In Episode 6 of Matrimony and Money, Sherman and Cristina talk straight about five common money myths that quietly damage marriages.

They break down each one:

• “More money will fix our problems.”
• “Talking about money kills the romance.”
• “As long as the bills are paid, we’re good.”
• “Only one person should handle the finances.”
• “We’ll figure it out when we make more money.”

You’ll hear real stories from their own life, why these myths stick around, and simple steps strong couples take instead—like setting money dates, using a zero-based budget, and working as a team.

This episode gives you practical ways to clear up money stress and build a stronger marriage right now. If you’ve ever avoided money talks or hoped extra cash would solve everything, this one’s for you.

Listen in, then talk about which myth has been living rent-free in your relationship.

FREE RESOURCE:
The Couples Money Date Guide — the exact step-by-step conversation format Sherman and Cristina used before paying off $203K. Download free at the link below.
matrimonymoney.com/links 

CONNECT WITH US:
Instagram: @matrimonyandmoney

Facebook: Matrimony & Money 

Apple Podcasts: Search "Matrimony and Money"
Spotify: Search "Matrimony and Money"

As seen on The Dave Ramsey Show · Fox News · Fox Business

Quick Summary

Sherman and Christina talk openly about financial infidelity — hiding spending, secret purchases, or not being fully honest about money in marriage. They share real stories from their own 21-year marriage and give practical steps to fix it.

Key Stories

• Sherman surprised Christina with a Mexico trip using a car accident settlement instead of paying debt. She was upset at first, but it became their favorite vacation and started their love for travel.
• Christina admits to impulse buys on sale items and hiding packages. They both laugh about it but stress it’s not okay if it breaks trust.

Main Points

• Marriage means becoming one — combine all money into one account. No separate accounts or “my money / your money.”
• Financial infidelity usually comes from shame, fear of arguments, or pride — not always bad intent.
• Men often need accountability. Women sometimes hide buys because they don’t want to ask or feel controlled.
• Hiding spending hurts trust and keeps couples stressed.

3 Action Steps This Week

1. Full Disclosure Talk — Sit down and tell your spouse everything you’ve been hiding (secret accounts, extra spending, etc.). Wipe the slate clean.
2. Set a Budget + Spending Rules — Create a budget together. Agree on a dollar amount where you must talk first (example: anything over $500).
3. Weekly Money Meetings — Schedule regular check-ins. Talk about money, then go on a date after if you can.

Hosts’ Tip

Put a set amount into a “fun/spending” sub-account for gifts and personal buys so there’s no sneaking, but everything stays visible.

FREE RESOURCE:
The Couples Money Date Guide — the exact step-by-step conversation format Sherman and Cristina used before paying off $203K. Download free at the link below.
matrimonymoney.com/links 

CONNECT WITH US:
Instagram: @matrimonyandmoney

Facebook: Matrimony & Money 

Apple Podcasts: Search "Matrimony and Money"
Spotify: Search "Matrimony and Money"

As seen on The Dave Ramsey Show · Fox News · Fox Business

In this episode, Sherman and Crristina get real about one of the most dreaded (yet powerful) habits in marriage: the Money Date.

If money talks in your relationship often feel like a vibe killer, spark arguments, or leave you both stressed, you’re not alone. The couple shares exactly why these conversations go wrong and how to completely transform them into fun, productive, and even romantic check-ins that actually move you closer to financial freedom.

From setting the right mood (goodbye Chili’s!), asking the tough but eye-opening questions, using the debt snowball method for quick wins, and turning it into a family affair, Sherman and Cristina give you a practical framework they used while paying off massive debt. Cristina also shares why these meetings used to drain her and how they’ve improved their communication and marriage.

You’ll walk away with actionable steps, including how to end every Money Date with clear goals and the next one already on the calendar.

Key Topics:

• Why most money dates fail and how to make them enjoyable
• Powerful questions that reduce stress and build alignment
• Debt Snowball vs Avalanche – why motivation beats math
• Involving the kids and making it a team effort
• Their upcoming rebrand and what’s next for Matrimony & Money

Whether you’re deep in debt or building wealth, this episode will help you turn monthly money meetings into one of the strongest parts of your marriage.

🎧 Download our free Money Date Guide in the show notes and schedule your next one this week!

Submit your questions: [email protected]
Website: www.matrimonymoney.com

FREE RESOURCE:
The Couples Money Date Guide — the exact step-by-step conversation format Sherman and Cristina used before paying off $203K. Download free at the link below.
matrimonymoney.com/links 

CONNECT WITH US:
Instagram: @matrimonyandmoney

Facebook: Matrimony & Money 

Apple Podcasts: Search "Matrimony and Money"
Spotify: Search "Matrimony and Money"

As seen on The Dave Ramsey Show · Fox News · Fox Business

Do you and your spouse fight about money — or just avoid the conversation entirely? In this episode, Sherman and Cristina get real about their own money personalities and why understanding yours might be the key to finally getting on the same page.

They break down the four money personalities — Saver, Spender, Avoider, and Planner — and share how their opposite styles have actually strengthened their marriage and their finances.

In this episode:
• The 4 money personalities and how to spot yours
• Why opposites attract (and how to make it work for you, not against you)
• Sherman and Christina's honest take on their own money journeys
• Why loaning money to family and friends almost always goes wrong
• How they paid off $203,000 in debt — faster than expected
• Why contentment is the secret weapon no one talks about

Take the free money personality quiz at www.no-debt-life.com

Want your questions answered on the show? Email us at [email protected]

If this episode helped you, share it with a couple who needs to hear it. And don't forget to subscribe on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, or YouTube!

