Money For Couples with Ramit Sethi

In part two of Tom and Julie’s conversation, they start to see their reality for what it is—Julie may not have long to live, but she’s still working and is afraid to spend their millions on making memories with their young kids. After a double lung transplant in 2020, she’s healthy—but odds are not in her favor for a long retirement. Julie admits that, if she were counseling a friend, she’d tell them to leave the career behind and focus on experiences. But even that isn’t enough to spark action… and the clock is ticking. What would you do with millions of dollars in the bank and a short time to live? The answer seems obvious. To some, it isn’t so easy. Connect with Ramit Website Instagram Twitter Facebook YouTube Linkedin If you and your partner have a money issue and you want my help, I occasionally select a couple to work with, free of charge. Apply for my help here. Produced by Crate Media.

Today’s conversation will shock you—point blank. Tom and Julie are in their early fifties and have two school-aged kids. Both are savvy with their investments, and they’ve amassed a $12 million dollar net worth in the process. But Julie’s still working. She thinks of the income as an added layer of safety and security in their lives—but at their level of wealth, they’re making more in interest than her salary could ever bring in. Their situation may sound like it’s black and white—but wait for the jaw-dropping moment that changes everything. And look for next week’s episode, part two, as Tom and Julie start to reckon with their true reality. Connect with Ramit Website Instagram Twitter Facebook YouTube Linkedin If you and your partner have a money issue and you want my help, I occasionally select a couple to work with, free of charge. Apply for my help here. Produced by Crate Media.

Georgia and James bring a different problem to the table than we’re used to hearing about. In this one, we zoom in on where, exactly, their net worth has come from… and the real risks of these decisions. Having done well in the real estate market, Georgia and James just closed on a fourth property. The glaring issue is that they’re all located in the same neighborhood, amping up the risk of this investment class quite considerably. Georgia is becoming increasingly anxious in the shadow of this risk, urging a diversification from their overloaded 98% commitment to housing. James is not unwilling to hear the argument, which makes this episode more direct and tactical—I love it. There’s a lot to learn here. The biggest question we can ask in this case: Why are they even doing this? What is the end goal? Their answer paints a clear picture of what they need to do. Connect with Ramit Website Instagram Twitter Facebook YouTube Linkedin If you and your partner have a money issue and you want my help, I occasionally select a couple to work with, free of charge. Apply for my help here. Produced by Crate Media.

This week’s conversation brings a slightly different perspective to the table. Michelle and Eric are in their fifties and are terrified that they’ve waited too long to invest for retirement. They’ve bickered about money for twenty-five years, narrowing their window of opportunity and adding a ton of personal baggage into the equation. Usually, part of the solution for most people is long-term investing. But with Michelle and Eric, time is not on their side. To complicate things, Michelle is defensive and triggered by even talking about money. She prefers to keep things focused on the math… but it’s much deeper than that. What would you do to overcome the very real hopelessness that many people of their age experience? Let’s see what happens. Connect with Ramit Website Instagram Twitter Facebook YouTube Linkedin If you and your partner have a money issue and you want my help, I occasionally select a couple to work with, free of charge. Apply for my help here. Produced by Crate Media.

Rebecca and Joe have two young kids, and a third is on the way. They are renting at the moment and love the neighborhood they live in—but they both think they need more space to match their growing family. Should they keep renting? Buy a home? Move in with his parents? Their lease is up soon and the pressure is on (or so they think). To complicate things, we find out that their fixed costs, alone, make up for 105% of their take-home pay. As a refresher, I recommend spending no more than 60% on fixed costs. But they’re spending more than they make every month. Something’s got to give. They feel frustrated. They feel overwhelmed. They feel like failures as parents because they can't provide for their kids. There are many layers to this on both the financial side and the psychological side. Let’s dig in. Connect with Ramit Website Instagram Twitter Facebook YouTube Linkedin If you and your partner have a money issue and you want my help, I occasionally select a couple to work with, free of charge. Apply for my help here. Produced by Crate Media.

Michelle and Dan are in their early thirties, and from the outside, they look like they’re in a great place financially. They make $225,000 annually, and they’ve saved $200,000 already. So, why do they feel so much dread, confusion, and fear about their money? Their philosophy has always been to save as much as possible… so they’re afraid to spend or invest. But they don’t realize how much they’re missing out on, and it’s not just investment returns. Michelle and Dan have thousands of dollars, but they’re afraid to take a vacation. Will they ever feel good about money? They could be living their Rich Life today—but only if they address the real, emotional reasons they’re stuck. Let’s see how they do. Connect with Ramit Website Instagram Twitter Facebook YouTube Linkedin If you and your partner have a money issue and you want my help, I occasionally select a couple to work with, free of charge. Apply for my help here. Produced by Crate Media.

