Meaning Over Money
A different kind of financial podcast, where money is NEVER about money. Host Travis Shelton explores the deeper meaning behind our relationship with money, challenging conventional financial wisdom. The show focuses on aligning finances with personal values and purpose.
Episodes
440 - The Chicken and Egg of Wealth and Fame: Maybe It’s Opposite of What You Think
As a culture, we love to point our fingers at the rich and famous and accuse them of only caring about money. What if we have it totally backward? What if wealth and fame are byproducts of caring about anything but money and fame? In today’s episode, host Travis Shelton uses the U.S. Men’s Hockey Team Olympic gold medal game to explore this topic. Podcast website: https://www.traviss
439 - Managing the Puzzle Pieces: Everything Can Work….If It Works Together
Guilt, regret, resentment, remorse. All feelings tied to money. It’s so easy for us to beat ourselves up for each and every decision we make. However, nobody wins when that happens. In today’s episode, host Travis Shelton discusses how we need to give ourselves the gift of understanding the bigger puzzle and all the pieces involved. When we do, it’s easier to see how these other pieces fit in. Tha
438 - Creating a Life We Don’t Want to Retire From: A Better Path Than the Race Toward Retirement
Hello again! After an unexpected hiatus, we’re back at full strength! One of the elephants in the room in our culture is the idea of retirement. Not just any retirement, though, but a constant pursuit of an earlier-the-better retirement. 60 is better than 65. 55 is better than 60. 50 is better than 55. All the while, in our efforts to get there, we’re unintentionally sabotaging our lives. The alte
437 - Memories Don’t Discriminate: Don’t Let a Lack of Resources Rob You From Creating Beautiful Memories
Many people are hurting financially this holiday season. Things feel tight. This can lead many families to feel defeated and throw their arms in the air when it comes to creating memories for their kids. In today’s episode, host Travis Shelton discusses how memories are memories because they are memories…..period. Memories don’t require a large financial investment to be valuable. Instead, all tha
436 - Closer Than You Think: Why You’ve Probably Made More Investing Progress Than You Believe
We invest, invest, invest, and invest some more, only to look at our numbers and get frustrated by little progress we’ve made. Sound familiar? It’s common for people to experience immense frustration and fatigue about 10 years into their investing journey, sometimes leading to apathy….or quitting altogether. Did you know that $100,000 is 1/3 of the way to $1M? It sounds ridiculous, but it’s true.
435 - Reverse Engineering Our Obituary: Starting With the Desired End in Mind
We’re all going to die. Yeah, morbid, we know. What will your obituary say about you? In today’s episode, host Travis Shelton talks about the exercise of writing our own obituary. What do we want to be remembered for? What impact do we want to make on this world? How do we want the end of the story to read? Then, once we do that, we reverse engineer it; work our way backwards to fill in the gaps b
434 - What Would You Pay For Meaning? When Meaningful Work (Initially) Requires a Pay Cut
Would you take a pay cut to pursue work that would provide you with more meaning and a higher level of well-being? In today’s episode, host Travis Shelton shares the story of a friend who recently weighed this very decision, and chose meaning. His decision may be counter-cultural, but through the lens of pursuing work that matters and living a fulfilling, meaningful life, he might have cracked the
433- More Is Never Enough: How the Curse of More Can (and Will) Hunt Us Down
You know what the problem is with more? Every time we get more, more is still, well, more. In today’s episode, host Travis Shelton shares an intense story about a couple that is painfully losing the battle for more. It’s a brutal story to share, and one that far too many people can relate to, but perhaps this story can help to shift the perspective of many. We hope you enjoy. Podcast website:
432 - Recent Does Not Mean Real: The Risk of Recency Bias When Making Decisions
Whether you know it or not, there’s a hidden force at play in your life. It’s called recency bias. It’s a phenomenon where we humans place too much emphasis on recent experiences when making decisions. It’s present in all areas of our lives, but nowhere as impactful and prevalent as in our finances. We’re notorious for allowing recent events and experiences to cloud our judgment and pollute our de
431 - It’s Gotta Come From Somewhere: The Art & Science of Budgeting in the Real World
Budgeting is simple on paper, but we don’t live on paper. We live in a chaotic, volatile, and ever-changing world. In today’s episode, host Travis Shelton discusses how best to live in a budget when the real world decides not to cooperate with our best laid plans. It’s not easy, but it is simple. Podcast website: https://www.travisshelton.com/podcast Daily Blog:
430 - Live By the Sword, Die By the Sword: The Dangers of Businesses Polarizing Their Customers
