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Money and Marriage

Hi, I'm Karen and I'm a Finance Coach for Christian couples. If you're ready to get on the same financial page and build wealth together, my weekly newsletter is for you. Get practical tips for having positive money conversations, stretching your budget and creating financial unity in your marriage.

Featured Post

Here's what happens when couples get on the same page

Hello Reader, Let me tell you about Martin and Amanda. They'd been married for 13 years. Thirteen years of birthdays, holidays, arguments about whose turn it was to do the dishes, and everything in between. But in all that time, they had never once sat down and talked about money. Not once. They had separate bank accounts. Separate financial lives. And an unspoken agreement to just… avoid talking about money altogether. When something went wrong — and sometimes it did — a bank loan quietly...

Hello Reader, Jac & Curtis from Alberta, Canada won a completely FREE Intentional Spending Plan session (worth $147). And I'm so excited to work with them. Here's what Jac said when she found out she won: "We're very excited to have expert support to get us on the same page financially and create a plan together that we are equally invested in!" That's it. That's the goal. Not just a budget. Not just tracking expenses. Getting on the same page. Building together. Both equally invested. That's...

A couple praying

Hello Reader, Can you believe we're already in week 3 of January? I know. It feels like 2026 just started... and yet here we are, almost a full month in. So let me ask you: how's it going? If I had to guess, you're probably in one of two places right now: Option 1: You're crushing it. You set financial goals on January 1st and you're actually following through. (If this is you - amazing! Keep going!) Option 2: You had good intentions. You said "this is the year we get our finances together."...

Hi Reader , One of the most common things I hear from couples is: "We just can't get on the same page about money." One person wants to save. The other wants to enjoy life now. One sees a budget as freedom. The other sees it as restriction. Sound familiar? Here's the truth: getting on the same financial page doesn't mean you have to think exactly alike. It means you understand each other and work together toward a shared vision. This week, try this: Sit down with your spouse and ask them: "If...

a lady reading a book

Hello Reader , As a finance coach for couples, I get asked all the time: "What's the ONE book we should read together?" Without hesitation, I recommend "The Psychology of Money" by Morgan Housel. Here's why this book is a game-changer: It taught my husband and I (and now the couples I work with) that personal finance is more personal than it is finance. Our money decisions are driven by emotions, experiences and psychology rather than pure logic. Understanding why we make certain money...

Hello Reader , We used to think we were hopeless with money. Every January, we'd set ourselves some new money goals. Set strict spending limits. Promise ourselves this time would be different. By March? We'd be ordering takeout, feeling guilty and convinced we lacked willpower. Sound familiar? Here's what we discovered: We weren't the problem. The approach was. Most budgets start with the wrong question. They ask: "How little can you spend?" But the right question is: "What do you want your...

Beautiful golden labrador

Hello Reader , I had to share this with you because it was such a game-changer for our summer trip to the UK! We have just spent six weeks visiting friends and family, but halfway through, my husband and I were craving some alone time. You know how it is – as much as we love everyone, sometimes you just need your own space to recharge. So we started looking at Airbnbs for a week away... and nearly fell off our chairs at the prices. $2000+ for a decent house for just one week? My finance coach...

Happy family with Mickey Mouse

Dear Reader , If you’ve been doing all the right things, budgeting, cutting back, trying to save, but still feel stuck, you’re not alone. The truth is, most people don’t struggle with discipline.They struggle with direction. Because without a clear money goal, it’s hard to stay motivated. You can track spending all day long but if you don’t know what you’re working toward, it starts to feel pointless. This one mindset shift changed everything for us:When we decided to take our daughter to...

A basket of goods in a grocery store

Dear Reader , Last weekend, I went shopping—and wow. I’m buying the same things I always do, but the total at the till? Higher. The cost of living crisis is still very much here. And if you’ve noticed that your grocery bill is still increasing, you’re not imagining it. So, to help you stick to your food budget and stop spending more than you really need to, here are some tips to spend only what you need to. Step 1: Start with a solid meal plan Before you even write your list, take a few...

Hi Reader , I believe true financial wealth is built in the quiet moments—the ones where we choose to do what’s important, even when it’s not urgent. Things like reviewing your finances, tracking your spending patterns, setting up sinking funds, or finally starting that emergency fund—none of it screams for your attention. But those quiet tasks? They’re the ones that make the biggest difference over time. That’s why I’m such a fan of “money dates”—just 20 minutes a month to take intentional...