Personal finance can seem complicated, but most issues are linked back to two core influences—how people think and feel about money. Where they land on those scales has a wide range of possible manifestations (skimping on frozen berries, anyone?). One year into the podcast, and a handful of these themes have become very clear. Tune in to this special solo episode as Ramit breaks them down. Check out the free resources below if any of these scenarios sound familiar to you—or you’re just ready to deepen your understanding of money and what it can do for you. Programs & Resources iwt.com/moneymindset → Money Mindset Mini Course iwt.com/guiltfree → Conscious Spending Plan iwt.com/nomorefights → Guide to How to Talk to Your Partner about Money iwt.com/house → Ramit's 3 step guide to buying a house iwt.com/therichlife → Rich Life mini course Connect with Ramit Website Instagram Twitter Facebook YouTube Linkedin If you and your partner have a money issue and you want my help, I occasionally select a couple to work with, free of charge. Apply for my help here. Produced by Crate Media.

Last week, in part one of my conversation with Austin and Annie, we got deeply personal about their upbringings and the invisible scripts they picked up as kids. I learned that they were passing bad money habits to their young daughter—continuing a cycle of generational poverty. Today, my goal is to move them out of that cycle by getting tactical with how they can turn things around. They’re young and make plenty of money to be comfortable—even multimillionaires—in their future. But we need to get the calculator out to make them believe it. Tune in as Austin and Annie see how it’s possible to go from generational poverty to generational wealth. Connect with Ramit Website Instagram Twitter Facebook YouTube Linkedin If you and your partner have a money issue and you want my help, I occasionally select a couple to work with, free of charge. Apply for my help here. Produced by Crate Media.

Annie and Austin were both raised without knowing where their next meal would come from. They came to me looking for a way to break the relentless chain of generational poverty that they’ve experienced… and that they fear they’re passing on to their two young children. The good news is that it’s not too late for them, or anyone, to start making the right decisions and move toward a Rich Life they can be proud to pass on. They bring in about $130k a year in a low-cost region, and since they’re only in their twenties, they can expect to make more money as they get further into their careers. Annie and Austin have never been taught about money. So listen in as I meet them where they are: zero savings, $68,000 in debt, and no tools for managing their finances. Stick around next week for part two of this conversation, where we dig into the numbers and present long-term solutions. Connect with Ramit Website Instagram Twitter Facebook YouTube Linkedin If you and your partner have a money issue and you want my help, I occasionally select a couple to work with, free of charge. Apply for my help here. Produced by Crate Media.

Lisa and Jeff are in their forties and have a blended household. They had about a $300k net worth before they were awarded a $1.275M settlement in January of this year. What’s important isn’t the details of the settlement, but that they don’t know what to do with it. She doesn’t trust him—and for good reason. He opens lines of credit and makes secret purchases while also refusing to participate in financial planning, leaving Lisa to carry the burden. She’s looking for a teammate, but he’s happy to simply send her his paycheck and make jokes about their toxic dynamic. They’ve invested the windfall in a few places (yes, one of which is a bad financial advisor), but they lack a vision—and the communication to build one. Before they decide what to do with the settlement cash, they need to be honest with themselves, and with one another. That’s where I come in. Let’s see if we can bring some clarity to their situation. Connect with Ramit Website Instagram Twitter Facebook YouTube Linkedin If you and your partner have a money issue and you want my help, I occasionally select a couple to work with, free of charge. Apply for my help here. Produced by Crate Media.

Katie and Cal are in their mid-twenties and, after moving around a bit, they live back home in Alaska with their young children. They bring in about $100k a year and have a good chunk of debt, about $25k of that they transferred to Katie’s mom for a better interest rate—a move which has hopelessly entangled her in their finances. What do you do when a family member who means well (they all do) oversteps the line? Listen in to hear how Katie and Cal come to terms with the truth—that her mom’s influence has got to go—and how they might start to enact that very difficult change in their lives. Connect with Ramit Website Instagram Twitter Facebook YouTube Linkedin If you and your partner have a money issue and you want my help, I occasionally select a couple to work with, free of charge. Apply for my help here. Produced by Crate Media

In part 2 of Elena and Eric’s story, we learn about the deep emotional ties that Elena associates with the condo that’s draining their savings account—and why she’s so anxious about outside opinions in the event they decide to sell it. To recap, they’re 25 and make $160k/year combined. They love to go to music festivals and bought a condo (with a down payment gift from their parents) about seven months ago. “Society” tells them that’s great, so they think they’re doing great. They’re not. Between transaction fees, mortgage, and maintenance, the purchase has bombarded them with phantom costs that require them to spend $2,000 a month from their savings to stay above water. At this rate, they’ll be broke in two years. No amount of cutting back on sushi or music festivals will solve this problem. This one’s all about money psychology. Eric and Elena have some tall emotional hurdles to get over before they can make the right decision and stand confidently in their truth to outsiders. Listen in to see if they can commit to selling their home and living their Rich Life. Connect with Ramit Website Instagram Twitter Facebook YouTube Linkedin If you and your partner have a money issue and you want my help, I occasionally select a couple to work with, free of charge. Apply for my help here. Produced by Crate Media.

