Meaning Over Money

This money stuff should be simple, but simple doesn’t mean easy. In fact, some of the simplest things in the world are the hardest to actually do. In today’s episode, host Travis Shelton discusses this important distinction, and will challenge you to aggressively and obsessively pursue simple. While it might be tremendously difficult, it might also be one of the best things you ever do.  Podcast w...

Humans have an interesting knack of overestimating the probability of something bad happening, but underestimating the severity of said bad outcome. The net result of these dynamics can be utterly destructive. In today’s episode, host Travis Shelton discussed the importance of understanding the true downside risks of xyz decision. If we do, we’ll make better choices and protect our family from pot...

Worried about a possible stock market crash? You aren’t alone! With the volatility we’ve experienced in the first three months of 2025, many people are getting nervous. Will the market crash? Is this just a bump in the road? Are bad days ahead? We aren’t fortune tellers, but we can say with 100% certainiy that a stock market crash will happen……at some point. If true, what do we do with that inform...

Did you know that host Travis Shelton recently had a midlife crisis? Well, that’s what most people would call it, anyway. In the Meaning Over Money world, we simply calling it living for the meaning, not for the money. In today’s episode, on the one-year anniversary of Travis purchasing an 18-year-old Nissan 350Z, Travis discusses the costs, benefits, and overall takeaways. In short, it’s pretty f...

Would you spend $10 per day on things you don’t need? Every day, every week, every month, every year. In some ways, this idea sounds crazy and irresponsible. Host Travis Shelton wrote a blog about this recently, and his readers agreed. Spending $10 on wants every single day sounds grossy reckless. However, would you believe that almost every person who listens to this episode already does that…..a...

No, that daily coffee isn’t ruining your financial life…..by itself. We love to pigeonhole certain expenses in our life as the ones that are hurting us. Truth is, most probably aren’t. It’s okay to spend money on fun things like coffess, drinks, clothes, and dining out. There’s nothing inherently wrong with buying fun things. However, we can’t have ALL the fun things. In today’s episode, host Trav...

One of the biggest financial stressors in people’s lives is the tension they experience waiting to see if x bills will be paid before y paycheck arrives (or vice versa). Just one or two days can be the make or break, and the stress that creates in our lives is tremendous. In today’s episode, host Travis Shelton explains why it’s critical to take timing off the table. More importantly, he simply ex...

Have you ever been jealous of someone in your life? Of course you have! Often, we get jealous of the upside of someone’s decisions (such as the house they live in or the car they drive). However, we rarely think about the cost of these decisions. In today’s episode, host Travis Shelton explains why we must factor in both sides of the equation before we form an opinion (or become jealous). Often, i...

People are once again starting to get nervous about the stock market. It makes sense, as the market has recently experienced some negative volatility. In today’s episode, host Travis Shelton makes his argument why it’s so important that we stop. Stop worrying. Stop reacting. Stop adjusting. Stop doing. We just need to stop. When we stop, take a deep breath, and see things through a proper lens, th...

Most tales of financial struggle have a starting point. People can often trace back their turmoil to a single event. Maybe it’s one poor decision, or a misfortune, or a mistake. We call those landmines. And when we step on a landmine, it becomes more likely to step on another. In today’s episode, host Travis Shelton discusses the importance of avoiding landmines, but when we do step on them, how t...

Do you do your own taxes? If so, please listen to this episode. We believe that one of the simpliest and most important decisions you can make in your financial life is to get a trusted tax professional. It’s about far more than just getting your taxes done each spring. For many families, this one decision can make a world of difference! In today’s episode, host Travis Shelton explains the implica...

What would happen to your family if something happened to you? What would happen to you if something happened to your spouse? In today’s episode, host Travis Shelton explains why it’s critically important to protect our families with life insurance, how much you might need, and how to get it. If we’re struck with the most heartbreaking of tragedies, we need to make sure our family is protected fin...

