Meaning Over Money

Bad news: it's tax season. Good news: it eventually gets done and maybe there's a refund on the other side waiting for you. No, it's not free money. It's your money that you're getting back. But for most people, it sure beats getting a negative surprise and finding out you need to write a check to the government. What now? In today's episode, host Travis Shelton walks throu...

There are a lot of cool things we can do with money. Feed our family, buy shiny things, pay for experiences, travel the world, eat amazing food.....the list goes on and on. However, one thing rises above all others: generosity. In today's episode, host Travis Shelton shares a conversation he had with his friend, Austin. In this discussion, Austin so eloquently communicated the genuine beauty t...

Do you ever find yourself comparing yourself to someone else? Chances are you look upward when comparing.....not downward. The title of today's episode is a quote from Jon Acuff. Host Travis Shelton heard Jon say this many years ago, and it made a big impact on his life. Whether it's money, skills, career, fitness, or any other number of areas in our life, we need to take a step back from...

It seemed like just yesterday, every person on social media portrayed themselves as investing "experts." Buy this stock, make this move, and get that crypto. Funny how it got real quiet, real fast. In today's episode, host Travis Shelton discusses this phenomenon and what it means going forward. In short, there's no easy path. Things feel easy when times are good.....but that&#39...

Medical Emergencies happen. In today's episode, host Travis Shelton shares the recent tale of his son breaking an arm. Topics include the U.S. healthcare system, how to handle medical emergencies, sinking funds, and health insurance basics. These types of situations will never be ideal, but if we approach them well, we can lessen the stress and the financial impact on our lives. If you have qu...

When it comes to money, many of us carry some deep, dark, heavy, ugly money secrets. All the while, we think we're the only ones hiding something like this. Truth is, many people are hiding a lot of junk. In order to show how you aren't alone, we recently solicited our listeners to anonymously share some of their money secrets with us. In today's episode, host Travis Shelton discusses...

All work matters, but not all work matters to you or to me. In today's episode, host Travis Shelton discusses work from the perspective of meaning. If 70% of Americans dislike or hate their jobs, there has to be a better solution. Instead of viewing some work as inherently good (pay, status, etc.), we need to ask if that particular work is good for us. When we better understand what work best...

Never judge a book by its cover, right? Easy to say, hard to follow. When we look at other people's lives, we like to use external signals (clothes, houses, cars, trips) as a way to perceive their level of wealth, success, or status. In today's episode, host Travis Shelton explains why he thinks these external signals are often misleading. In fact, we believe there can oftentimes be an inv...

Have you ever tried to take a shortcut while driving somewhere, only to get totally burned and end up worse than you originally started? Money is much the same way. There are a lot of shiny-looking shortcuts out there, each one with the allure of being better, faster, and easier. In today's episode, host Travis Shelton discusses why we so easily fall for shortcuts, and why they are so damaging...

In today's culture, success is measured in sales, growth, profit, and a number of other objective financial measures. In some ways, this makes sense. It's measurable and comparable. However, if we use these measuring sticks to define success, we may actually miss out on what's really important to us. In today's episode, host Travis Shelton discusses why it's important for each...

Last week, host Travis Shelton had the opportunity to share the Meaning Over Money message at the Omaha YP Summit, the largest young professionals conference in the country. Wow, it was awesome! On the heels of his talk, several people approached him to ask questions about their own lives. These were deep and important questions. Also, more than likely, these are similar questions shared by many....

Millions of people face a common struggle. No, not the struggle of overspending. Rather, they struggle to part ways with their money to enjoy things in life. Things ranging from a coffee, to a pair of shoes, to a vacation. In today's episode, host Travis Shelton discusses how this became such a big problem in our culture, why it's important to get it right, and steps you can take to move i...

We live in a culture that elevates income as the be-all and end-all in determining financial success. This makes sense, but it's simply not true. Yes, income matters. However, one's income is not the primary driving force behind whether or not they are financially successful. In today's episode, host Travis Shelton discusses this concept through the lens of two couples in similar life...

Do you know the term "retail therapy?" What if I told you we have it completely backward? In today's episode, host Travis Shelton explains why spending money on wants to make ourselves feel good is actually one of the things negatively impacting our mental health. It's short-term gain, long-term pain. Yes, mental health is important......extremely important! Let's talk more a...

Have you ever wanted to save for something, but you didn't know exactly what it was going to look like, only to feel like it's too late by the time you recognize what it looks like? You aren't alone! This is a common dilemma many of us face. In today's episode, host Travis Shelton explains how to financially prepare for something when the end game is still a bit uncertain. Implemen...

We often conflate money with fun. We assume in order to enjoy life and have a good time, we need money. For some things, yes, but this isn't a universal truth. Money doesn't equal fun, fun equals fun. In today's episode, host Travis Shelton discusses why we so often relate money to fun, and how it can be freeing when we realize that's not the full truth.  If you have questions or w...

One of our favorite parts about managing money is making "bad decisions" to create memories. We say that tongue-in-cheek, as we don't think creating memories is irresponsible. Rather, we think it's one of the best uses of the resources we're blessed with. In today's episode, host Travis Shelton shares some relevant stories and provides some ideas to consider in your own j...

Do you have any old retirement accounts sitting around from prior jobs? It's becoming a more common trend as people change jobs more frequently. Most people have at least one old retirement account in their life. In today's episode, host Travis Shelton discusses the four primary options you have at your disposal. For most people, doing nothing isn't the best approach. After listening t...

You need a credit card to travel, right? It's a narrative as old as credit cards themselves. In today's episode, host Travis Shelton discusses how he recently traveled to multiple countries with nothing other than cash and debit cards. Not only does it work, but it works very, very well! Despite the widespread cultural belief that we HAVE to have a credit card to travel, we hope this gives...

Have you ever stopped to think about the value of a book? Hundreds of hours of someone's time, combined with their heart and soul, all wrapped up in a little package...for just $15?!?! When we think about it that way, wow, what a bargain! In today's episode, host Travis Shelton makes the case for both creating and consuming one of the richest and most valuable resources on the planet, the...

Travel is awesome, but travel is expensive. In today's episode, host Travis Shelton discusses not only how he fits travel into his own budget, but also how he coaches countless families through the process. There are a few key mindsets and steps we can take that will transform how this looks and feels in our life. Happy travels! If you have questions or would like to connect with us outside of...

For many, it's bonus season and/or tax refund season. With that come many questions, opportunities, and decisions. What we do with these financial windfalls can oftentimes be the make or break between meeting our goals or not. In today's episode, host Travis Shelton walks through the steps he takes his coaching clients through whenever there's a financial windfall in the near future. T...

"Is it ok to enjoy your work, but not find meaning in it?" This is a question we've been asked many times. We think it's awesome if your work is enjoyable....what a gift! However, we don't think that's enough. Eventually, even the most fun work will feel empty if it doesn't provide meaning and purpose. To illustrate this principle, we use the Coke vs. Pepsi challenge....

We live in a culture that tells us what we should buy, consume, and desire. In today's episode, host Travis Shelton uses the tale of two computers to illustrate the importance of having self-awareness of what truly adds value to our lives. What's valuable to one person may not be for another. If we're honest with ourselves and align our values with our behavior, we have a chance to com...

Do you ever fondly look back to "the good old days?" You know, back when things were better, happier, and more fulfilling. In today's episode, host Travis Shelton talks about the good old days and why every season of life could/should be fondly looked back on as the good old days. We each have the choice to create our dream life, in every season. It's an odd concept, and difficul...