We’re living in crazy times. Never before has our culture seemed so divided, so polarized. This sentiment also applies to businesses, unfortunately. In today’s episode, host Travis Shelton explores the dangers of what happens when businesses decide to adopt human beliefs, values, and polarizations. It may seem like a zero-sum game, but it’s far from it. The consequences may not be immediately evid
429 - The Unfixable Mistake: The Harsh Lessons of Trying to Time the Market
Buy low, sell, high, right? That’s the motto when it comes to stock market investing. One problem: It doesn’t work. It’s nearly impossible to time the right moment to buy, and even if we get lucky, it’s also nearly impossible to time the right moment to sell. In today’s episode, host Travis Shelton shares a cautionary tale from one of his “expert” investor buddies. The costs of trying to game the
428 - It’s Just Money: Why We Can (and Should) Make Some Decisions That Hinder Our Finances
Have you ever intentionally made a decision that hinders your finances? Good! That’s great news! It means there are more important things in life than money. In today’s episode, host Travis Shelton shares his controversial perspective about how the mission should matter more than the money. Sometimes, in order to pursue the mission (and the meaning behind it), we must make decisions that will inev
427 - The Bar Has Never Been Lower: Your Opportunity to Make An Impact Has Never Been Greater
It seems like our culture has grown accustomed to mediocre. We’ve normalized bleh. It almost feels like every time we engage with a business and they hit a home run, we’re shocked. We didn’t expect that. We expected to be let down like every other time. In today’s episode, host Travis Shelton discusses why the bar is so low today, and how that has created countless opportunities for each of us to
426 - Sometimes, the Only Prescription Is More Income
In the personal finance world, experts are typically keen to recommend all sorts of cutting, saving, hacks, and frugality. Don’t get us wrong, all of these have value! However, sometimes, the only prescription is more income. Sometimes, there simply isn’t enough fat to cut in order to get on the other side of our financial tensions. Sometimes, we just need to get to work. In today’s episode, host
425 - Quality Over Quantity: Why Less Is More
Whenever we spend money, there’s a tension in the air. Do we buy cheaper items so we have the resources to buy more, or do we focus our resources on buying fewer, but higher quality items? In today’s episode, host Travis Shelton shares why he believes quality over quantity is almost always the right answer. Not only that, but buying more expensive items is often a cheaper long-term strategy. Podca
424 - Give An Inch, Take a Mile: Why We Self-Sabotage Our Own Best Interests
For more than four years, we produced two episodes per week.....like clockwork. 419 episodes in a row without a single miss. Then, something happened. We decided to skip one episode, which led us to take a week off, which led us to take two weeks off, which eventually led us to take nearly three months off. If we give ourselves an inch, we'll take a mile. In today's episode, host Travis Sh
423 - Too Many Flourless Cakes: The Value of Work In a Society That Glorifies Leisure
If sugar is what makes cake taste good, why don’t we just replace all the flour with more sugar? It would taste like crap, that’s why. However, we live in a culture that continually tells us that we should replace the flour in our lives with more and more sugar. In today’s episode, host Travis Shelton explores the idea of finding a healthy balance of sugar (leisure and fun) and flour (work, purpos
422 - It’s Pretty Great to Be Young: Investing, and the Power of Time
Compounding is a powerful phenomenon, but it’s staggering how much so for young people. In today’s episode, host Travis Shelton shares some insights from a recent talk he gave to young adults. In short, young adults have a particularly massive opportunity to embrace the power of compounding. All it requires is the willingness to start…..and a ton of patience.Podcast website: https://
421 - Simple is Not Easy
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 we
420 - Know the Downside: What You Don’t Know Might Kill You
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
419 - History is Your Friend: What 23 U.S. Stock Market Crashes Have In Common
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
418 - How to Have a Midlife Crisis That’s Not a Midlife Crisis
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
417 - The Ten Dollar Challenge: Spending $10 Per Day On Things You Don’t Need
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
416 - It’s Okay to Buy Fun Things, But You Can’t Buy ALL the Fun Things
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
415 - Taking Timing Off the Table: Why and How to Stop Worrying About When Your Bills Are Due
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
414 - How to Stop Being Jealous: The Power of Factoring in Consequences
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
413 - Please Stop: With the Stock Market Declining, We’re Begging You to Not React. Here’s Why
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
412 - Stepping On Landmines: How One Bad Decision Can Create a Decades-Long Spiral….Or Not
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
411 - Taxes 101: You Wouldn't Change the Transmission In Your Own Car Just to Save a Few Bucks, Would You?
