Money Matters: Strengthen Your Marriage by Putting Finances in Order

Did you know that 43% of all married couples argue over money issues, making it the major reason couples fight? If you and your spouse handle money differently, now is the time to talk, establish expectations, and draw up a financial plan.

Money is a very big part of a marriage. Having enough to spend, and to do the things each wants to do, is important to both parties. When couples are not able to do that, then other issues pop up in the relationship. When husband and wife are not on the same page as far as family finances go, other difficulties inevitably arise.

Effective communication often emerges as the most difficult obstacle to establishing goals and expectations, and developing a financial plan. Many of us have been taught during childhood that discussing money is somehow inappropriate. Couples must understand that it is not only appropriate but absolutely necessary to managing finances in a marriage. Just as finances must be planned in a business, they must also be planned in a marriage. You must communicate in spite of any difficulty.

For example, how do you get your spouse to understand that he or she will need to curb their spending habits so that you both can begin putting money away?

There s got to be a viable agreement, because most couples discover that a lack of money, a lack of spending control, or a lack of fall-back savings eventually causes other problems in a marriage. Little things grow into much bigger things. However, as emphasized by Daniel Smith a noted financial expert cited in The Marriage Medics, future arguments over finances can be avoided by simply communicating, creating an understanding of expectations, setting objectives and agreeing on a financial roadmap.

The Marriage Medics outlines the following financial plan of attack for couples of any age:

1. Stop living beyond your means.

2. Treat the household like a business.

3. Create an income-and-expense statement.

4. Create a balance sheet.

5. Create a budget.

6. Figure out how to pay down your debt. Agree on a plan of action in which you both share equally in cutbacks.

7. Find ways to cut expenses.

8. Go on a debt diet starting with the little stuff.

9. Have only one credit card for your entire family.

10. Celebrate when you pay off a debt.

There are many resources for help in creating family budgets and living within them. For instance, Jim Miller, a Registered Investment Advisor, author of Retire Dollar Smart, and the host of a financial advice radio show is an excellent source. Visit his web site at: www.retiredollarsmart.com. In sum, married couples have an important opportunity to plant the seeds for a healthy marriage by simply talking with each other, being realistic about expectations, and making that financial plan. Money matters!

Copyright 2005 Cynthia Cooper

NOTE: You may run this article provided you run it with the bio box intact. Please email a copy of your publication with article in it to ArticleDeptBill@rtir.com

Cynthia Cooper, Ph.D., is a clinical psychotherapist and co-author of The Marriage Medics which you can obtain via http://www.themarriagemedics.org

---

Google News Updated : Wed, 23 Jul 2008 18:51:38 GMT Viagra helpful to women on antidepressants, study finds - Los Angeles Times Viagra helpful to women on antidepressants, study finds Los Angeles Times - 11 hours ago In a small study, 72% of those on SSRIs -- which can have debilitating sexual side effects -- reported improvement when taking the male impotence drug. Viagra offers help to some women Minneapolis Star Tribune Viagra May Boost Female Libido in Some Cases U.S. News & World Report Wall Street Journal - Chicago Sun-Times - WebMD - Reuters all 433 news articles Publ.Date : Wed, 23 Jul 2008 07:39:02 GMT Grocers stop selling jalapeno peppers after salmonella discovery - Los Angeles Times CTV.ca Grocers stop selling jalapeno peppers after salmonella discovery Los Angeles Times - 11 hours ago By Jerry Hirsch, Los Angeles Times Staff Writer Southern California grocery stores reversed themselves Tuesday and started pulling jalapeno peppers from their shelves. Salmonella Outbreak Exposes Food-Safety Flaws Wall Street Journal Found: Smoking Jalapeno Washington Post Food Consumer - WRAL.com - KTAR.com - San Francisco Chronicle all 1,315 news articles Publ.Date : Wed, 23 Jul 2008 07:00:46 GMT Many conomists see McCain better for stocks: poll - Reuters New York Daily News Many conomists see McCain better for stocks: poll Reuters - 3 hours ago By Emily Kaiser WASHINGTON (Reuters) - The US stock market would fare better in the first year after a victory by Republican presidential candidate John McCain than by his Democratic rival Barack Obama, according to a majority of economists at US banks ... Video: Obama Campaign: McCain Flubs on Iraq Timeline AssociatedPress McCain: 'Obama would rather lose a war in order to win a political ... Wake Up America Wall Street Journal - FOXNews - Los Angeles Times all 301 news articles Publ.Date : Wed, 23 Jul 2008 15:37:23 GMT Estelle Getty was a true 'Golden Girl' - Los Angeles Times Telegraph.co.uk Estelle Getty was a true 'Golden Girl' Los Angeles Times - 1 hour ago Estelle Getty, who died Tuesday three days before her 85th brithday, may have won her only Emmy Award in the supporting race but she was really one of the leading lights of "The Golden Girls. Video: Estelle Getty of 'Golden Girls' Dies at 84 AssociatedPress The Golden Girls: Estelle Getty Dies at 84 BuddyTV Washington Post - E! Online - CollegeOTR - Reuters all 968 news articles Publ.Date : Wed, 23 Jul 2008 17:47:51 GMT San Francisco Network Admin Gives Password To Mayor - CRN eFluxMedia San Francisco Network Admin Gives Password To Mayor CRN - 1 hour ago Disgruntled San Francisco system administrator Terry Childs has finally relented and turned over the password to the FiberWAN network he has been holding hostage. IT Career Advice: Passwords Make Bad Hostages eWeek SF Admin Gives Up Keys To Hijacked City Network Slashdot ZDNet - eFluxMedia - SFist - PC World all 101 news articles Publ.Date : Wed, 23 Jul 2008 17:16:36 GMT Report: Christian Bale Confronted Mother After She Insulted Wife - FOXNews ABC News Report: Christian Bale Confronted Mother After She Insulted Wife FOXNews - 4 hours ago AP July 21: British actor Christian Bale arrives for the European Premiere of 'The Dark Knight', in central London. July 21: British actor Christian Bale arrives for the European Premiere of 'The Dark Knight', in central London. Christian Bale's alleged blow-up came after mom bad-mouthed his wife New York Daily News Kin claim they were roughed up by Batman Boston Herald San Francisco Chronicle - New York Times - Los Angeles Times - The Associated Press all 2,153 news articles Publ.Date : Wed, 23 Jul 2008 14:42:07 GMT ESPN begins Sprint Cup telecasts with momentum - SportingNews.com Bleacher Report ESPN begins Sprint Cup telecasts with momentum SportingNews.com - 52 minutes ago By Michael Smith With ratings up for its Nationwide Series broadcasts and NASCAR shoulder programming, ABC/ESPN enters the Sprint Cup portion of its schedule feeling considerable momentum. Menard ready for return to famed Indianapolis Rotoworld.com Indianapolis Motor Speedway is Jeff Gordon's personal playground ... ESPN Howell Times and Transcript - Clutch and Chrome - WTHI - Clanton Advertiser all 151 news articles Publ.Date : Wed, 23 Jul 2008 17:59:22 GMT RSS For Web Pages Web Site Traffic

