Most financial disasters don’t happen overnight.
They start as small mistakes that spiral out of control.
There are two that I have seen over and over again.
1. Not Knowing Your Own Behavior
People falsely assume that when the time comes they’ll be able to make rational financial decisions – but we’re emotional creatures.
That’s why the smartest financial move you can make is to take yourself out of the equation.
Automate savings, automate bills, and create systems that protect you from your own bad habits.
The less you rely on willpower, the better.
A missed payment might seem small, but one late fee can snowball into debt, stress, and financial chaos.
The people who thrive financially aren’t necessarily more disciplined – they’re just better at removing the human variable from the equation.
2. Not Talking to Your Spouse About Money
Money fights are the leading cause of divorce, with studies showing that financial disagreements play a role in 30-40% of divorces.
Keeping separate finances, letting one spouse handle all the money, or – worst of all – hiding financial secrets.
When one spouse is financially checked out, resentment builds. And when financial secrets come to light (like hidden debt or overspending), trust is destroyed.
No amount of money can fix a broken marriage.
Have honest, regular money conversations. Work together as a team.
A small misstep with money can be corrected, but a broken marriage is much harder to repair.
Unfortunately, I’ve seen both of these items wreak havoc and ruin lives.