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
410 - Life Insurance 101: A Little Morbid But a Lot Important
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
409 - Taxable Investing 101: Giving Yourself the Gift of Freedom, Flexibility, and Options
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
408 - Income Fund 101: Do You Have an Inconsistent Monthly Income? We Got You!
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
407 - Personal Spending 101: A Powerful Release Valve When Combining Money In Marriage
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,
406 - Sinking Funds 101: Saving Intentionally While Combatting Damaging Psychological Forces
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 - Budgeti
405 - Budgeting 101: A Simple and Clear Overview of How to Execute a Monthly 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
404 - Are You Accidentally Losing 25% of Your Life Savings? The Sneaky Undercurrent of Investment Fees
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 outside
403 - Just Buy the Shoes: A Guilt-Free Blueprint to Overcome Financial Hoarding
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
402 - What Gets Measured Gets Done: The Sneaky Hack to Propel Your Momentum
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
401 - Just Start. Right Now. Today. Not Later.
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 - Less Talk, More Doing: The Power of Action In a World Obsessed With Talking
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
399 - Everything is Repurposed: Why You Shouldn’t Be Afraid to “Throw Away” One Career For Another
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
398 - The Costs Behind the Cost: Why the Initial Purchase Price is Just Part of the Story
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
397 - Riding the Beautiful Rollercoaster: A Look Back on 10 Years of Stock Market Craziness
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
396 - Is This the Year? A Case For (Finally) Stepping Into the Better You Deserve
Happy new year! As you’re listening to this, we hope you find yourself fondly reflecting on the year that was, and dreaming about the year that could be. Speaking of, why not this year? Maybe this is the year you finally ______. In today’s episode, host Travis Shelton makes the case that this should 100%, absolutely, without question be the you finally ______. Let’s make it the best one yet!If you
395 - Choosing Meaning, Even at the Expense of Security
Humans crave two things: meaning and security. Unfortunately, these two ideas sometimes conflict with one another. In today’s episode, host Travis Shelton makes the case for always pursuing meaning, even if it reduces security. We discuss this topic through the lens of Meaning Over Money co-founder, Cole Netten, and his interesting (and highly insecure) career.ChiefsAholic Trailer: https://www.you
394 - Wanting What You Have, Not Having What You Want
Do you ever find yourself dwelling on all the things you want? Oh, good, glad we’re not alone! In today’s episode, host Travis Shelton explains the importance of choosing contentment over a life of more. Instead of coveting the next thing, we can improve our happiness and contentment by simply being grateful for all that we do have. If you have questions or would like to connect with us outside of
393 - Best of Both Worlds: Investing In Other Things, But With Boundaries
Interested in individual stocks, crypto, gold, or other forms of investments? As you know, we are a big believer in patiently investing in broad, cheap, U.S. stock market indexes. We will die on that hill. However, it’s okay if you want to dabble in other things. In today’s episode, host Travis Shelton explains how we can do so in a healthy way by establishing (and honoring) clear boundaries.