PARLOT::Ebooks, Scripts, Websites, and more...

Adsense websites

Roth IRA Contributions - IRS Rules

Confused about whether you can contribute to a Roth IRA?... Read More

More Money? My Cup Runneth Over...But Im Still Thirsty

Most of us, especially those of us who have debtor's... Read More

If All Things Are Possible, Why Cant I Balance My Checkbook?

For me, the most terrible time of each month is... Read More

Reporting Identity Theft

Would you know what to do if you suspect that... Read More

Vacations Made Easy: Buying a Florida Investment Property

Vacations Made Easy: Buying a Florida Investment PropertyA relaxing beach... Read More

Reduce College Debt with Scholarships

Six Scholarship judges were sitting around an oval table. Forms... Read More

Retirement Income Needs---Less Than You Think?

It is widely written that you need 75% of your... Read More

Kundalini Lessons - Money

I've been going through and interesting growth period lately that... Read More

Debt Management ? More Ways to Save on Gas Consumption

The price of gas continues to climb, and with continued... Read More

Budgeting: A Tough Love Way to Handle Your Household Budget

Developing and living by a household budget is by far... Read More

Introduction to Australian Superannuation

Australians, in general, constitute some of the worst savers in... Read More

Tips To Save Money At The Supermarket

Are you interested in saving money off your grocery bills?... Read More

Saving Money - Are You Doing Enough?

It is estimated that we, as consumers, waste an average... Read More

Estate Planning Basics

You have probably accomplished a great deal with your life.... Read More

Budgeting is Bothersome

It doesn't take much for you to get behind on... Read More

Organizing Your Finances - Thinking Outside the (Shoe) Box

If you're like most people, your personal financial records are... Read More

10 Steps To Improve Your Financial Situation

Here are ten steps you can follow to help improve... Read More

Money Matters - Really!

One of the biggest challenges facing black RELATIONSHIPS today are... Read More

Budgeting the Key to being Financially Stable

Single Mother's in need of Financial GuidanceBudgeting is key to... Read More

How to Balance Your Checkbook ? Get a Calculator and Pencil and You are Ready To Go!

Despite how easy it is to balance a checkbook, very... Read More

Budgeting your Savings - Did You Let Your Piggy Bank Get Away?

I think most of us have at some point in... Read More

Adverse Debt Levels Blight UK Consumers Personal Finances

Debt levels are at an all time high in the... Read More

The Benefits of Banking Online

How many drawers did you have to look through to... Read More

Eight Ways To Sink Yourself Financially

1. Don't focus on your finances.The reason most people get... Read More

Creating A Household Budget

Creating a budget can be a very difficult task. Although... Read More