Elena and Eric are both 25. They live in Toronto, and they make $160k as a household. They love going to EDM festivals and spend thousands of dollars every year traveling to them—it’s their Rich Life! The problem is that they also own a condo that’s draining their savings at a rate of $2k every month. They’ll be broke in two years. Before this call, Elena and Eric made a pact that they would NOT consider selling their condo, no matter what I said. But we learn that they’re committed to keeping the condo for all the wrong reasons. What will it take for both of them to see the truth in their error? To admit a mistake and commit to moving on as a team? First, we need to see if either of them are even willing to budge on the subject. Listen in to find out. Connect with Ramit Website Instagram Twitter Facebook YouTube Linkedin If you and your partner have a money issue and you want my help, I occasionally select a couple to work with, free of charge. Apply for my help here. Produced by Crate Media.

Kara and Sean make $150k annually, with $100k of that coming from Kara’s salary in healthcare. They have a baby daughter, and Kara would like to take a step back in her career in order to spend more time with her. The problem is, Sean’s happily (and hopelessly) stuck in a dead-end job. What do you do when one partner is passive when it comes to money? It’s so easy to make things personal, to escalate and unravel, but I steer this conversation to the numbers—where it’s illustrated, plain as day, what Sean needs to do. But will he see it? And if he does, will he actually make any changes? Let’s see if I can get Sean to start dreaming bigger. Connect with Ramit Website Instagram Twitter Facebook YouTube Linkedin If you and your partner have a money issue and you want my help, I occasionally select a couple to work with, free of charge. Apply for my help here. Produced by Crate Media.

Ashley and Charles are in their early forties and have been married for six years. Together, they have five children from previous relationships. They live in a high-cost-of-living area—but, collectively, they earn over half a million dollars per year. Because of Charles's investments and stock options, their income feels erratic, and Ashley is having a hard time making sense of it all. Ashley needs a better understanding of the family's finances to feel more at ease with their future, but a serious lack of transparency stands in the way. Have you ever felt like your partner was hiding something from you? Something big? And how long can two people stick it out when something as basic as trust is an ongoing issue? This is a huge job. Ashley and Charles have a lot to work on, but nothing is impossible. I'm going to help them simplify their money, so they can stop worrying about their spending and start envisioning a Rich Life. Connect with Ramit Website Instagram Twitter Facebook YouTube Linkedin If you and your partner have a money issue and you want my help, I occasionally select a couple to work with, free of charge. Apply for my help here.

Carolyn and Gavin have been married for ten years. They have three small children and bring in about $130k annually—with a healthy $500k in investments. So what’s the problem? Once we look closer, specifically at their obsession with money mechanics, we see a deeper issue. They learned these bad habits as members of the FIRE community, a lifestyle they’ve left behind but that continues to haunt their money mindsets to this day. To make matters worse, Carolyn has disassociated from the family’s money conversation completely. How do you work as a team when one member refuses to participate? And how can you reset your instincts related to saving and spending after so many years repeating bad habits? Listen in to find out. Connect with Ramit Website Instagram Twitter Facebook YouTube Linkedin If you and your partner have a money issue and you want my help, I occasionally select a couple to work with, free of charge. Apply for my help here. Produced by Crate Media.

Sarah earns more than Andrew. They’re unmarried but imagine a future together, or would like to. The problem is that Andrew’s existing money scripts (and $65k in debt) have him frozen—unable to spend but also unwilling to seriously plan a way out. She wants to spend money on things like vacations, but he doesn’t feel like he can afford to spend. To make things worse, he feels terrible about money in general because that’s how his dad raised him—his presence looms over the conversation. We need to cut out the negative judgments and help Sarah see things from Andrew’s perspective. Then we can talk to Andrew about the mindset to overcome his past—and current—money issues. Connect with Ramit Website Instagram Twitter Facebook YouTube Linkedin If you and your partner have a money issue and you want my help, I occasionally select a couple to work with, free of charge. Apply for my help here. Produced by Crate Media.

Today’s couple is actually on the same page when it comes to their Rich Life, but they’re not making much progress toward it. Alex brings in $70k from a full time job. Charlotte runs their joint business that isn’t making much money yet, but should be soon. They both know what they want, they just have different perspectives on how to get there. Despite their income recently doubling, they are living paycheck to paycheck—while outright ignoring over $200k in student loan debt. Charlotte believes the universe will take care of them … but when it doesn’t, Alex feels like he has to step in and fix everything. Charlotte is highly intuitive, but intuition alone won’t get you to a Rich Life—you also need to be able to analyze your situation. Hearing Charlotte and Alex work toward common ground may help you realize where you’re playing small in life by relying too much on one skill set while ignoring the other. Connect with Ramit Website Instagram Twitter Facebook YouTube Linkedin If you and your partner have a money issue and you want my help, I occasionally select a couple to work with, free of charge. Apply for my help here. Produced by Crate Media.