If
392 - 4 Simple Tips to Stop Overspending
“How do I stop overspending?” Unfortunately, it’s not as simple as “Just stop overspending.” After all, we’re humans. In today’s episode, host Travis Shelton shares four simple practices that can help us combat overspending in our lives. They are simple, but powerful. They are simple, but difficult to master. However, once we do, we can largely wave bye-bye to overspending. If you have questions o
391 - Lifestyle Creep: A Cautionary Tale
We often throw around the term “lifestyle creep,” but we typically don’t dive deep enough to truly look at its impact on our culture. In today’s unedited episode, host Travis Shelton shares a cautionary tale of one particular family. It’s the story of success, growth, pain, and unintended consequences. It’s THE definition of the American Dream, which often looks more like the American Nightmare. W
390 - Choosing the Right Anchors: Why We Accidentally Sabotage Ourselves, and How to Fix It
One of the biggest missteps we make in our journeys is setting the wrong anchors. We set arbitrary goals or parameters based on the wrong reasons, which often leads us down dead-end streets and into unwinnable situations. In today’s episode, host Travis Shelton explains this concept through the story of his friend, who desperately wants to quit his job to go full-time with his new business……but hi
389 - Time to Check Your Statements Again: Why Your Investments Aren’t Doing As Well As You Think
2024 has been a great year in the stock market! Are you crushing it? In today’s episode, host Travis Shelton explains why you may not be doing as well as you think. He shares the story of a friend who was excited to learn from his financial advisor that he’s received an 18% return over the last 12 months. This sounds great……except for the fact the U.S. stock market returned approximately 34% in th
388 - It's Okay to Hate Your Job, But You Deserve Better
In our last episode, we discussed the little tells that indicate whether we are (or aren’t) in the right career path. In today’s episode, host Travis Shelton shares one piece of feedback from this content, as well as his public response. Yes, it’s okay to hate your job, but we think you deserve better. This is one area of life where you can have your cake, and eat it, too. Let’s live a life where
387 - Those Little Tells: How to Know If You’re On the Right Career Track
Do you look forward to Fridays? Dread Mondays? Fantasize about vacations? These might be little tells that you’re not in the right work. Conversely, the reverse might also be true. In today’s episode, host Travis Shelton discusses the importance of listening to the little tells in our life. If we’re attuned to them, it can help us understand if we’re where we need to be, or if a shift might be war
386 - The Next 40 Years, Not the Next 4: The Importance of Seeing the Big Picture
Another unedited episode as Producer Cole gets his life straightened out after having his third child in four years…..they are all blessed and healthy! Selecting a college is a microcosm for a much grander concept in our lives. Yes, we’re making a key decision about the next four years of our life; that’s obvious. However, there’s something bigger at play. That decision doesn’t impact just the nex
385 - Normalizing Normal: Just Because Something Is “Normal,” It Doesn’t Mean It’s Right
How much do you spend on Christmas gifts? What started as an innocent question quickly transformed into a broader concept. In today’s episode, host Travis Shelton explains how we humans have a tendency to normalize whatever we want to be normal. Instead of taking normal at face value, perhaps it’s time we ask the deeper questions to decide what the actual right thing is. If you have questions or w
384 - Death Binders For the Win: It’s Never Too Early to Prepare For the Inevitable
Today’s topic is on the morbid side of the ledger. The reality is each one of us will die someday. Will your family be prepared when that happens? In today’s episode, host Travis Shelton discusses an often-ignored topic: preparing our finances and our spouse to take the reins if/when something happens to us. We talk through the various components of how we can simply and methodically gather the ne
383 - The Deadly Hat Trick, According to Cole: Three Forces Robbing You From Living a Meaningful Life
According to Producer Cole, there are three psychological forces in our lives that, when working simultaneously, can wreak havoc on our lives. After much consideration, Cole is absolutely right. Each of these three forces can be detrimental, but working together, they are destructive. In today’s episode, host Travis Shelton explores Cole’s theory and talks through the dynamics and implications of
382 - Christmas, Without the Guilt: Simple Steps to Soak in the Holiday Spirit Without the Financial Stress
