Meaning Over Money

Hard to believe the year is quickly coming to a close. The weather starts turning, basketball is starting, and the holiday season is upon us. It's also a great time to start thinking about getting our finances in order for the coming year. Just a few key decisions and simple actions can make all the difference in the world. In today's episode, host Travis Shelton shares 10 things we should...

As a culture, we're taught to make whatever decision is best for us. The most profitable decision, the most comfortable decision, or the most promising decision. On the surface, this sounds practical and appropriate.  However, it can easily lead us down a road where our decisions are at the expense of doing the right thing, honoring others, and being ethical/moral. In today's episode, host...

We all make mistakes....it's inevitable. We've made them in the past and we'll surely make them in the future. But all mistakes are not created equal. Some mistakes hurt us for an instant, then we move on. Other types of mistakes will haunt us for months or years to come. In today's episode, host Travis Shelton discusses this through the lens of our finances and why it's so imp...

The first step to making a move is knowing we need to make a move. But when that light bulb goes off, that's when it starts to get scary. A career transition can be terrifying and uncertain. In today's episode, host Travis Shelton discusses some key things you can do to help move from where you are today to where you need/want to be tomorrow. It's not easy, but it can be simpler than w...

We're back for the second episode of Behind the Meaning, the show behind the show where we have no idea what we're doing. In this episode, we talk about listener feedback, our desire to be authentic and genuine, our favorite podcasts not named Meaning Over Money, how we create content and stay on schedule (or not), and the possibility of bringing in more guests in the future.   If you have...

Statistics show most Americans are significantly behind pace when it comes to preparing for retirement. There are a lot of reasons for this phenomenon. Today, we're going to discuss one of the big contributing factors. We humans tend to grossly underestimate how much we'll need to one day retire. In a lot of ways, this makes sense. A lot of money is a lot of money, so it can be difficult t...

In today's episode, we talk about a mistake that's all too common when it comes to investing. Some of these things we talk about may seem small, or obvious, but they are far more common than people believe and much more destructive than most people can imagine.  When it comes to investing, there are a few very simple components we need to get right, and when we do, it's game over (i.e....

There's a lot of talk about the stock market right now. People are nervous, people are frustrated, and people are confused. Should we be scared? In today's episode, host Travis Shelton attempts to clear the air and provide a more digestible and truthful narrative. It's all about context, and today he shares three facts that will likely change your perspective of the stock market. If yo...

Many people feel they are behind on where they should be with their investing. Maybe they are, maybe they aren't. In either case, they want to gain momentum in that area of their financial life. In today's episode, host Travis Shelton discusses how to approach the topic in an intentional and healthy way. Without a road map and a clear idea of where we want to go, we can easily find ourselv...

Without fail, we repeatedly get criticism about our anti credit card perspectives. People tell us all the time how stupid we are, but it doesn't necessarily bother us. Why? Because of the story behind the story. Whenever someone is explaining how much credit cards are their friends, it's almost inevitable the dark shadow side of credit card use shines through. What goes on behind the curta...

We Americans like our stuff. Strike that....we LOVE our stuff. There's nothing wrong with possessing nice things, but it can be a slippery slope and we end up holding these things ever more tightly. In today's episode, host Travis Shelton shares a very counter-cultural perspective on our possessions. Many may aggressively disagree with this approach, but perhaps it will at least give you s...

In today's episode, we're excited to welcome Jeremy Schneider from Personal Finance Club. Jeremy has quickly become one of the most influential and honest voices on social media in the world of investing. His simple but powerful investing philosophy (which aligns closely with our values and beliefs) has helped thousands of people embrace and execute their own investing careers. Host Travis...

Giving is fun, right!? Some of you love giving and have a tremendously generous spirit. You know what we don't do well? Receive generosity from others. In fact, we're generally pretty terrible at this. In today's episode, host Travis Shelton talks about why people have such a hard time accepting generosity from others (hint: it's usually pride), why it's important to do so, and...

In a recent episode (linked below), we announced the release of our new rent vs. own calculator. Hours after we released the episode (and our calculator), host Travis Shelton received a phone call from his friend  (and real estate agent) Jeff. Jeff was complimentary of the ideas and concepts. However, he concluded his thoughts with, "but we don't live in a vaccuum." His point was thi...

Can we all agree Venmo is a powerful tool? Unfortunately, most people use it in a way that hinders our finances and makes it difficult to remain in control. In today's episode, host Travis Shelton explains how to take advantage of this awesome tool while keeping control and transparency of your finances. This advice is simple, but powerful.  If you have questions or would like to connect with...

Sometimes when businesses struggle, it's not actually because the business is struggling. The business may be doing exactly what it's supposed to, but the needs/wants of the owner puts too much pressure on the business and eventually the foundation crumbles. This is a common occurrence and something all business owners should be aware of. In today's episode, host Travis Shelton gives s...

One of our culture's most prominent narratives is the notion that buying a house is a great financial decision. It's practically beaten into young adults and they feel the pressure to buy. Is it true?  Is buying a house actually a good financial decision? This may very well be one of the most controversial episdoes we've done, but we don't think it's as clear-cut as most people...

One of the best ways to simplify, streamline, and reduce the amount of time we need to spend on our finances is to automate.  Automation can remove emotional barriers and eliminate unnecessary time spent managing your finances.  However, automation is a double-edged sword.  As host Travis Shelton shares in today's episode, sometimes we can go too far with automation and lose the emotion and co...

We talk a lot about the pursuit of a meaningful life.  Knowing what matters most to you, prioritizing it over money, and aggressively living it out. In today's episode, host Travis Shelton asks the question, "what happens after you've lived your dream?" This stems from a recent situation in his own life where his wife is facing that exact situation. Not sure we have the answers,...

There are a lot of young adults who have chosen to take a debt-free path in life.  Some started this journey when they were younger, while others made the decision down the road after accumulating some debt.  One of the most common questions we get revolves around the idea of possibly meeting a love interest.....then discovering they have debt.  Chances are, that WILL happen!  If 80% of Americans...

Since beginning this podcast in April 2021, we've been talking about the fact people under the age of 30 don't really know what it feels like when the world begins to melt.  If that's you, congrats, now you do!  It's a weird experience to watch your investments slowly erode week after week.  It can be unsettling and perhaps even feel like you're moving backward.  In today's...

Trying something new!  This is the first in a possible ongoing series where we give a more behind-the-scenes look at our businesses, relationships, and lives.  The idea is to periodically release extra episodes (in addition to our normal Monday & Wednesday rhythm) with content that's a bit different from what you typically see from us.  Is it worthwhile listening?  Hot garbage?  Somewhere...

Yes, saving is good.  We need to save for future needs and wants.  However, too much of a good thing isn't always a good thing.  In today's episode, host Travis Shelton explores the idea of financial hoarding, why it's becoming more prevalent in our culture, and how destructive it can get.  People often roll their eyes when we talk about this subject, but we see first-hand how damaging...

What do humans and crabs have in common? Turns out, a lot more than we'd like to believe.  We don't want to spoil too much in the episode description, so we will let the episode speak for itself!  Hope you enjoy it! Let us know what you think by contacting us at one of the places listed below.   If you have questions or would like to connect with us outside of the podcast, here's where...

Big announcements were just released regarding federal student loans.  We want to address anyone who currently has student loan debt.  Some of you are ecstatic about this news, while some have mixed emotions. In either event, we think you should celebrate this unexpected blessing and be grateful for it.  In today's episode, host Travis Shelton discusses how you can capitalize on this sudden mo...