📜The 4 ‘money scripts’: Which one are you?

Plus: ✨How to start a new spiritual practice ✨

View this email online Today’s newsletter is brought to you by Life Kit producer Clare Marie Schneider. Is it easy to talk about money in your relationship?  If it's a tough topic for you to discuss with your partner, financial therapist Shay Harris-Pierre says knowing your “money script” can help. It’s a set of four attitudes toward money, developed by financial psychologist Brad Klontz and researchers at Kansas State University, that can help you identify your core beliefs around money. “Different people have different priorities when it comes to money, based on their own desire for safety, stability, connection and belonging,” Harris-Pierre says. That can create conflict in romantic relationships, from financial decision-making to compatibility.  Understanding each other’s money script — money avoidance, money worship, money status and money vigilance — can help couples tackle their financial problems more constructively, Harris-Pierre says. “If you're able to release that idea that different is bad or different is wrong, and just see different as different, that's when couples are able to build a path forward.” Read on to find out which money script describes you. You can also click here to take the money scripts test on Klontz’s website. Help me talk about money Annika McFarlane/Getty Images The four money scripts 🫸 Money avoidance: If you’re money avoidant, you might think “Money is bad, I have to distance myself from it,” says Harris-Pierre. Maybe you grew up watching your parents fight about money, or there wasn’t enough money in your household. If you identify with this script, you might feel undeserving of money and not like talking about finances.  💍 Money status: If you identify with this script, you might think, “The more money I make, the more important I am,” says Harris-Pierre. She says people with money status as their core script often tie their worth in relationships to how much money they have. “The more they’re able to show they have the nicest stuff, the more, in their mind, people will want to be around them.”  🙌 Money worship: Money worshippers might think “money is everything,” says Harris-Pierre. She says that often, money worshippers might work a lot and sacrifice relationships for the sake of making more money. If this is your core script, “money represents stability,” she says.   🔎 Money vigilance: If you identify with this script, you might think, “money should be controlled,” says Harris-Pierre. Maybe you check your bank accounts every day or watch the stock markets closely. “These are people who are really interested in knowing exactly what's going on in their money life at every moment.” What are my values around money? Newsletter continues after sponsor message More tips on how to talk about money from Life Kit Annelise Capossela for NPR If you want to get closer to your partner, start talking about money. Talking about money can feel intimidating, even taboo. But it's also the key to fostering a closer connection with your partner. In this episode, financial therapist Amanda Clayman breaks down five crucial elements to a healthy financial relationship with your significant other. Read the story here.  Healthy money habits for couples. Should you merge your finances with a significant other? Keep them separate? Or something in between? Financial therapist Lindsay Bryan Podvin breaks down different ways to handle your finances with a partner and how to keep communication open and honest, no matter which financial plan you pick. Listen to the episode here.  How to talk about money and privilege with friends — before it's time to split the bill. Even among the closest of friends, conversations about money and privilege can be awkward. In this episode from Life Kit and The Cut, author Otegha Uwagba discusses how we can break that ice — before it's time to split the check. Read the story here. Support our work & listen sponsor-free Support public media while getting expert advice on health, finance, relationships and more with Life Kit+. You'll get sponsor-free listening and even some specially curated playlists of episodes by theme (Master your budget, Organize your life, Move your body, and more).   Check out all the NPR+ benefits available at plus.npr.org. Explore Life Kit+ Quote of the week: On spiritual connection Do you have a spiritual practice? A specific activity or ritual that connects you to a sense of faith or peacefulness? Aizaiah Yong, an associate professor of spirituality at the Claremont School of Theology, says that any practice that’s only about individual happiness falls short of our potential as humans. Picking up a new hobby or exercising are nice, but a spiritual practice is ultimately about cultivating a connection to something greater than yourself.   How to create your own spiritual practices From our friends at Embedded: Listen to the new series, ‘Alternate Realities’ This week, NPR’s Embedded podcast released a three-episode series called “Alternate Realities.” It's the story of a very difficult year in the life of host Zach Mack's family. Mack documents the way his father went deep down the conspiracy rabbit hole, merging his belief in Christian prophecies with politically incendiary predictions.  The result is a moving first-person account that explores the impact of his father’s behavior on the rest of the family.   Listen now This week on Life Kit Amr Bo Shanab/Getty Images What if I'm missing a form? Attorneys answer tax questions from NPR's audience. We asked our listeners to send us their most befuddling questions about the 2025 tax season. What if you can't pay your tax bill? How good is online tax software? Two tax attorneys weigh in. Read the story here. VIDEO: How to keep dating in perspective. Why can we be our most confident, together, relaxed selves ... and then romance comes into the picture and we get weird? Here are a few tips on keeping things in perspective.⁠ Watch it on @NPRLifeKit’s Instagram. Techniques to help you figure out how to make a big life change. Have you been thinking about going back to school, starting your own business or moving to a new country? How do you know if it's time to make the leap? Or whether it’s a good idea? In this episode, journalist Adwoa Gyimah-Brempong, who's no stranger to big changes herself, shares exercises to help you make these life-changing decisions. Listen to the episode here.  Stream your local NPR station. Visit NPR.org to find your local station stream. What do you think of today's email? We'd love to hear your thoughts, questions and feedback: LifeKit@npr.org Enjoying this newsletter? Forward to a friend! They can sign up here. Looking for more great content? Check out all of our newsletter offerings — including Daily News, Code Switch, Health and more! You received this message because you're subscribed to Life Kit emails. This email was sent by National Public Radio, Inc., 1111 North Capitol Street NE, Washington, DC 20002 Unsubscribe  |  Privacy Policy