How to Have a Good Relationship: A Conversation with Aja Evans

Aja Evans is a speaker and soon-to-be author of her debut book, Feel Good Finance. She is the incoming President of the Financial Therapy Association, consults with fintech companies, and has been featured in major news outlets such as The New York Times, Business Insider, NerdWallet, and CNBC.

Today we discuss the essentials of a good relationship, such as managing finances as a couple, handling income swings, and dividing household responsibilities. She discusses joint finances, separate accounts, and the importance of early money conversations in relationships.

Key Takeaways

• Early money conversations in relationships are crucial for aligning financial goals and expectations.
• Managing monthly income swings requires careful budgeting and preparation, especially in professions with variable income.
• Dividing household responsibilities and tasks requires open communication and understanding of each other's preferences and strengths. Open communication is crucial for managing household responsibilities and addressing financial disagreements within a marriage.
• Understanding one's money story and its influence on financial decisions is essential for a healthy financial relationship within a marriage.
• Aja's upcoming book, Feel Good Finance, focuses on the importance of understanding individual money stories and their impact on financial beliefs and patterns within a marriage.

Listener Notes

0:00 Introduction
1:09 Can you introduce yourselves and give us a brief background on your journey together as a couple?
5:02 How do you divide your finances as a couple?
9:20 How did you approach your initial conversations about money?
10:15 What was your approach to paying off the student loans you brought into the marriage?
12:14 How do you ensure both partners have a say in financial decisions?
16:12 How do you handle managing significant swings in household monthly income? 
18:14 How do you divide the tasks needed to run your home?
25:04 What advice do you have for other couples who struggle with financial disagreements?
33:30 Changing gears for a moment, can you share a bit about your upcoming book Feel Good Finance? 
37:00 How can couples with two different money stories work through their differences?
42:08 What is one piece of simple and actionable advice you can share with our listeners? 

Order or Preorder Aja’s book, Feel Good Finance: Untangle Your Relationship with Money for Better Mental, Emotional, and Financial Well-Being: https://www.penguinrandomhouse.com/books/759700/feel-good-finance-by-aja-evans/

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Chapters

• 0:00 Introduction
• 1:09 Can you introduce yourselves and give us a brief background on your journey together as a couple?
• 5:02 How do you divide your finances as a couple?
• 9:20 How did you approach your initial conversations about money?
• 10:15 What was your approach to paying off the student loans you brought into the marriage?
• 12:14 How do you ensure both partners have a say in financial decisions?
• 16:12 How do you handle managing significant swings in household monthly income?
• 18:14 How do you divide the tasks needed to run your home?
• 25:04 What advice do you have for other couples who struggle with financial disagreements?
• 33:30 Changing gears for a moment, can you share a bit about your upcoming book Feel Good Finance?
• 37:00 How can couples with two different money stories work through their differences?
• 42:08 What is one piece of simple and actionable advice you can share with our listeners?