How do you manage your finances when your monthly pay is inconsistent? Vince makes around $300k a year in the mortgage industry, while Kasey focuses on raising their kids at home. Despite that rather high average income, the actual monthly takeaway is incredibly variable—one month could be $25k, the next month just $2k. That uncertainty is causing Kasey a lot of stress. On top of that, Vince’s income has been steadily decreasing. Vince chooses to remain positive; Kasey is afraid of the worst happening. But neither of them is willing to look at what they will do if that worst-case scenario does happen. When times are good, they spend guilt-free. But when times aren’t as good, they begin to worry that they’ll never come back out of that hole. There are reasonable concerns when it comes to not knowing how much money you will have coming in month to month. There are also ways to work around this. Let’s find out exactly how worried Kasey and Vince should be, and what they can do to set themselves up to feel more secure. Connect with Ramit Website Instagram Twitter Facebook YouTube Linkedin If you and your partner have a money issue and you want my help, I occasionally select a couple to work with, free of charge. Apply for my help here. Produced by Crate Media.

Making a lot of money is surprisingly easy. But if you’ve lived with too little of it most of your life, getting over the fear of spending it can be another story completely. Nicole and Michael have a combined net worth of over $5.7 million—yet they find themselves arguing over the price of a minor car repair. Nicole has crippling anxiety when it comes to spending any amount of money, no matter how insignificant it may be in the long term. While her fears may have once been justified, they haven’t caught up with reality. Now, with a house stacked with boxes of free items and bulk discount junk, and with Michael meticulously strategizing how to break the news of any minor expense to his wife, they both need to wipe the slate clean and reset their thoughts about money… before the financial wedge in their relationship drives them to divorce. Connect with Ramit Website Instagram Twitter Facebook YouTube Linkedin If you and your partner have a money issue and you want my help, I occasionally select a couple to work with, free of charge. Apply for my help here. Produced by Crate Media.

It’s common knowledge that building a business takes time—but how long should you be willing to wait? Rob works a full-time job. Olivia is split between part-time work and her own business. Rob doesn’t think her business is making enough money and has been urging Olivia to call it a loss and get a “real job.” He thinks her entrepreneurial dreams are holding them back from making their current reality more comfortable. What they’re doing isn’t working. Whether Olivia doubles down on the business or takes on a regular job, one thing is certain: in order to live their Rich Life, something has to change. Connect with Ramit Website Instagram Twitter Facebook YouTube Linkedin If you and your partner have a money issue and you want my help, I occasionally select a couple to work with, free of charge. Apply for my help here. Produced by Crate Media.

By now, you know: living a Rich Life is more about mindset than money. Look at today’s couple, Jack and Rachel. Following the principles described in I Will Teach You to Be Rich, they’ve managed to turn a $150k income into over $5 million in savings! Despite that, Rachel finds it difficult to actually spend the money—she doesn’t truly believe it’s there. She thinks that, with one wrong move, it could all be gone. This is the complicated nature of money psychology at work. They’ve built up the skill of saving but completely neglected the skill of spending. I’m going to see if I can help them connect the money they make to the Rich Life they want—and are able—to live, by getting Rachel to unpack the invisible scripts holding her back. Connect with Ramit Website Instagram Twitter Facebook YouTube Linkedin If you and your partner have a money issue and you want my help, I occasionally select a couple to work with, free of charge. Apply for my help here. Produced by Crate Media.

Alex and Nicole are getting married this summer and plan to start a family in a few years. That much, they know. How they’ll get there is another question. Nicole doesn’t want to deal with finances—she prefers to ignore it. Alex, on the other hand, is in the position of having to handle finances on her own for the both of them. Naturally, that leads to stress and resentment. Delegating financial responsibility in a relationship rarely works. Money affects both partners so much that it inevitably creates an unhealthy power dynamic. Let’s see if we can get Nicole and Alex to approach money like a true partnership so they can both step up to the responsibilities—and joy—of living a Rich Life. Connect with Ramit Website Instagram Twitter Facebook YouTube Linkedin If you and your partner have a money issue and you want my help, I occasionally select a couple to work with, free of charge. Apply for my help here. Produced by Crate Media.

Rebecca and John are both attorneys and make good money. While John makes more, he’s legally obligated to pay around $70k annually in alimony and insurance tied to a past divorce settlement. On top of that, his income can vary widely, making the future difficult to plan for—and he has debt. He’s 61 but sees no way he can retire any time soon. They’re dealing with not only the very real financial problems they face but also the resentment caused by them. That resentment colors every interaction they have with money. When I start digging into where the rest of their income goes, they start to get a little dodgy. We’re going to shine a light on some of their spending habits and find a path that lets them live a Rich Life without the stress. Connect with Ramit Website Instagram Twitter Facebook YouTube Linkedin If you and your partner have a money issue and you want my help, I occasionally select a couple to work with, free of charge. Apply for my help here. Produced by Crate Media.

