Clarify Your Money: For Couples

No more budgeting

Create a values-based financial plan that fits you and your partner’s life.

The average American household has over $7,500 per year in unplanned spending.  

What would you do with an extra $7,500. 

An extra vacation? 

Top off a kiddo’s college fund? 

Invest more in retirement? 

And more importantly, how would that feel?

Clarify Your Money is a course that integrates your emotions in the financial planning process, so you’ll be confident you are doing what’s best for you as a millennial couple.

couples-money

Budgeting? Yeah, that doesn’t work. Especially for couples.

Kids need braces, your cousin is getting married overseas, and oh yeah, there's a brand new leak in the roof.

Welcome to adulting as a millennial. 

I won't tell you to clip coupons (unless you want to) or scold you for taking that trip when you know it's best for your mental health. Instead, we'll look at where your money is going and see if it's spent the way that feels best for you. 

As a financial therapist, I know that numbers are only a part of the equation.

You have your idea of finances. So does your partner. Where do you come together?

You’re together for a reason. Inside Clarify Your Money, we’ll pull out your shared values and create a plan that uses those values as the foundation of your spending plan.

You’ve tried all the things . . .

🧮 Budgeting apps

🙃 Reading personal finance books

🫖 Couples therapy

But the money stuff is HARD. 

And what you’ve tried just isn’t sticking.

No couples are “bad” with money. People just make us feel like sh*t.

The personal finance industry focuses heavily on literacy: learning more about money, consuming content on finances, and being “on top of” the latest money trend.  

This leaves you asking yourselves questions like:

“Where does our money go?”

“Why do we feel so behind?”

“How come it’s not easier?”

You want to do more of the things that matter, like donate to charity, take family vacations, and save for your future selves.

Supposedly (🙄), millennial couples earn more money than their Gen X counterparts. But with so many “once-in-a-lifetime events,” it’s hard to feel like that money is working for you.

You're tired of wondering where the extra money went. 

You feel overwhelmed, behind, and a bit embarrassed because you thought the pay raises you and your partner have gotten over the years would alleviate more stress.

You want to feel in control of your finances, which means having a plan that addresses your needs and values.

You know you should be spending less, investing more, but life is so friggin’ buys; it’s like the money stuff keeps ending up on the perpetual “to do” list.

Good news: you don’t have to keep wondering where your money is going. 

Understand how your thoughts and emotions impact your money behaviors. 

We’ll match your values to how you use your money.

  • Craving more of a safety net? You'll prioritize a "life happens" fund so that when life inevitably happens, you don't have to worry about putting something on a credit card.

  • Into sustainability? Let's see if we can reduce to-go meals and say goodbye to Amazon Prime.

  • Are family vacations a priority? We'll start saving for that trip on auto-pilot so that you can enjoy them without financial stress.

By including your emotions and values in your financial plan, you'll feel relief that you are doing things in the right way for YOU. 

“We’ve written and rewritten budgets, plans, tried Mint, and YNAB all unsuccessfully. We have never sat down and had a comprehensive, honest discussion about our finances or even really agreed on financial or life goals. We both loved the format and the opportunity to talk to each other about our values. It will have a long-lasting positive effect on our family.”
— Kerry B.

I’m Lindsay. Your financial therapist.

I’m a financial therapist and financial coach for millennials. I've been with my partner for over 14 years and we've got the money stuff down. Now, that doesn't mean there aren't hiccups along the way, but I'm taking my personal and professional experience and bringing it to you in a 6-week self-paced money management course for couples.

How do I spend my money? After bulking up my emergency fund and investing in retirement, I cozily spend my extra coins perfecting my stovetop popcorn game, spoiling my dog Birdie, and the occasional tattoo or piercing. 

And annual getaways with my partner? We save for vacations on autopilot so getting away is about connecting, exploring, and creating new memories, not fretting about how to afford them.

I'm here to help you create a shame-free relationship with money,

so you are in control of your money and not the other way around.

I'm passionate about helping millennial couples create a values-based spending plan because too much financial advice focuses on what you can't do with your money instead of what you can. 

As Millennials, it can feel fraught planning when we experience so much uncertainty. We've lived through so many "once in-a-lifetime events" financial experts neglect to address. Great Recession? Housing Crisis? Climate Change? Pandemic? Student Loan Debt?

Woof. It's A. LOT. 