Millions of families will soon enjoy the holiday season. The movies, decor, food, and gifts. It’s awesome! Unfortunately, millions of people will also enter a brutal season of financial stress, guilt, and regret. In today’s episode, host Travis Shelton explains why this always seems to happen, and what we can do to combat it. You deserve a peaceful and joyous holiday season, and we can help you cr
381 - Businesses, We Can Do Better: The Case For Businesses NOT Weaponizing the Owner’s Values
Businesses serve a unique role in our society: To add value to people’s lives and strive to serve them with excellence. Nothing will stop the positive momentum like a business owner who decides to weaponize their own values through their business. Many businesses are suffering from this, and as a result, society is suffering as well. Business owners, we can do better.If you have questions or would
380 - A Recession is Still Coming, and That’s OK
Equity markets screamed upwards on the heels of President Trump being re-elected, increasing by 2.5% the day following the election. The cultural sentiment is that Donald Trump winning the election means we are heading into a great economic season. That may or may not be true (in the short run), but one thing is for sure: There WILL be a recession. The stock market WILL crash. In today’s episode,
379 - One Madness End, Another Begins: Don't Wait For Life to Feel "Normal"
The election is coming to an end…..yay!!!! Unfortunately, as one madness ends, another shall begin. That’s just the way our world works. Many of us delay doing the things we’re meant to do, simply because we’re waiting for the timing to be better. Waiting for “normal” to return. Waiting for the situation to be more ideal. Unfortunately, there will always be something to create choas in our world a
378 - We Will Justify Any Purchase: The Importance of Being Honest With Ourselves
Never underestimate a human’s ability to justify any purchase he/she wants to make. Regardless of how impractical, unaffordable, and detrimental it may be to our lives, we’ll find a way to justify it. In today’s episode, host Travis Shelton shares some recent versions of this he’s seen, and how we can combat this phenomenon in our own lives. If you have questions or would like to connect with us o
377 - Pushing Through WHEN Life Happens, Not IF Life Happens
It’s generally easy to push forward toward our goals when things are going well. Momentum is on our side, we see meaningful progress, and we feel in control. However, that’s not always how life works out. In today’s episode, host Travis Shelton parallels the story of Tyler Joseph (Twenty One Pilots) and one of his coaching clients. When adversity strikes, we need to ensure our mission is important
376 - Living With Margin: The Intentional Act of Giving Yourself Freedom
In today’s raw and unedited episode, host Travis Shelton talks about the importance of living with margin. This concept applies to our finances, work, and personal lives. It’s so easy to push ourselves to the limit and feel like we’re genreally in a good place. However, it only takes one unexpected event to push us over the edge and into a tough situation. Instead, if we intentionally choose to li
375 - Ignore the Noise: Your Investing Patience is ALWAYS Rewarded
Do you remember when the stock market started “crashing” in late July and early August? People began freaking out and making rash decisions about their investments. We addressed this in two separate episodes (linked below). As always, ignoring the noise was the best strategy. The stock market just hit new all-time highs, and those who remained calm and patient during the recent volatility were gre
374 - More Begets More: Why a Materialistic Lifestyle is a Slippery Slope
Buying nice things is fun! Having nice things is fun! One problem, though. Every time we get more, it makes us want more; thus, the race begins. In today’s episode, host Travis Shelton talks about the slippery slope of materialism and how it’s running millions of families into the ground. We believe you deserve better than more. Let’s talk about it.If you have questions or would like to connect wi
373 - How Saying "Yes" is the Gateway to Better
We like our comfort zone. It’s safe in there. We know what we’ll get in there. It provides security and peace. In today’s episode, host Travis Shelton explains why saying “yes” and getting out of our comfort zone is the gateway to a much richer and more fulfilling life. It will be uncomfortable, and surely push you to painful places, but there’s beauty on the other side of “yes.” If you have quest
372 - Asking ChatGPT to Review Our Podcast (with Cole Netten)
In today’s episode, host Travis Shelton asks ChatGPT to review the Meaning Over Money Podcast. Wait until you hear the criticisms……If you have questions or would like to connect with us outside of the podcast, here's where you can find us: Podcast website: https://www.travisshelton.com/podcast Daily Blog: https://traviss
371 - Get Creative With Your Big Rocks: How to Optimize the Expenses that Matter Most
