Marriage
Are You Committing Financial Infidelity?
Tuesday, October 12th, 2010
I’m sure you know that money is a frequent topic of dispute between husbands and wives. And new research shows that the issue is not exactly going away. The Star Tribune reported on an American Express survey in which 50 percent of married people acknowledged making a purchase their spouse was against, and 30 percent ... [Read more]
5 Comments » Is Frugal the New Cool?
Monday, August 23rd, 2010
In today’s budget-conscious era, frugality is in. But for singles, how does penny-pitching play on the dating scene? As reported in The New York Times, ING Direct recently asked 1,000 people (presumably single people) what words would come to mind if they were fixed up for a date with someone described as frugal? The most ... [Read more]
Saying, “I Do,” Without The Debt
Wednesday, May 26th, 2010
Call it a benefit of the Great Recession: the average cost of a wedding has dropped 30 percent from a high of $29,000 in 2007 to today’s mere $20,000, according to The Wedding Report. If you or someone you know is headed down the aisle sometime soon, here’s how to save even more. According to ... [Read more]
For Richer, For Poorer
Wednesday, March 17th, 2010
There was a stunning story on WalletPop recently of a man who told his wife of 12 years that he had $68,000 of credit card debt. Throughout their marriage they had maintained separate credit cards and apparently didn’t talk about how they were each using their cards. Now the man wanted his wife to co-sign ... [Read more]
Spice Up Your Marriage With a… Budget!
Wednesday, February 10th, 2010
Okay, a budget may not exactly add romance to your marriage, but it may help reduce marital money fights. A new national survey I commissioned from the market research firm Synovate found that married people who use a budget experience fewer financial disagreements with their spouse than those who don’t use a budget (see the ... [Read more]
Keeping Cupid From Overspending
Monday, February 8th, 2010
With Valentine’s Day just around the corner, and since romance has a way of fogging our financial sensibilities, MSN is out with a helpful story about gift giving. According to researchers at Stanford University, gift recipients tend to appreciate inexpensive gifts as much as expensive gifts. Researchers explain that gift givers usually have a number ... [Read more]
Do You Work Too Much?
Monday, December 21st, 2009
Marriages involving a workaholic are twice as likely to end in divorce, according to a study done by Bryan Robinson, a University of North Carolina researcher and author of Chained to the Desk. In an ABCNews.com story, Robinson makes a distinction between workaholics and hard workers. While workaholics, of course, work more hours than others, ... [Read more]
A Lesson from Tiger’s Tale
Friday, December 4th, 2009
What Went Wrong? I’m not usually much of a celebrity gawker. But I have to admit that I have been completely drawn in to the sad story of Tiger Woods’ “transgressions.” Golf is my favorite sport and I have spent many a Sunday afternoon watching Tiger achieve yet another impressive victory. He is unlike any ... [Read more]
Who’s On Your Board of Directors?
Monday, June 1st, 2009
“Plans fail for lack of counsel, but with many advisers they succeed.” – Proverbs 15:22 My friend, Brad, calls it their annual “Dixie Fraley talk.” Once a year, he and his wife, Nancy, meet with their personal board of directors, which includes their CPA, attorney, and financial planner. Brad and Nancy reveal their balance sheet, ... [Read more]
Experiences Trump Possessions
Tuesday, February 24th, 2009
What makes you happier–new stuff or enjoyable experiences? CNN reported on new research showing that for most people enjoyable experiences generate more lasting happiness than new stuff. Two key reasons are that experiences tend to involve other people and they’re better than material objects at generating feelings of vitality or “being alive.” I couldn’t agree ... [Read more]