Money can be a way of showing love, but what happens when you’re spending money you don’t have? Does spending any less mean you love the people in your life any less? It seems simple, sometimes it’s not. Meet Jessica and Javier. She’s tried to help him with his financial literacy, but Javier only knows how to show love through spending. Unfortunately, his love is bigger than his paycheck. Not only that, he’s admittedly ignorant of how credit works. He relies on magical money thinking and is unrealistic about what it’s going to take to pay it off. We’re going to get to the root of Javier’s relationship with money and show him what’s ultimately at stake here—everything. It’s one thing to realize you’re making bad financial decisions, it’s another to turn the page on everything you know to be true about yourself. Let’s get into it. Connect with Ramit Website Instagram Twitter Facebook YouTube Linkedin If you and your partner have a money issue and you want my help, I occasionally select a couple to work with, free of charge. Apply for my help here. Produced by Crate Media.

Sarah and Nat are physical therapists that are making things too hard for themselves. The enormous cost of education coupled with relatively low pay has left them burdened with debt that colors every decision they make—including whether or not to have more children. They’ve spent ten years worrying about it but are still without a decent plan. I want to help them discover what it would look like to live a Rich Life, with or without debt, and I lead this episode in that direction. But when I walk them right up to their solution, it leads to another, more important, question… Do they even want to change? Tune in to find out. Connect with Ramit Website Instagram Twitter Facebook YouTube Linkedin If you and your partner have a money issue and you want my help, I occasionally select a couple to work with, free of charge. Apply for my help here. Produced by Crate Media.

Ashley and Josh have come to a stark conclusion: That if they can’t manage to find some common ground in their financial struggles, their relationship has no future. They both earn roughly the same amount of money. Besides this huge roadblock, they see a path to marriage and children. But they can’t come to an agreement about who pays for date night. Even worse, individually, neither of them has a solid plan for tackling their own debt. Josh drives a, you guessed it, truck he can’t afford. Ashley leases a Mercedes. Both acknowledge the massive strain that having debt places on them and their relationship, and yet they do nothing about it. Are they willing to make the lifestyle changes necessary to turn their financial future around? Let’s find out. Connect with Ramit Website Instagram Twitter Facebook YouTube Linkedin If you and your partner have a money issue and you want my help, I occasionally select a couple to work with, free of charge. Apply for my help here. Produced by Crate Media.

Ashley and Josh both have high incomes but they find themselves arguing about who pays for what. Like a few past guests, Ashley thinks certain things are the man’s responsibility to pay for, but Josh wants a partnership. He feels like her spending is more out of obligation than true togetherness. These unspoken expectations are toxic. They’re eating away at what they both like about being together, and they need to be addressed right away. We all have internal beliefs and expectations around money, and they have deep roots. Let’s do some digging with Ashley and Josh to see what we can uncover. Connect with Ramit Website Instagram Twitter Facebook YouTube Linkedin If you and your partner have a money issue and you want my help, I occasionally select a couple to work with, free of charge. Apply for my help here. Produced by Crate Media.

Martin and Arly feel suffocated by mounting interest on their debt and are jaded by the corporate world. Martin earns $125,000, but Arly is selling essential oils in a network marketing business (read: SCAM!). With $300 coming in every month, this venture is going nowhere very quickly. The solution seems painstakingly obvious, but their internal narrative is shortcutting their logic. I’m going to need to spell it out to them. Connect with Ramit Website Instagram Twitter Facebook YouTube Linkedin If you and your partner have a money issue and you want my help, I occasionally select a couple to work with, free of charge. Apply for my help here. Produced by Crate Media.

Today is part two with John + Lindsey, and progress on finding a solution that sticks for the couple is slow. Listen to how John gets riled up with rage and resentment when I ask him simple questions. I don’t think he gets it. We need a dramatic solution to pull him through this mess. Will getting into the weeds help them interact on the same page again? Or will his past cloud John and Lindsey’s future forever? Connect with Ramit Website Instagram Twitter Facebook YouTube Linkedin If you and your partner have a money issue and you want my help, I occasionally select a couple to work with, free of charge. Apply for my help here. Produced by Crate Media.

Lindsey and John are stuck. Despite earning a joint income of $150,000, John’s debt is crippling their relationship and financial future. They respond by self-soothing. John runs on auto-pilot avoidance strategies and refuses to get honest about his situation. Lindsey distracts herself with mindless spending sprees at Target. But neither are working together on a sustainable solution. It’s time to get honest. Lindsey and John are unsophisticated with their income and spending. If they want to become confident with money, they must become competent first. That means no more excuses for inaction. Let’s see what that looks like for Lindsey and John. Connect with Ramit Website Instagram Twitter Facebook YouTube Linkedin If you and your partner have a money issue and you want my help, I occasionally select a couple to work with, free of charge. Apply for my help here. Produced by Crate Media.

