This Week's Money Talking Points
What page are you trying to get to?
One of the biggest takeaways from my conversation with Travis Parry was the importance of identifying what financial page you’re even trying to be on. So many of us jump into conversations with a spouse, a partner, or even just our own budget without a clear idea of what we want. Are you trying to get out of debt? Build up savings? Start investing? Escape the paycheck-to-paycheck cycle? You have to define your page before you can expect anyone else to join you on it.
Think of it like a roadmap—if you don’t know your destination, how do you expect to make progress? And if you’re in a relationship, how can your partner align with you if you’re not clear about where you’re heading? Getting honest with yourself about your goals is the first and most powerful step. Then, when it’s time to talk about money with someone else, you’re not just reacting—you’re leading.
How would it feel to be in sync with your goals or your spouse?
Let me tell you—being in sync financially with my wife is a total game-changer. It’s not just about making smarter money moves (though we definitely do that). It’s about having this sense of unity and forward momentum. We’ve had our fair share of miscommunications and mindset mismatches, but once we uncovered those hidden beliefs and made our financial conversations intentional, it completely shifted our relationship.
It’s like rowing in the same direction instead of spinning in circles. And if you’re not in a relationship, think about how good it would feel to be in sync with yourself—your future, your dreams, your priorities. That clarity is empowering. So take a moment to imagine what your life could look like if you weren’t just coexisting with money, but working in harmony with it.
What challenges need to be overcome to get on the same page?
There’s a reason most couples fight about money—because there are layers to it. Deep, emotional, often subconscious layers. In the episode, Travis and I talked a lot about how your money history (what you saw, felt, or experienced around money growing up) can silently shape how you behave with it now. One of the biggest challenges is just being willing to uncover those beliefs and talk about them honestly. Sometimes the issue isn’t the spending or the budget—it’s the story behind the behavior.
Another big challenge? Communication. Not just talking, but listening—with the goal of understanding, not fixing. You don’t need to have a finance degree or be a budgeting wizard to start the conversation. You just need to start. For my wife and me, small, consistent check-ins (like our monthly budget meetings) helped us build the trust and rhythm we required. And for you, it might mean just asking your spouse, “What’s the financial future you dream about?” That one question can change everything.
This week's Money Buddy
Dr. Travis Parry is the #1 Bestselling Author of "Achieving Balance" and "Marry and Grow Rich". He's earned a master's in psychology and a PhD in Family Relations to better understand finances from a psychological and family perspective. Travis is the founder of the Make Time Institute and has helped thousands of business owners and couples in all 50 states achieve their financial goals. He is an international speaker and the podcast host of the Balanced Growth Show. However, his greatest accomplishment in life is becoming the husband to his wife of 22 years and father to their 8 children.
