If you’ve found yourself hiding boxes from your online shopping in your garage, car trunk, or closet - welcome. You’re in good company. So many couples struggle with speaking openly about finances and coming to a shared perspective for future financial goals, how money should be spent/saved, and how to organize their budget. Often, this leads to an unspoken “agree to disagree” arrangement, which involves each partner doing what they feel is right. Communication about money is avoided because we anticipate it leading to an unsolvable conflict, so resentment builds. Then, the Amazon box arrives. Enter: resentment overflow. The non-shopper sees the box, feels overwhelmed with frustration about all disagreements about money, and conflict ensues. So, the next time you order something online - you hide the box. You stash it away, so there isn’t a conflict. The hope is you can just ignore that part of your relationship because things are pretty good between you, as long as you don’t talk about money. Unfortunately, this strategy doesn’t work long-term. It’s actually a form of infidelity. Financial infidelity. Holding secrets about your shared finances, spending large amounts of money without your partner’s knowledge, or stashing money in your rainy day fund (note: not your shared savings) are all forms of financial infidelity. Surprised? Most people are. Be sure to listen to this week’s episode if you want to learn more about what constitutes financial infidelity, how to re-open the lines of communication with your partner around money, and some money strategies that can be effective.