It’s time to create a plan of action for Brad and Becca’s unsophisticated spending habits that we learned about in part one. I want to get them away from the gimmicks of monthly payments and immediate gratification, and instead push them to carve out a Rich Life vision that goes beyond getting to zero debt. There will be resistance. The question is, will Brad be willing to lean into it, even if it’s uncomfortable to hear? Connect with Ramit Website Instagram Twitter Facebook YouTube Linkedin If you and your partner have a money issue and you want my help, I occasionally select a couple to work with, free of charge. Apply for my help here. Produced by Crate Media.

Brad and Becca are in debt. Lots of it. Together they make $105,000 a year, but Brad makes impulsive flash purchases on credit cards. There is no saving, no long-term plan–only short bursts of gratification. This is not how you build a Rich Life. I want to get them out of this unsophisticated loop with money, but is Brad finally willing to listen? Connect with Ramit Website Instagram Twitter Facebook YouTube Linkedin If you and your partner have a money issue and you want my help, I occasionally select a couple to work with, free of charge. Apply for my help here. Produced by Crate Media.

Most people think if they earned 25-50% more, all their money problems would disappear. Katie and Shawn are a living example that that’s not true. They earn almost half a million dollars per year, so there is no reason they should be arguing over a $600 Roomba. Their world is not in sync with their income. So why does Katie obsessively penny-pinch and prepare for the worst? Let’s just say it has nothing to do with wanting to retire early. Listen as I unearth her deep-rooted fears. Connect with Ramit Website Instagram Twitter Facebook YouTube Linkedin If you and your partner have a money issue and you want my help, I occasionally select a couple to work with, free of charge. Apply for my help here. Produced by Crate Media.

It all started with a splurge at Target. Tami spent $250 and tried to hide it from her husband, Mike. He likes to make digs and police her spending habits. She likes to make jokes about his bad purchases. They’re sparring over gas station snacks and unused kayaks, and each “win” gives them the satisfaction of saying, “I told you so.” These seemingly minor annoyances are covering much deeper resentment issues. As you’re listening, think about the habits you and your partner have. Ask yourself: are they serving you? Connect with Ramit Website Instagram Twitter Facebook YouTube Linkedin If you and your partner have a money issue and you want my help, I occasionally select a couple to work with, free of charge. Apply for my help here. Produced by Crate Media.

My conversation with Mira and Dan was supposed to be about tax returns. He hasn't filed his yet, and it's making Mira feel insecure, anxious, and unsafe. Dan wants her to relax and trust him for once! I knew something else was amiss here, but I was shocked to see how fast the conversation took a turn. Connect with Ramit Website Instagram Twitter Facebook YouTube Linkedin If you and your partner have a money issue and you want my help, I occasionally select a couple to work with, free of charge. Apply for my help here. Produced by Crate Media.

Meet Gemma and Jack. Jack believes that people who delegate certain tasks, like cleaning and laundry, are lazy. It’s one of his many strong opinions that’s causing a wedge in their relationship. Recently, he refused to hire movers because it was a “waste of money.” As frustrating as they are, listen to the layers behind his financial opinions. They have a household income of $200k, but it’s not an even split. Throw in their individual cultural and gender codes, and it starts to make sense why they’re butting heads about penny decisions over who should pay the gas or do the laundry. They’re completely misaligned when it comes to the big vision. We need to get them to connect over money. Let’s start there and build our way up. Connect with Ramit Website Instagram Twitter Facebook YouTube Linkedin If you and your partner have a money issue and you want my help, I occasionally select a couple to work with, free of charge. Apply for my help here. Produced by Crate Media.

On paper, saving for maternity leave shouldn’t be an issue for Hannia and Alex. She earns $100,000 a year, but she likes to spend her money as soon as payday arrives. She plays many subconscious tricks (I call it the “Innocent Doe” technique) to justify a $300 drop at Target and her Old Navy credit card debt. Let’s disregard the distractions. What’s the real reason why Hannia cannot save money? And how is her humble childhood in Costa Rica playing out in her everyday money decisions? Sometimes, advanced financial concepts have to take a backseat to get honest with the numbers—and ourselves. It’s time to get real. Connect with Ramit Website Instagram Twitter Facebook YouTube Linkedin If you and your partner have a money issue and you want my help, I occasionally select a couple to work with, free of charge. Apply for my help here. Produced by Crate Media.

Lauren and Alex bring in $425,000 a year, and they’ve just invested in a $1.3 million dollar home. Alex feels like they’re flying high, but Lauren’s lost her sense of security. She wants to save for a beach house in Carmel, not invest in double-glazing windows. Their savings plan has gone awry, and all she can hear is her father’s phrase “It’s not how much you make, it’s how much you save” every time they have to make a big purchase. What is stopping Lauren from being more secure? Listen for the cues. Do you think buying a shack on a beach will really wash away her deep-rooted financial fears? Connect with Ramit Website Instagram Twitter Facebook YouTube Linkedin If you and your partner have a money issue and you want my help, I occasionally select a couple to work with, free of charge. Apply for my help here. Produced by Crate Media.