Here's the silver lining and my deep-down truth:

when our generation is in charge of how we spend our money,

there is a positive ripple effect across our communities.

I've created the online course Clarify Your Money: For Couples for a few reasons:

  • My financial therapy practice is bursting at the seams with a hella-long waitlist – so I created an equally awesome course without the wait because money is always an URGENT matter.

  • I want to bring shame-free money management at a time and place that’s convenient for you.

  • You’ve done a lot of the heavy lifting by trying to do it yourselves–why not have a financial therapist’s guidance?

Welcome to Clarify Your Money

For Couples

By the time you finish the course Clarify Your Money, you will . . .

  • Understand how your relationship with money impacts why you do what you do

  • Know that your bills are being paid in full and on time

  • Be auto-saving for short and mid-term goals

  • Experience financial peace of mind and feel "on track"

  • Be on the same financial page as your partner

Here's what past participants had to say:

  • "While we're doing well financially, my husband and I have tended not to talk about money or create financial goals for ourselves. I knew it would be a great opportunity to have that conversation in a systematic way with a financial therapist by doing Clarify Your Money. It was illuminating to see how our values have been driving our money decisions, whether we were aware of it or not. I am most looking forward to saving for our financial goals automatically every month, so we don't have to think about it. I'm also looking forward to many more money conversations together as a couple!" — Michelle D.

  • "I chose to attend the Clarify Your Money workshop because we saw the opportunity to level up our personal finance conversation in a meaningful way. My favorite part was having the time set aside to work through our sh*t, guided by a therapist who specializes in helping others find financial wellness. We've already set up a couple of additional savings accounts and have improved our automation game." — McKenzie G

Clarify your Money helps millennial couples create a values-based spending plan that works for YOUR unique situation.

This course IS for you if you are: 

  • In a romantic relationship where most of your money is shared or you are willing to share a joint account

  • Willing to set aside the time to watch the modules

  • Able to commit to doing the work outside of sessions

  • Enjoying each other's company and your relationship is healthy and strong outside of the financial stress 

  • Open to engaging with the non-numbers side of money: the emotional side of money

  • Earning $150k or more annually as a household 

This course is NOT for you if you are: 

  • Hoping to do something by yourself and not in collaboration with your partner

  • Needing personalized financial therapy

  • Needing specific personalized financial advice (a financial advisor or planner is a better fit)

  • Looking for more information on investing, house hacking, or the FIRE movement (Financial Independence, Retire Early)

  • Unable to commit to working on the material during and in-between lessons

  • Struggling to make ends meet or earning a combined income of less than $150k annually

  • On the brink of divorce or separation

The Money Management Course Schedule

All sessions are pre-recorded and available on-demand! I recommend setting aside an hour a week for 6-8 weeks to get through everything (and yes, you do need to do this together). 

Module 1: Learn Your Money Story

The Problem: You do things with your money that don't make sense. And your partner? They also do financial things that make you scratch your head.

The Solution: Learn about financial psychology and money archetypes by assessing how your childhood impacts your current financial relationship. Understanding the money archetypes of you and your partner will help you have the language you need to talk about your relationship with money.  

Module 2: Know Your Numbers

The Problem: This isn't your first time attempting to track your spending, and you doubt this will be the last time either. You might feel helpless after trying the recommendations of your loved ones or even tips you've seen from influencers. So many don't address the actual cost of living to afford our lives. 

The Solution: Find and implement a shame-free tracking method that works for you. I'll offer ready-to-use strategies and invite you to adopt a method for at least three weeks. Too many Millennials try a tracking method for a few days or a week, then give up in frustration. Giving you this amount of time helps us learn what's working about your method and what feels off. 

Module 3: Uncover Your Values

The Problem: You want to save for more spontaneous getaways while your partner is lobbying for a car with better gas mileage. 

The Solution: Understand what values-based spending is. You will learn how to identify and verbalize your values to each other and your values as a couple. We will go over how to assess your spending and savings plan in alignment with your values. Doing this helps to create a meaning behind your "why" (and we'll get to the "why" next week).

Module 4: Create Your Money Goals

The Problem: Goals feel elusive and far off. When you try to agree to find a middle ground, sometimes it feels like a win-lose situation. And other times? It feels like you're picking a goal based on what a random personal finance influencer says you should be aiming for. 

