236. “She spent $5K behind my back. How can I trust her?”
Money For Couples with Ramit Sethi
Why tracking alone doesn't solve money problems
Ramit critiques obsessive tracking and introduces the Conscious Spending Plan approach.
Alex (34) and Jackie (33) have been married for 11 years, raising four young kids while navigating a financial dynamic that’s been strained for nearly as long. Alex is meticulous and cautious — he’s tracked every expense since 2016 — while Jackie follows her instincts and believes God will provide. But when she secretly enrolled in a $5,000 coaching program and later pushed for a $16,000 photography course, Alex’s trust shattered. Now he feels like he’s carrying the entire financial load, while Jackie feels discouraged and untrusted. Their arguments spill into daily life, even in front of their kids. Can Ramit help them rebuild trust, confront their conflicting money beliefs, and finally create a system that brings peace instead of panic?
In this episode we uncover:
• Why Alex has tracked every dollar since 2016—and how control became his default coping strategy
• Jackie’s belief that “money will come” and the role faith plays in her financial decisions
• How a secret $5,000 coaching purchase shattered Alex’s sense of safety
• The emotional toll of raising four young kids while constantly feeling financially behind
• How Jackie’s childhood of scarcity and inconsistent money messages shaped her impulse-driven spending
• How Alex’s upbringing around saving, stability, and tithing taught him to equate control with security
• Why relying on miracles and unexpected windfalls creates a fragile financial foundation
• Jackie’s desire to feel heard, supported, and validated—instead of managed
• Why Alex feels lonely and burdened in the role of financial gatekeeper
• How a shared money system can shift them from crisis-mode to long-term partnership
• The first steps they take toward rebuilding trust, financial clarity, and a plan they can both commit to
Chapters:
(00:00:00) “Do you trust each other?”
(00:17:40) “We had $300 and no plan”
(00:29:15) Ramit breaks down their numbers
(00:37:15) “If we just made more, everything would change”
(00:50:52) “I wasn’t taught to dream — just to survive”
(00:58:53) “Hope isn’t a financial strategy”
(01:07:33) “I want the positive behavior without the crisis”
(01:16:36) “The house is on fire”
(01:29:07) “That changes everything”
(01:36:56) Where are they now? Alex and Jackie’s follow-ups
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Links mentioned in this episode
• If you want help with your finances, join my Money Coaching program at https://iwt.com/moneycoaching.
Connect with Ramit
• Get my new book, Money For Couples
• Get Money Coaching with Ramit
• Download the Conscious Spending Plan
• Listen to my book—now on Audible
• Get my New York Times best-selling book
• YouTube
If you and your partner have a money issue and you want my help, I occasionally select a couple to work with, free of charge. Apply for my help here.
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