Alexandra and Brandon have a household income of $135,000. Alex just handed in her one week’s notice, but she still has financial needs, and she’s scared to broach the subject of spending money on herself with her husband. As we talk, it becomes apparent that self-agency has been absent from other aspects of their lives. From their relationship to career choices, both have been playing by everyone else’s rulebook but their own. These conversations have been on the back burner for long enough—it’s time to get candid. Connect with Ramit Website Instagram Twitter Facebook YouTube Linkedin If you and your partner have a money issue and you want my help, I occasionally select a couple to work with, free of charge. Apply for my help here. Produced by Crate Media.

This is part two with Charles and Michelle. He has a net worth of well over $10 million but still uses someone else’s Netflix password. After 21 years, Michelle has reached her limit with his relentless cheapness. Charles is trying to rewrite his internal money story, but after years of playing the “I’m not the kind of guy who blows money on X, Y, Z,” card, he still worries about extreme what-if scenarios, driving Michelle to consider divorce. As you listen, think about the areas you’re afraid to spend money on. Ask yourself what your worry-free number is. Now, let’s try to get Charles and Michelle to meet halfway. Connect with Ramit Website Instagram Twitter Facebook YouTube Linkedin If you and your partner have a money issue and you want my help, I occasionally select a couple to work with, free of charge. Apply for my help here. Produced by Crate Media.

Charles and his wife, Michelle, are worth $10 million, and he earns over $2 million a year--but he’s cheap. So cheap, he still insists on sharing someone else’s Netflix password. Michelle has been pushed to the limit. Divorce is on the cards unless things change. She wants to start with landscaping the backyard, but I want to investigate the roots of this invisible script that’s costing him his marriage. There’s 21 years’ worth of scar tissue to heal here. Let’s dig in. Connect with Ramit Website Instagram Twitter Facebook YouTube Linkedin If you and your partner have a money issue and you want my help, I occasionally select a couple to work with, free of charge. Apply for my help here. Produced by Crate Media.

Brian is a struggling tech entrepreneur and relies on his wife, Serena, a physician with a stable income of $235,000, to support his family. Serena wants Brian to get a job and admit that his start-up isn’t working. She's extremely focused — perhaps too focused — on buying a house. Brian doesn't like saying “No” to Serena, so he evades questions and promises that everything will change "4-6 months from now," but after seven years, Serena's patience is running thin. Can you spot the red flags? Listen to the resentment and distrust in her voice. Brian's promises to get a job and turn things around are falling flat. What's worse is that he can't even see it. I'm not going to sugarcoat it; it's heartbreaking to watch a seemingly successful couple totally disconnected from each other. I'm determined to get them on the same page. Tune in to see how their story unfolds. We started the conversation focusing on Serena’s dream to buy a house sooner rather than later, but it becomes apparent that the house is a distraction from the deeper desire to have a partner on the same page as her. Connect with Ramit Website Instagram Twitter Facebook YouTube Linkedin If you and your partner have a money issue and you want my help, I occasionally select a couple to work with, free of charge. Apply for my help here. Produced by Crate Media.

Monique expects Pablo to pay for her “as the man” in the relationship. Pablo wants “fairness” in a partner. Last week, I dug into their money psychology. Right at the end of last week’s conversation -- when both were feeling good -- they started discussing an upcoming trip to Mexico City. Suddenly, everything fell apart. All their positive feelings and new skills got thrown to the side, and they went right back to their old habits. That’s why I had to add a part two to our conversation. That’s today’s episode. When they’re discussing the trip, Monique already has her argument ready before Pablo finishes a sentence. Pablo’s fists are clenched. He wants to be the laid-back, confident guy Monique fell in love with, but his views on money have changed. You’ll hear him describe “Antonio,” his scarcity-minded alter ego. This conversation surprised me in so many ways. Listen in. Connect with Ramit Website Instagram Twitter Facebook YouTube Linkedin If you and your partner have a money issue and you want my help, I occasionally select a couple to work with, free of charge. Apply for my help here. Produced by Crate Media.

Monique is very open with what she wants in a relationship. “I always expected that fairytale love, the guy pays for everything, the guy opens the door, the guy waits to kiss me at the end of the night...” But her boyfriend, Pablo, disagrees. He feels taken advantage of. He shares the story of Monique ordering a $10 soup in a restaurant when he wasn’t even eating, then both of them staring at the bill to see who would pay for it. Their beliefs come from their upbringing and very specific personal experiences. For Monique, she believes Pablo should pay because of how she was raised. At one point, she says it’s his job to pursue her. Pablo wants to split things “fairly” down the middle, saying he wants a “partner.” Their opposing money lenses lead to awkward exchanges at restaurants when the check arrives. For Monique, him paying for a $10 soup is symbolic of being “taken care of.” Pablo doesn’t think it’s fair. He says he would prefer she did the “fake check dance” before he steps up to “be the gentleman.” How many invisible scripts can you spot? What does your reaction to the situation say about your relationship with money? I walked into this episode pretty confident about what would happen. I was wrong. Connect with Ramit Website Instagram Twitter Facebook YouTube Linkedin If you and your partner have a money issue and you want my help, I occasionally select a couple to work with, free of charge. Apply for my help here. Produced by Crate Media.

