Your Relationship with Money: Friend or Foe?

Join with Jen for a moment and let’s talk about something we don’t always say out loud.

What is your relationship with money?

Not your balance. Not your investments. Not your super.

Your relationship.

Because when you really stop and think about it, money behaves a lot like a person in your life. For some, it is a trusted friend. For others, it feels like a constant source of stress. And for many, if we are honest, it can feel like a bit of both.

I often ask clients this question, and the answers are fascinating. Some describe money as something that gives them freedom, choice, and confidence. Others describe it as something that causes tension, keeps them awake at night, or never quite feels like enough.

But here is the important truth. Your relationship with money did not start today. It started much earlier than you realise.

It started in childhood.

Think back to what you heard growing up.
“Money doesn’t grow on trees.”
“We can’t afford that.”
“Save for a rainy day.”

Or perhaps you saw money used as a reward. Or as a source of conflict. Or something that was simply never talked about at all.

Those early experiences shape how you feel about money today. They shape your habits, your fears, your confidence, and even your willingness to seek advice.

And now, whether you realise it or not, you are passing that relationship on.

To your children.
To your grandchildren.
To those who will one day inherit not just your assets, but your attitudes and beliefs.

Money is not just dollars and cents. It carries stories. It carries emotions. It carries lessons.

And one of the most powerful stories you will pass on is how you prepare your family for what comes next.

Talking about inheritance is one of the most important and most avoided conversations families have.

I understand why. It can feel uncomfortable. Emotional. Even confronting.

But in my experience, silence creates far more stress than any conversation ever will.

So how do you approach it?

Start early and keep it simple
You do not need to share exact numbers straight away. Begin with values. What matters to you? What do you want your wealth to represent?

Focus on purpose, not just money
Explain why you have structured your estate the way you have. Whether it is fairness, support, independence, or protecting future generations, this context matters.

Make it a conversation, not an announcement
Invite questions. Allow your family to share their thoughts. This builds understanding and removes assumptions that can often lead to conflict later.

Be clear, even if it feels uncomfortable
Clarity today prevents confusion tomorrow. It helps manage expectations and ensures your wishes are respected.

Bring in support where needed
Sometimes having your adviser in the room can help guide the conversation and keep it constructive and grounded.

We have seen families completely transform through these conversations. Not because of the dollars involved, but because of the clarity, trust, and understanding that comes with them.

And this becomes even more important in the testing times we are living in.

Cost of living pressures are real.
Interest rates have shifted.
Markets move in ways that can feel unpredictable.

It is easy in times like these for money to start feeling like a foe. Something working against you rather than for you.

But this is exactly when your relationship with money matters most.

Because every dollar counts.

At every stage of life.

So how do we help the next generation build a healthy relationship with money?

Here are some simple, practical ways you can start today.

1. Talk about money openly
   Bring money into everyday conversations. Talk about why you make certain spending choices. Let children see that money is something to be understood, not avoided.
2. Give money a purpose
   Whether it is pocket money or birthday cash, encourage children to divide it into spending, saving, and giving. This builds awareness that money always has a role.
3. Let them make small mistakes
   If they spend all their money on something that does not last, that lesson will stay with them far longer than any lecture.
4. Model the behaviour you want to see
   Children learn more from what you do than what you say. If they see thoughtful spending, saving, and planning, they are far more likely to adopt those habits.
5. Involve them in real life decisions
   Bring them into age appropriate discussions. Planning a holiday or managing a household budget can be a powerful teaching moment.
6. Link money to values, not just outcomes
   Talk about generosity, patience, and long term thinking. Money is not just about what you can buy. It is about what you stand for.
7. Share your story
   Tell them how you learned about money. The good decisions and the mistakes. This builds trust and shows that financial confidence grows over time.

Because just like any relationship, your relationship with money strengthens when you give it attention, conversation, and care.

So let us leave you with this thought.

Money does not have to be something you battle with.

It can be something that supports you, empowers you, and allows you to create the life and legacy you truly want.

And for the next generation, that relationship starts with you.

Reach out and start the conversation; the JBS Financial Team are here to help.