For Better and Worth

The holidays are a time of joy, but they can also be stressful when it comes to gift-giving. This stress can be amplified when you share a bank account with your significant other and the element of surprise could be compromised. However, there are ways to navigate this situation and still maintain the joy of gift-giving. In this episode, we will discuss the complications of gift-giving when shari...

We recently watched a show called "The Golden Bachelor," which follows a senior bachelor looking for love.. The show was entertaining and highlighted the importance of finding love and companionship in one's golden years. It didn't however touch on the need for financial planning and security in these golden years. In this episode, we discuss a few critical factors to have in place as you age. Our...

Living paycheck to paycheck is the harsh reality for 70% of Americans, regardless of income. Face it... The cost of living is never going to drop, unfortunately. It is our responsibility to improve our own financial management skills and stop living close to the edge. In this episode, Chris and Ericka discuss their experience with paycheck-to-paycheck living and explore effective ways to overcome...

With the holiday season upon us, it's easy to get caught up in the frenzy of shopping and consumerism. But let's not forget what comes before all of that - Thanksgiving. Unfortunately, there is a tendency to overlook this special holiday and immediately start our holiday shopping. Black Friday then quickly turns into "Trap" Friday. We rush through the aisles, grabbing the best deals and gifts, wit...

Embarking on a home renovation journey can feel overwhelming, regardless of your financial situation. Just ask Chris and Ericka, who recently took on a project full of ups and downs. But trust us, it was absolutely worth it! With proper planning, budgeting, and open communication, your home upgrade can turn into a rewarding experience. Join us in this podcast episode as we explore effective strate...

Among the many financial factors that contribute to financial stress, credit reports and scores often remain unspoken taboos. Many couples shy away from discussing their credit reports and scores in fear of exposing their financial shortcomings and the perceived stigma associated with poor credit. It is crucial to break down the fear surrounding credit reports and scores to normalize the conversat...

Ericka and Chris record LIVE at FinCon 2023! They describe the event and its significance to their work. They share key takeaways which included a strong sense of collaboration, readiness for content sharing, potential partnerships and collaborations, and new ideas discussed at the conference. If you want to learn more about FinCon and its impact on financial content creators, listen in! Our websi...

Are college athletes set up for success or failure with NIL deals? It might be the dream of every college athlete to increase their bank account or drive a nice car, but is it helping or hurting them? Many college athletes hope to go on to lucrative careers in professional sports, but the truth is most athletes won't get there. Name, image, and likeness deals can provide some much-needed relief du...

Have you ever found yourself thinking that if you had more money, your financial problems would disappear? It's a common assumption, but is it actually true? In this episode, Chris and Ericka explore the paradox of more money and how it can potentially create more financial problems. We discuss real statistics and delve into personal experiences to help you reflect on your own approach to money ma...

Many of us tend to measure our worthiness through our net worth. We believe that the more money we have, the more successful we are. The fact is, money is just a means to an end, and it should not define our worth. In this podcast episode, Chris and Ericka delve deep into the crucial balance between self-worth and net worth and the path to thriving financially. Our website: www.forbetterandworth.c...

Pets can bring joy, comfort, and companionship to our lives. For many of us, our pets are part of our family and their companionship is invaluable. However, when it comes to pet ownership, couples may have different perspectives and priorities that can lead to conflicts. These disagreements can range from who should take care of the pet to how much money should be spent on pet care. This can put a...

Growing up in a single-parent household can be challenging, but it can also provide valuable life lessons. Both Chris and Ericka grew up in single-parent households, and they credit their upbringing with teaching them responsibility, work ethic, hustle, and resilience. Listen in to hear how they feel about the advantages of having a single parent. There are benefits and life skills gained from gro...

Money can be funny. But, most of the time talking about money isn't funny at all! In this episode, Chris and Ericka discuss how it takes courage to have meaningful money conversations in relationships. Identifying personal hot buttons around money helps people understand what is required in order to elevate the conversation. We share our own experiences where courage was necessary. It took courage...

Sometimes it just feels good to do nothing. Just chillin' out, relaxing, and allowing life to happen without your intervention feels good. Until it doesn't. It is important to think about what you might be missing in life if you don't change your money habits. There may be adventures, experiences, causes, etc. that you can't participate in if you don't get your financial house in order. Waiting is...

Have you ever found yourself wondering where does all of my money go? Do you have this feeling that one day the bottom will fall out, a major life event will happen or you won't have enough cash to weather an important storm? These concerns affect everyone. However, the small "money leaks" could be the real culprit that makes you feel like you don't have enough when you need it. Tune in to hear ho...

Sometimes our differences cause us to feel like we are in two different spectrums. One partner may cast a vision and dream. The other partner may see only in terms of today and the reality of a situation. Neither perspective is better than the other. The way we view life may vary from moment to moment. Learning to appreciate our differing views and use them for the good of the relationship is wher...

Call it whatever you want: a fight, disagreement or argument. No matter how you name it the way you handle these tender moments is critical. Chris and Ericka have termed their disagreements in a way that keeps in mind the big picture. Listen in as they share ways they have been able to move through challenging times and still like each other. You won't agree on everything but you can agree on how...

If you don't enjoy talking about money with your partner, it is probably hard to discuss it with your kids That is the challenge a lot of people face. We have all made mistakes with money and many times we choose to shield those moments from our kids. But, what if we invited them to share in the wins and losses? What if we discussed money even when we didn't feel like it? What if we taught money l...

It's been 25 years since we got married! Most marriages don't make it this long. Chris and Ericka don't take that for granted. In this episode, they reminisce, share tips for longevity, and think about what they look forward to next. Although marriage is beautiful and well worth the journey it also takes intentionality to go the distance. Listen in to hear how they've handled (or juggled) it all....

In this episode, Chris and Ericka chat with their daughter Olivia Young, a current college student. Her Gen Z perspective and wise approach to college choice and savings provide valuable insights for anyone who tunes in. If you have kids listen in. If your kids are college-bound listen in. If you are an adult looking to get your financial house in order... listen in. Even Chris and Ericka received...

We can learn a lot from generations that come after us. As a special treat, this week we dive into the perspective of our oldest daughter Faith. Listen in as she shares about what it was like to grow up in our household, her thoughts on budgeting, and what goal she's working on right now. She made us laugh and also very proud. Her advice to parents and her peers is priceless. You don't want to mis...

Have you ever felt like people want you to do good but not too good? There seems to be a limit to what other people can handle when it comes to your success. This could cause you to censor your wins and successes simply because of what other might say. It is hard to decide when, how, and which whom to share your financial progress. But it might be better to not care about the naysayers all togethe...

There are lots of feelings and emotions around having debt and/or using credit. The emotions can lead you to feel like you've done something wrong on your financial journey. And maybe you have made mistakes. But we've all done that, right? So, how do you handle the dlemma over the "rights" and "wrongs" of being in debt? Is there an actual right way to maneuver in life financially? Tune in this wee...

Everyone has their limits. Even if you don't say it out loud you know where the lines are drawn. You could have spending limits, relationship barriers, or family boundaries. These limits help you feel safe and keep you feeling like you can make it when times get tough or money is tight. Have you thought about the things you either can't live without or the places in your relationship that you lite...

Have you ever felt like you wanted to forget the budget, stop tracking your expenses, and just relax financially? Everyone has! Doing this stuff consistently is hard! What you do in these moments is key. There are some important concepts to think about when you are at a point where you are tired of the financial journey. Even financial gurus and experts have days where they get sick and tired of d...