A friend of mine once said, “You should write about money. Couples fight about it all the time.”

He wasn’t wrong.

I figured I’d dash off a quick post about it — but once I started digging, I realized that money isn’t just about math. It’s about meaning. Safety. Trust. Power. Love. The more I explored, the juicier it got. One post turned into five.

This series looks at how money becomes emotional currency in our relationships — why it can spark so much tension, and how we can build a shared language that balances connection and accountability.

When couples understand what money means — not just what it does — they stop fighting about receipts and start talking about reality: safety, fairness, and partnership.

You can read the posts in any order; like life and arguments, there are no prerequisites.

If something here lands, pause before moving on. Some truths rise slowly, given warmth and time.

And if you have ideas for future topics, send them my way — just like my friend did. (I owe him one for this.)

Money Talks

  • What it’s about: Why every “money talk” is really an emotional conversation in disguise — and how to start those talks without turning them into fights.
  • Payoff: Finally figure out why your “budget chats” go nuclear — and how to stop arguing about numbers that aren’t really about numbers.
  • Reading time: ~4 min
  • Read it here →https://www.luisthetherapist.com/moneytalks/

Self-Worth and the Price Tag

  • What it’s about: The invisible link between money and identity — how our self-esteem, childhood messages, and social comparisons shape our financial habits.
  • Payoff: See how your wallet became your self-worth — and how to quit letting dollar signs decide your value
  • Reading time: ~5 min
  • Read it here →https://www.luisthetherapist.com/self-worth/

Love, Power, and the Checkbook

  • What it’s about: A deeper dive into how couples unconsciously replay old power scripts — from “Grandpa’s checkbook” to modern-day Venmo drama.
  • Payoff: Learn to stop re-enacting your grandparents’ relationship in 4K — and start sharing money without power plays or silent resentment.
  • Reading time: ~7 min
  • Read it here →https://www.luisthetherapist.com/money-and-power/

Separate Accounts, Shared Lives

  • What it’s about: The great modern debate — separate, joint, or hybrid accounts? And what those choices reveal about trust, autonomy, and fairness.
  • Payoff: Figure out if you’re protecting your independence or just keeping score — and find a setup that doesn’t feel like a cold war with debit cards.
  • Reading time: ~5 min
  • Read it here →https://www.luisthetherapist.com/separate-accounts/

The Household Budget: Where Money Meets Meaning

  • Reading time: ~6 min
  • What it’s about: Turning numbers into a living plan — one that reflects shared priorities, not just expenses.
  • Payoff: Turn your budget from “ugh” to “us” — and maybe stop having that same fight about groceries every month.
  • Read it here →https://www.luisthetherapist.com/householdbudget