Whenever we talk about investing, it’s almost always through the lens of retirement investing. Retirement investing is awesome, no doubt. However, most families, in their pursuit of focusing their energy on retirement, miss out on an important and powerful opportunity. What if you need/want some of your assets before age 60? A wedding? A car? College? An earlier-than-60 income stream? Most people...

One of the hardest nuances to manage in our finances is dealing with an inconsistent income. While some people might get a salary or work a consistent set of hours, many rely on commissions, royalties, bonuses, and varying hours to feed their family. One month might pay $15,000, and the next $2,000. It can be a whipsaw of emotion, ranging from euphoria to panic. In today’s episode, host Travis She...

More than nearly every aspect of personal finance, we here at Meaning Over Money will die on the hill that married couples should combine finances and view everything through the lens of “ours.” However, it’s inevitable that tensions and stress will arise at some point. In most marriages, the tension doesn’t come from the big decisions, but rather the small everyday purchases. In today’s episode,...

On the heels of our Budgeting 101 episode, host Travis Shelton dives deep into sinking funds. What they are, why they matter, and how to easily and effectively execute them. If you’re looking to improve your saving game, this is the episode for you. The implementation of sinking funds can be the game-changer your financial life needs to take you to the next level.  Referenced Episode: 405 - Budget...

Today marks the beginning of a series we are calling 101. Based on listener feedback and common questions, we’re getting back to basics on how to logistically and mechanically execute on several ideas we regularly discuss on this podcast. Today, we’re starting with budgeting because, well, we believe budgeting well is the key that unlocks all other doors. If we can get this part right, so many mor...

Most Americans are willingly but unknowingly throwing away 25% of their life savings. Yes, one-quarter of people’s assets are literally vanishing from under their nose? How, investment fees. In today’s episode, host Travis Shelton explains why even a 1% fee on your investments can rob you blind. This one episode might save you millions. If you have questions or would like to connect with us outsid...

Millions of Americans struggle with financial hoarding…..or the weight of feeling guilt when spending. Much of this stems back to our childhoods, when we were continuously told not to buy things we don’t need, to quit spending, to save more, etc. After decades of this narrative, many people haven’t developed a healthy relationship with money and live in a perpetual state of guilt, regret, and hoar...

Achieving goals is hard. After all, life doesn’t slow down or do us any favors to make it easier. In today’s episode, host Travis Shelton talks about the importance of measuring the things we want to accomplish. This is a critical part of his financial coaching process, and with visibility, intentionality, and discipline comes massive results. If you sometimes struggle to make progress on your goa...

How impactful is investing $25/month? Not much, actually. However, that’s not the point. In today’s episode, host Travis Shelton discusses the power of starting. From a behavioral science perspective, the most important (and difficult) part of any endeavor is to simply start. Even if it’s slow, or small, a start is still a start. In the case of investing, starting at even $25/month is the gateway...

400 episodes!?!? In a world filled with a million great ideas and endless talk, it’s the people taking action who win. In today’s episode, host Travis Shelton discusses the power of just doing. It’s not always sexy. It’s not always enjoyable. It’s not even always successful. However, there’s a power in moving forward and putting one foot in front of the other. Perhaps it’s time to put your idea in...

When asked why they don’t leave their job for a better one, one of the main answers people provide is they don’t want to “throw away” what they’ve built. In today’s episode, host Travis Shelton addresses this concern head-on. In short, nothing is thrown away. Instead, everything is repurposed. Every skill, relationship, experience, and achievement. Nothing is wasted. The moment we realize this is...

Whenever we consider buying something, we typically look at the cost to purchase it and make our decision accordingly. However, the initial purchase price is just part of the story. Instead, in order to give ourselves a fuller context, we need to look at the costs behind the cost. In today’s episode, host Travis Shelton discusses why it’s critical that we account for all the costs involved with ow...

Wow, what a 10-year stretch we just experienced in the stock market. In today’s episode, host Travis discusses how what we’ve been through over the past decade is a perfect microcosm of what stock market investing is all about. It’s a bumpy ride, but the results continue to speak for themselves. That’s been the case for the last 10 years, but also the 140 years before that. We hope this episode pr...