When Chris shops for food online, he compares the cost of almond milk and strawberries to save a few dollars. He spends hours agonizing over the most economical flight routes. He even stopped and picked up a used stroller from someone’s driveway. Chris and his wife Amy have a net worth of $8 million. Their friends call them cheap. They prefer to identify as "money hackers” and have lots of reasons why they behave the way they do. But even with their explanations, they’re not happy with how they’re using money to live a Rich Life. Chris and Amy are optimizers. They optimize points and options, a normal part of the tech culture in which they work. There’s just one problem: It’s making them unhappy! Imagine a world where Chris and Amy didn't have to put price first. Imagine a scenario where they could start with the kind of magical experience they wanted to create -- and use money to make it happen. As you listen, it’s easy to roll your eyes at the amounts of money being discussed. Resist that temptation. Amy and Chris have given us a gift by being so open with their finances and their challenges. I love today's episode because it shows you that if you have money issues today, It's very likely you're going to have the exact same money issues later at a million dollars or 5 million or yes, $8 million. Connect with Ramit Website Instagram Twitter Facebook YouTube Linkedin If you and your partner have a money issue and you want my help, I occasionally select a couple to work with, free of charge. Apply for my help here. Produced by Crate Media.

Andy and Kate bring in $200,000 a year and live rent free. Andy feels bad about money every day. His partner, Kate, says she wants to work as a financial team, but she walks on eggshells. Andy wants to make her happy, but he has a poor relationship with money. And that’s not all. Andy has $1.1 million dollars in a trust fund, managed by a financial advisor, and he still has holes in his shoes. I asked them, “Do you want to turn 65, have $10 million, and still worry about getting dessert?” Andy will have to decide if he’s going to let his old money stories determine the next 50 years of his life. Connect with Ramit Website Instagram Twitter Facebook YouTube Linkedin If you and your partner have a money issue and you want my help, I occasionally select a couple to work with, free of charge. Apply for my help here. Produced by Crate Media.

Meet Chuck and Mary. With a household income of $450,000 a year, they’re wealthy, but they’re not living A Rich Life. Mary spends money--in secret -- and feels judged when she makes “frivolous” designer bag purchases. Meanwhile, Chuck feels he can’t invest in a personal trainer. Their backstory is revealing. Mary grew up in a large family in Argentina where a bottle of Coca-Cola was an indulgence. When she made it to the States, she never wanted to feel deprived again. Suddenly, her spending takes on a new dimension. To her, a Chanel bag is more than just a bag. They have the money, yet they lack a shared plan. To create a Rich Life, they’ll have to dig into each other’s money clues. Connect with Ramit Website Instagram Twitter Facebook YouTube Linkedin If you and your partner have a money issue and you want my help, I occasionally select a couple to work with, free of charge. Apply for my help here. Produced by Crate Media.

A few years ago, Adam spent nine months aggressively paying off $75,000 in debt. He loved it. It gave him a purpose and he was happy to work seven days a week to pay it off quickly. His girlfriend, Elizabeth, has debt, but she isn’t excited by paying it off. Instead, she feels trapped, describing herself as “dumb” with money. (Notice the words she uses to describe herself and her debt: “disgusting,” “bad,” and “stupid.”) Adam’s aggressive approach of constantly talking about money isn’t working. Even though he wants to help, she craves emotional security and support. At one point, as Adam is about to go into yet another long monologue, I cut him off. Sometimes, what worked for you doesn’t work for your partner. Listen in to hear how Adam and Elizabeth navigate their Rich Life. Connect with Ramit Website Instagram Twitter Facebook YouTube Linkedin If you and your partner have a money issue and you want my help, I occasionally select a couple to work with, free of charge. Apply for my help here. Produced by Crate Media.

Laura came to me frustrated about their bathroom. She wants to renovate it, but Greg isn’t interested. In fact, he doesn’t really want to talk about money at all. For Laura and Greg, life is “fine.” They’re running on cruise control, earning a good income, saving a little, and not investing in anything other than a house. But Laura wants more than a “fine” life. When Laura says this out loud, Greg’s response is: “Well, it depends, right?” Greg is resistant to change. He’s skeptical about investing, about renovating, about travel. When I ask him what he really wants to do, he has no idea. He won’t engage. How would you handle money in your relationship if your partner didn’t want to talk about it? What if your partner had lost the ability to dream and simply wanted to “play small?” Connect with Ramit Website Instagram Twitter Facebook YouTube Linkedin If you and your partner have a money issue and you want my help, I occasionally select a couple to work with, free of charge. Apply for my help here. Produced by Crate Media.