Dirty money or the root of all evil.  Why is it that everyone out there is so convinced that they have all the answers for you but you seem to have no answers of your own?  Misconceptions about money often stem from what we hear and what we're influenced by.  It typically leads us to a place drastically far from the truth, especially in investing.  Our influences tell us that we can't make it or we don't make enough money or that if you don't have a specific number that somehow that's not enough either.  The older I get the more I realize that if the "idea" of "thought" didn't originate from me than it's probably not for me.  The water is muddy and it's that way for a reason.  The only one worth trusting as far as the advice you take in this life is YOU.  Everyone wants to follow and or trust that someone else won't let them down or won't lead them astray.  The truth is when it comes to redemption time and you are the one atoning for your life, what are you going to remember?  Did you follow or lead most of the time.  We will be influenced in this life as we are all creatures of habit and have a basic desire for human interaction and acceptance.  I'm just not of the mindset that this primitive behavior needs to play into the categories of personal spending discipline and or your financial program nor the relationship journey you chose to pursue.  It should be personal and validated by you and if anyone ever asks you to explain why you do it or why you did it a certain way, you won't hesitate in being prepared to explain just that.