Yes, it’s true that each of us experiences hundreds of expenses each month. Countless transactions, ranging from our most profound needs……all the way to the frivolous wants. However, not all transactions are created equal. In today’s episode, host Travis Shelton explains the importance of locking in our big rocks. If we inject creativity and perspective into them, it can free the rest of our finan
370 - Don’t Blindly Trust Experts: The Cost of Misplaced Faith
Have you ever trusted someone you thought was an “expert,” only to be burned by incompetence, misdeeds, or lack of performance? It’s more common that it should be, unfortunately. In today’s episode, host Travis Shelton discusses examples of how this regularly plays out in the financial world. If you have questions or would like to connect with us outside of the podcast, here's where you can fi
369 - But What Will You Give Up?: Why No Decision is Free
Every action causes a reaction. Each time we make a financial decision to add an expense, it requires a corresponding decision to decrease a different expense. When we look at our finances through that lens, it fundamentally changes how we approach our decisions. In today’s episode, host Travis Shelton explores this idea with examples from his coaching, as well as his family’s journey. If we appro
368 - Sometimes, We Need a Reset: Why Pushing Pause Can Propel Us Forward
When we’re working toward a big financial goal, sometimes we run out of steam. The journey gets long, we get tired, and we lose momentum. In today’s episode, host Travis Shelton explains why pushing pause to give yourself a reset can be just what the doctor ordered.If you have questions or would like to connect with us outside of the podcast, here's where you can find us: Podcast website:
367 - Survivorship Bias and FOMO, a Dangerous Combination
Do you ever hear the crazy stories about how someone did something crazy, and it massively paid off? A wild investment idea. A trip to the casino. A funky-sounding business plan. Ideas that, on the surface, seem risky at best, and insane at worst. However, you continually hear success stories about them. It’s disorienting. In today’s episode, host Travis Shelton discusses survivorship bias and why
366 - Don’t Use a Known Need to Justify Irresponsible (and Impulsive) Wants
Have you ever used a known and real need to justify doing something grander that you already wanted? If you’re a human, you probably have. In today’s episode, host Travis Shelton talks about this phenomenon through the lens of one of his coaching clients. It’s ok to buy wants, but when we use needs (the crack) to justify our wants (the foot), we oftentimes end up kicking in the door. Be careful, t
365 - A Different Kind of Inheritance: Something Far Richer Than Money
We live in a culture obsessed with financial inheritances. People want to get them, and people want to leave them. Here at Meaning Over Money, we don’t actually believe in inheritances. Well, not financial ones, anyway. In today’s episode, we discuss inheritances, legacy, and something far richer than money. After listening to this episode, we hope that you might view this topic differently (or at
364 - Simplify, Simplify, Simplify: The Beauty of Automation
This finance stuff can be tricky….and time-consuming. Luckily, it doesn’t have to be that way. In today’s episode, host Travis Shelton discusses the importance and power of automation. He also details out the various ways which we should consider automating our finances. Spend less time on your money, and more time living a life of meaning!If you have questions or would like to connect with us out
363 - Struggling to Manage a Variable Income? We Got You!
60% of Americans have some form of a variable income. Whether it’s an hourly wage, commission, or some other form of unpredictability, most Americans live with the reality of income volatility. Let’s be honest: that can be hard to deal with! In today’s episode, host Travis Shelton shares a few ideas to gain control of something that’s seemingly uncontrollable. This can be a huge game-changer for m
362 - Cole and Travis Talk Life and Money: Lifting the Lid on What’s Really Happening Under Roofs
Today’s episode is different, for a reason. Meaning Over Money co-founder and podcast producer Cole Netten joins host Travis Shelton to discuss life. It’s an inside look at the types of conversations and considerations millions of families are having at this very moment. Through social media and the typical masks we wear, we’re led to believe that everyone else is always doing better than us. In t
361 - Don’t Get Burned by Half-Truths: The Importance of Having Proper Context
Did you know that the stock market recently got crushed? Of course you did!!! That’s all people talked about for a solid few weeks. Did you also know that the stock market immediately bounced back and is again sitting near and all-time high? Probably not. In today’s episode, host Travis Shelton discusses the importance of getting full context in a world of half-truths. Doing so is imperative for o
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