand is widely believed to predict financial loss, unexpected spending, or missed economic opportunity. In contrast, an itchy right hand is considered a sign that money is coming in—through wages, gifts, or sudden windfalls. This superstition is not only directional (left vs. right) but often includes methods for preventing the unwanted outcome, such as rubbing the itchy hand against a wooden object, washing it in cold water, or reciting protective phrases.

The belief is frequently used in casual financial forecasting or decision-making. People may jokingly—or seriously—reference an itchy hand before making a purchase, entering a bet, or receiving a payment. The direction-specific meaning is tied to long-standing symbolic associations: the left hand is linked to receiving or passivity, while the right hand is associated with giving or action. In many cultures, these associations shaped a binary understanding of how energy—especially money—flows.