Our Earliest Money Memories

Earlier this season, in Episode #44, Tara and Tina interviewed Carl Richards — bestselling author, speaker, and host of the Behavior Gap Radio and 50 Fires podcasts. During that conversation, Tara asked Carl what single question might be most impactful for our audience. Carl suggested:

“What is your earliest memory of money?”

It’s a question often used by financial advisors to help uncover how early experiences may have shaped someone’s views about money. Carl described it as a simple but powerful way to begin meaningful conversations about money — without stress or conflict.

And honestly, it’s also just interesting. Even a little fun.

This seemingly simple question can be a gateway to learning more about yourself — or about someone you love. What surprised us most wasn’t just the memories themselves — but the emotions that came with them.

Tara, who works as both a financial advisor and life coach, has encountered this question many times in her work. Tina, on the other hand, had never heard it before and had never really considered it.

So they decided to explore it together — especially as siblings who grew up in the same household — and share their own earliest money memories and how those experiences may have shaped their attitudes and emotions around money.

In this short episode, they discuss:

• The emotions intertwined with early money memories — and the lasting impact those emotions can have

• The tension between joy and abundance on one hand, and responsibility and respect on the other

• How money can become a source of marital tension — and the roles we often bring into relationships such as “spender” or “saver”

• The realization that many of our assumptions and beliefs about money are deeply buried and internalized

• The social norms around money — and how those norms vary across families and cultures