The Solution: Find FUN goals! Flexible, Uplifting, and Numbers-Based (an adaptation of Emily Ladau's FUN goals) Learn how to find win-win goals instead of win-lose goals. Learn how to aim for collaboration (win-win) instead of compromise (win-lose). You will be more comfortable and confident collaborating on financial goals that you can achieve within the next 1-5 years.

Module 5: Automate Your Spending, Saving, and Investing

The Problem: You've successfully tracked for about a month, but what happens next? 

The Solution: It's time to start automating your spending, saving, and investing. Create a shame-free personal finance plan on autopilot that ensures you pay yourself first. 

Module 6: Establish financial Consistency

The Problem: You've got all of these "things" now: values, goals, spending, but hiccups are bound to happen.

The Solution: Address any areas that are sticky or need to be reassessed and create a financial plan for couples so you can have consistent money dates (with a side of wine or popcorn, your choice!) and stay on top of your shiny new spending habits!

Imagine what the world would be like if you knew your bills were paid, vacations funded, and your retirement fund filled up on autopilot.

The financial services industry has made a business of making Millennials feel dumb, inept, and like outsiders.

I refuse to buy into that narrarive.

I’m proud of you and your partner every time you show up and dedicate time to invest in your relationship and your relationship with money. 

Investment: A one-time payment of $499

Frequently Asked Questions

  • Can you? Yes. Should you? No. The magic of this course is for the couple to learn about themselves, about their partner, and collaborate on financial goals as a team.

  • The 6-week self-paced course is $499

  • A course is very education-based. I’ll be teaching tips, techniques, and emotional strategies throughout the course. Clarify Your Money is a structured, curriculum-based model. A course allows you to digest the material at your own pace and when your schedule allows.

    There is no 2:1 component like there is in therapy. In group coaching, there is a community element. You won’t be in an online community like Facebook or Mighty Networks.

  • I’m no longer taking on couples as clients. With a waitlist of over 150 people, it didn’t feel good to have couples waiting nearly seven years to work with me. If you need to see a traditional couples psychotherapist for 12-to-20 sessions, you can plan on spending between $2,400 and $4,000, depending on your location.

  • Not if you don’t want to! It’s a helpful exercise to track spending for a week or two, but if tracking every penny will make you run for the hills, I don’t think you should.

  • No. Because of the amount of intellectual property in Clarify Your Money, I must protect my time, energy, and expertise by making all sales final. This course, like all courses, works best if you show up and honor your commitment to investing in your relationship by addressing your values, financial archetypes, financial goals, and spending plan. Block out your calendar for six weeks, plan on showing up live as often as possible, and do the work outside of sessions to see the best results.

  • The course is six weeks long. Each session runs about 45-60 minutes. Plan on at least an hour per week in class and 1-2 hours per week outside of class.

  • Of course, you can! The internet is full of so many wonderful free resources! If you have a spending plan that aligns with your values and is on autopilot, then kudos to you for being able to leverage free content!

  • I cannot make any income claims or guarantee that you’ll save money. What I do know is that most Americans overspend to the tune of $7,500 per year. I invite you to think about what you’d do with an extra $7,500. An extra vacation? Top off a kiddo’s college fund? Invest more in retirement?

  • No. This course is best for couples earning at least $150k annually. If you make that amount, you earn enough for this course to be worthwhile. If you need resources to help you make financial ends meet right away, working with a financial counselor could be a good option. United Way provides Financial Stability Counseling and Pathfinders provides free financial coaching on topics like budgeting, banking, and credit in both English and Spanish.

  • Sure! Millennials, Gen Xers, and Gen Zers have experienced so much in their lifetimes that Boomers never had to face. This course is for any couple who needs help learning how to talk about money, identify their relationship with money, wants help making sure they are spending and saving in alignment with their values, and needs help with creating a spending plan.

  • A financial planner can help review your income, expenses, debts, and future goals and help create a tailored financial plan. I like to work with fee-only planners, who charge a flat fee instead of an “assets under management” model where the planner charges you a percentage of your net worth. Check out the XY Planning network for a certified planner in your area. If you’re a therapist, I have a post on specific things to consider when hiring a financial planner.

  • For many monogamish and poly couples, two or three people do the bulk of their finances together. So if the bulk of your money is shared, then yes! If you keep everything separate, it wouldn’t be a fit. Do know that while I aim to make this an inclusive course, much of the language will be dedicated to pairs and partners.