Meaning Over Money

Paying off debt is simple.  If there is extra money each month, there's only one place it goes: to the debt!  It's a tough journey to become debt-free, but it's also a very simple one.  Something happens when we get out of debt.  We think life will get easier and simpler.  Truth is, it becomes more complicated.  Instead of having one very clear option on what to do with extra cash, the...

We love generosity!  We believe all year long is a season to give, but the holidays tend to be the time where many people start to think about generosity.  In today's episode, host Travis Shelton discusses why it's so important to exercise what he refers to as the "giving muscle."  After all, generosity isn't something we do, but rather who we are.  That may not feel like you...

The culture tells us to pursue the easy path, the comfortable path, the path of least resistance.  We choose the comfortable path in our careers, in our relationships, in our money.....everywhere!  In today's episode, host Travis Shelton talks about how a recent speaking engagement affirmed once again how doing the hard thing ALWAYS wins!  Comfort is the enemy of progress.  It can often feel l...

As we move further and further away from 2008's Great Financial Crisis, memories fade and a younger generation has risen to adulthood.  With that comes mountains of new debt.....record levels of debt!  In today's episode, host Travis Shelton discusses some of the newly released information about household debt and shares his thoughts on the situation.  Just like 2008 and every meaningful r...

The idea of changing jobs is scary!  Especially when it feels secure.  Especially when it pays well.  Especially when you've been there a long time.  But many of you need to leave your job yesterday.  In today's episode, host Travis Shelton shares the 5 signs you might need to get a different job.  You may relates to some of these and haven't even considered them signs.  Why?  Because...

One really deep question we often get asked is, "is it ok NOT to find meaning in my work if I have meaning outside my work?"  The short question, is of course, yes.  We aren't here to tell people what to do and everyone needs to find their own way in this crazy life.  However, we think people deserve better.  It's awesome to have meaning (lots of meaning!) outside of work!  But w...

Often, people will share financial advice and conclude with the line, "well, it worked for me."  It's great if a certain way of doing things "works" for someone, but it doesn't mean it's good advice.  In today's social media world, bad advice is flying at us left and right, disguised as sound wisdom.  In today's episode, host Travis Shelton rants about this...

After a decade of the stock market going up, up, and up, people are starting to see the end of the run is coming.  Well, the wise people are anyway.  After all, there are lots of things to be nervous about in our country and our economy.  With that naturally comes the question, "well then, what should we be doing to prepare?"  In today's episode, host Travis Shelton unpacks this ques...

In our culture, we tend to put a lot of value on independence, self-sufficiency, and individual achievements.  So much so that it can oftentimes breed a sentiment that we SHOULD do it all on our own.  Life, money, career, parenting.....you name it.  It can be a lonely road, but luckily it doesn't have to be!  In today's episode, host Travis Shelton explains why he believes this is a false...

If you're a young adult, you've likely been exposed to the hustle culture that permeates Instagram and TikTok.  You know, go, go, go, more money, more money, more money.  This never-ending pursuit of hustling for more.  Then, it goes one of two directions:  a) glorifying having more stuff and a fancier lifestyle, or b) glorifying an early retirement and a life of leisure.  Both are as equa...

Aside from fear, the perceived availability of health insurance is the #1 reason why people abandon their dreams.  Yes, health insurance is important.....vitally important!!!  But we oftentimes let health insurance dictate our career decisions without considering the bigger picture or the alternative options.  It's a tragedy health insurance is tied to our employment in modern America, but we...

As Travis's mentor Dr. Gary Hoag always says, we need to invest in mission and memories.  Recently, Travis and his wife celebrated their 12-year wedding anniversary with a quick trip to Chicago to attend a Twenty One Pilots concert at the United Center.  Aside for ranting about how amazing Twenty One Pilots is, Travis discusses the fact this 27-hour trip cost $1,000.....yikes!  It's import...

