8 Money Moves Every Family Should Steal from Chara Burgess and Brian Austin Green

When it comes to relationships, love and money often go hand-in-hand. On a recent episode of Money Rehab with Nicole Lapin, Chara Burgess opened up about navigating finances with Brian Austin Green. Here are the biggest takeaways every couple (and parent!) should know:

1. Set Up “Yours, Mine, and Ours” Accounts

Instead of combining everything, Chara and Brian:

Maintain individual accounts for personal freedom and autonomy.
Share a joint account for family, housing, and child-related expenses.
Contribute flexible, weighted amounts based on current income, ensuring fairness during fluctuations.

This structure encourages transparency while preserving independence—a critical balance for long-term relationship health.

2. Understand and Heal Financial Trauma

Chara witnessed financial instability growing up, where appearances mattered more than stability. Her father’s overspending on luxury to project wealth left emotional scars.

“My dad earned so much money but spent it all trying to look wealthy. I don’t want my kids to see that mistake repeated.”

Acknowledging and healing financial trauma allows couples to set healthier financial boundaries and expectations.

3. Watch Out for Convenience Spending

It’s not the big-ticket items but everyday conveniences that drain wallets—small, frequent purchases like valet services, unnecessary airport buys, and spontaneous online shopping.

“You have no idea how much convenience costs.”

Chara’s wake-up call reminds couples to track “invisible spending” and prioritize conscious purchases to build lasting wealth.

4. Teach Kids Financial Literacy Early

Chara and Brian make it a point to teach their kids financial responsibility by:

Encouraging them to save birthday and holiday money.
Requiring them to pay for “wants” out of their own savings.
Involving them in real-world decision-making at stores.

Early financial literacy builds confidence, discipline, and an understanding of true value—essential life skills for adulthood.

5. Rethink the Prenup

Chara shifted from seeing prenups as distrustful to recognizing them as essential protection.

“Financial insurance—not planning for failure.”

Reframing a prenup as a tool for securing shared dreams rather than preparing for disaster helps couples approach this conversation with love and respect.

6. Plan Financially for Your Kids’ Futures

To build a financial legacy, Chara and Brian plan to:

Set up Custodial Roth IRAs to give their son a head start on retirement savings.
Employ their children through their business ventures to leverage tax advantages.
Establish 529 college savings plans for future educational needs.

Starting these accounts early allows money to grow exponentially over time, setting kids up for long-term success.