FREE RESOURCE:
The Couples Money Date Guide — the exact step-by-step conversation format Sherman and Cristina used before paying off $203K. Download free at the link below.
matrimonymoney.com/links 

CONNECT WITH US:
Instagram: @matrimonyandmoney

Facebook: Matrimony & Money 

Apple Podcasts: Search "Matrimony and Money"
Spotify: Search "Matrimony and Money"

As seen on The Dave Ramsey Show · Fox News · Fox Business

In this episode — the first time Cristina has joined Sherman on the mic — the Merricks get completely real about what 14 years of carrying $203,000 in debt actually looked like inside their marriage. Not the highlight reel. The real thing.

From coupon date nights and putting groceries back on the shelf, to Cristina's heart surgery in the middle of it all, to the night a Sally Mae phone call at a movie theater in Tennessee changed everything — this is the story behind the story.

And at the very end? Sherman admits for the first time that making those big $15,000 debt payments sometimes took him out of the mood. Cristina's response? "I was just happy about it."

As featured on The Dave Ramsey Show, Fox News, and Fox Business.

IN THIS EPISODE:
— What it felt like to carry $203K in debt for 14+ years
— How Cristina managed the budget to the penny before budgeting apps existed
— The moment at Dave Ramsey's headquarters that lit a fire under them both
— Why Cristina kept herself from knowing how much money they were making (on purpose)
— How COVID's student loan pause became an unexpected turning point
— The honest conversation about how debt and big payments affected their intimacy
— Why they never actually fought about money — and what that says about their dynamic
— Tithing, faith, and believing God was in it all along


FREE RESOURCE:
Grab the free Couples Money Date Guide — the conversation format Sherman and Cristina used throughout their debt-free journey.
👉 linktr.ee/1matrimonyandmoney

CONNECT WITH US:
Instagram: @no_debt_life
Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/matrimony-money-podcast/id1527316527
Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/1hL94k43BSFPFEXmreQ8Un

As seen on The Dave Ramsey Show · Fox News · Fox Business

FREE RESOURCE:
The Couples Money Date Guide — the exact step-by-step conversation format Sherman and Cristina used before paying off $203K. Download free at the link below.
matrimonymoney.com/links 

CONNECT WITH US:
Instagram: @matrimonyandmoney

Facebook: Matrimony & Money 

Apple Podcasts: Search "Matrimony and Money"
Spotify: Search "Matrimony and Money"

As seen on The Dave Ramsey Show · Fox News · Fox Business

Most people think money problems look like constant arguments. But some of the most financially stuck couples never fight at all — they just carry the stress quietly. And in this episode, Sherman Merricks breaks down why silent money stress is often more dangerous than fighting, and what to do about it.

Sherman and Cristina Merricks paid off $203,000 in 27 months — as featured on The Dave Ramsey Show, Fox News, and Fox Business. In this episode Sherman shares what their quiet stress actually looked like, why couples go silent about money, and the one conversation that changes everything.

IN THIS EPISODE:
— Why the most dangerous money problem doesn't look like a fight
— The 3 reasons couples stop talking about money (shame, fear of conflict, different money personalities)
— What "silent money stress" actually looks like day to day
— How one honest conversation became the turning point for Sherman and Cristina
— The 2 questions to ask your partner this week to break the silence

FREE RESOURCE:
The Couples Money Date Guide — the exact step-by-step conversation format Sherman and Cristina used before paying off $203K. Download free at the link below.
matrimonymoney.com/links 

CONNECT WITH US:
Instagram: @matrimonyandmoney

Facebook: Matrimony & Money 

Apple Podcasts: Search "Matrimony and Money"
Spotify: Search "Matrimony and Money"

As seen on The Dave Ramsey Show · Fox News · Fox Business

We're back — and there's a lot to talk about.

After taking some time away, Matrimony and Money is returning with a renewed purpose, a clearer mission, and everything we've learned along the way.

In this episode, we're pulling back the curtain on why we stepped away, what that season taught us, and why we felt called to come back now. We also share where this show is headed — and who it's really for.

If you're a couple navigating the stress of debt, trying to get on the same page financially, or just looking for a community that understands what it's like to build a life and a financial future together — you are exactly who we made this for.

Matrimony and Money has always been about more than budgets and payoff plans. It's about the couples behind the numbers. The stress you carry quietly. The conversations that are hard to start. And the freedom that's possible when you stop going at it alone.

We're grateful you're here. And we're just getting started.

——
Follow us on Instagram: @nodebtlife

FREE RESOURCE:
The Couples Money Date Guide — the exact step-by-step conversation format Sherman and Cristina used before paying off $203K. Download free at the link below.
matrimonymoney.com/links 

CONNECT WITH US:
Instagram: @matrimonyandmoney

Facebook: Matrimony & Money 

Apple Podcasts: Search "Matrimony and Money"
Spotify: Search "Matrimony and Money"

As seen on The Dave Ramsey Show · Fox News · Fox Business

In this episode Sherman will  discuss the freedom that comes with gaining control of your finances and the peace that it brings to your life. Tune into this episode to be inspired and for practical steps on gaining freedom with your finances. 

In this episode we talk about the details of us becoming debt free and paying off that massive amount of student loan debt. This episode gives you details and insight into what it really takes to become debt free! 

In this episode we discuss how making more doesn't alleviate all of your problems. Many times when people make more money they have more problems. In this episode we discuss the pitfalls and ways to avoid them so that you don't fall into trap of being in debt and spending all of your money regardless of your income!