In the wise words of Steve Jordan, "never end on a miss."  In today's episode, host Travis Shelton reflects back on the habits of his childhood best friend and how this silly and simple mantra has the power to transform our lives.  Fast forward several decades, these same principles are carried forward to a new generation.  When Travis's son Finn recently fell off his bike and to...

If you're a regular listener, you know generosity is one of our favorite topics.  This is Meaning Over Money, and very few things provide as much meaning as joyful and sacrificial generosity.  In today's episode, host Travis Shelton discusses a unique way to handle our month-to-month giving that provides so much more freedom, intentionality, and flexibility.  This method has changed his li...

Sometimes crap happens!  It always does.  No matter how good things are going in life, finances, or career, some form of trouble is right around the corner.  We don't say that to be pessimistic.  Far from it!  In today's episode, host Travis Shelton discusses the topic of turmoil.  Whenever something bad happens to us (whether it's our fault or not), a story will be told.  The beautifu...

When it comes to the topic of luck, our culture tends to have two polarizing views.  One perspective is luck is totally random and completely unpredictable.....kinda like a lottery ticket.  The other perspective is luck doesn't exist....."I earned it!"  Here's what we believe:  sometimes we get lucky.....and that's ok!  In today's episode, host Travis Shelton reflects on...

You know the person who bottles up their feelings over and over and over, only to eventually explode?  I think we can all agree this isn't healthy.  Well, there's a financial version of this person.  After a fun conversation with a client, we coined it the "guilt, guilt, guilt, screw it" syndrome.  We feel guilt so we don't spend....over and over and over.....until we reach a...

We're doing something a bit different today.  Cole recently walked into the office and said, "Travis, you gotta check out these comments on a TikTok video I saw."  After pausing, he added "no, let's turn the mics on, then show you the comments."  Thus, this episode was born.  We aren't huge Dave Ramsey fans, but there is most certainly an overlap on some topics.  In...

In the final episode of our in-the-wilderness series, we talk about the importance of planting seeds.  The things we say, the behaviors we model, the decisions we make, the positive we try to instill in others.  Oftentimes, it can feel like it's all for nothing.  Then, every now and then, there's a moment we're reminded good has, is, and will come from our efforts.  Not all seeds grow....

In the third installment of the in-the-wilderness series, host Travis Shelton reflects on all the ways society defines our identity:  income, job title, social status, neighborhood, cars/houses, schools, degrees, etc.  When we boil it down, none of these things actually matter.  In fact, they matter so little, one day they will be gone in an instant.  Instead, we have the privilege of focusing on...

Do you ever get so focused on your goals you fail to enjoy the process of working to achieve them?  Whew, we're glad we weren't the only ones.  In the second installment of our in-the-wilderness series, host Travis Shelton reflects on how we can often find ourselves fixating so much on the destination that we forget to enjoy the journey.  What if the journey was actually more important tha...

This is the first in a 4-episode in-the-wilderness series Travis recorded on a recent trip to the Boundary Waters.  If you're an active listener of the show, you probably know his annual trip to the Boundary Waters has been transformational in his life, his marriage, and his career.  During this year's trip (6th trip in 7 years), Travis recorded four episodes while deep in the wilderness....

In today's episode, host Travis Shelton shares the story of his new friends, Jake and Meredith.  Jake and Meredith are a young adult couple who model exactly what it looks like to dive head-first into life, calling, and community.  There's so much we can learn from this young couple and how they approach life together.  In a world that says we should do what's safe, comfortable, and ea...

We believe in generosity!  In fact, it's one of the foundations of our work and our own personal lives.  There's one problem: when we start to become generous, we tend to condition ourselves to deny the generosity of others.  After all, I am the generous person.  I am the one blessing others.  I don't NEED anything from anyone.  Pride starts to take over and we find ourselves slamming...

We often perceive our current reality as a permanent state of being. When things get tough, it’s easy to believe this is just our new reality. Good news: it’s not! In today’s episode, host Travis Shelton discusses the concept of looking at life as a series of seasons. Good seasons, bad seasons, easy seasons, challenging seasons. Often multiple seasons at the same time. When we can view life in thi...