Before you start calling up wedding coordinators and venues, before you start looking for a dress and picking out a cake, put away your emotions long enough to ask yourself a few questions.
With so many people still struggling to find work in this slow moving economy, those with jobs being quite frugal even during the holidays, and many losing much of their retirement funds... are we all going to be working just like today till we're 80? I saw a tv news story of a woman who had always hoped she's retire in her 60s or even 70s, but now realizes she may have to continue working into her 80s. How many people can imagine this?
I've been on a few dates with guys who work in "finance" — as in, they can't explain to me in 10 words or less what it is exactly that they do with all those numbers and dollar signs all day long. I'm always initially attracted to them because of the way they can rock a suit, a la Barney Stinson, and how they exude so much confidence and purpose in what they do. But as soon as that tie is loosened and that second Jack-and-Coke is dry, their horns come out.
Money matters. Don't let any one tell you different. You could set yourself up for major pitfall by not taking the time to talk about money issues before walking down the aisle. Here are some questions to discuss with your partner: How Do They Budget? If you can live off less and save more, you can achieve bigger goals. Seeing how your partner budgets is essential to your financial health as an a couple. Start out by budgeting something small together, like a vacation months in advance.
I recently read through the new national report on women called Women in America: Indicators of Social and Economic Well-Being. Among all the amazing facts about women’s progress was one piece of data that hasn’t changed much: the unfortunate fact that women still earn 20% less than men. I get totally angry thinking of my hard-working female contemporaries under-earning. My immediate reaction is to blame men, society and government for putting us women in this situation. But the self-help junkie in me knows better.
As if relationships weren't complicated enough, we're forced to add math, paperwork and the IRS into the mix this time of year. It almost makes us want to take our chances and hide from Uncle Sam on a tropical beach somewhere. But before plotting your own escape, consider these six big tax mistakes that couples make—and how to avoid them.
I have to admit, I wasn't shocked this week to learn that 30 percent of people hide money from their spouse. I'm just suprised the number isn't higher. And yes, I am in that 30 percent. Although, I do use the money to buy little things for the house, so it works, right? RIGHT?! Plus, he knows about the money. But am I just rationalizing? Will this behavior lead to worse behavior down the road? What do you think?
Prenups are a backup plan. Like any other backup plan—the fold-up flats in your purse, tampons in your desk drawer at work, the rape whistle on your keychain—you don't expect to use it, and you really hope not to, but thank God it's there when you need it. For women, divorce is financially dangerous, and you're necessarily subject to a 50 percent chance of suffering from it if you marry.
Money management is one of the most challenging aspects of being married. Should you open a joint bank account? How do you save for retirement? While there isn't a definitive right or wrong answer to these questions, the fact that some married couples are happier with their finances than others begs the question of why. To understand how incomes affect marriages, Mint.com conducted a survey comparing how young professionals (under 30, college educated, household income of over $50k), affluents (household income of over $100k), and the general populace divide their money. There are a lot of numbers involved, so we've summarized the most interesting data for you:
Ladies, we've all heard that money can't buy you love; apparently, it can buy you sex appeal. The NY Daily News reports that 61 percent of men surveyed describe blind dates who save money as "sexy" and "smart."
Here at LoveMom, we bring you the love. Our weekly Baby Bytes bring you everything else. Here are this week's 6 must-click mom links.
