Marriage
Changing Up Your Family Dynamic
It doesn’t come as news, but is nonetheless depressing: women with school age children are bearing the brunt of the fallout from the pandemic.
A Winning Argument for Why You and Your Honey Need to Come Clean About Money
I recently saw a survey that reported that nearly half of people in a relationship say they argue about money. I was surprised it was not even higher. And money stress is often a major factor in why couples split up.
This Girlfriend’s Money Guide to Steering Clear of Divorce
A recent Experian survey reports that more than one-third of people who divorced says it caused them financial ruin. And more than 60 percent of people surveyed said that money issues played a central role in the break up.
3 Key Financial Steps for Stay At Home Parents
When you and your partner make the decision for one of you to be a stay-at-home parent, the tendency is to center all the financial decisions on the person who is still earning an income. Notice I didn’t say “the one who is still working.” Please. Being a stay at home parent is probably the hardest—and certainly the most important-work there is.
How Not to Let Runaway Wedding Costs Derail Your Financial Plan
Look, I love a good party as much as anyone else, especially when there is a great celebration, such as a wedding. But if you’re attending a few weddings a year—and god forbid if one or more is a destination wedding—then I am also worried you may be celebrating your way into a costly situation.
What No Mother With Young Children Can Afford to Leave Off Her Shopping List
I was shopping at Costco recently, enjoying the great value as always. While waiting in line to check out I got to chatting with a few young mothers-with babies in tow-who were waiting as well. Me being me I was curious if these women who obviously knew a thing or two about shopping had bought protection for their family.
My House Rules for Boomerang Kids.
More adult children are living with family than at any time in the past 60 years. Whether your twenty-something bundle of joy is back home (or never left!) because you’re a better roommate with better digs, or because they have yet to find a career job, you still need to lay down some financial expectations:
Avoid This Costly Refinancing Trap
In late July, the 3.4% average rate for a 30-year mortgage was near the historic low set in 2013. That’s great news for so many homeowners who were unable to refinance back in 2013 because they didn’t have the 20% equity that most lenders require for the best refi deals. Fast-forward to today and home values are up an average of nearly 30% since early 2013. That means plenty of homeowners can now-finally-refinance at today’s great rates.
Why I Don’t Like Weddings
Weddings bring out the worst in our bad-money habits. I have known too many couples that have gone into credit card debt to pay for a wedding. Love doesn’t mean paying 15% interest-or more!-for a special day. And I have seen way too many parents nearing retirement who pull money out of their retirement savings, or stop contributing to their retirement accounts for a year or two, or use a home equity line of credit to pay for a child’s wedding. That is insane. Love never means having to jeopardize your future to pay for a wedding.
4 Ways to Save on a Wedding
I am on the record that only couples in great financial shape should spend money on an expensive/large wedding. But for those of you who are just going to plow ahead despite shaky finances, please at least make the most of my money-saving wedding tips.
That $30,000 Wedding Really Costs You $130,000 Or More.
The average cost of a wedding is now more than $30,000. As I have explained in How to Budget for a Wedding, spending even $3,000 on a wedding is a bad move if you have credit card debt, have yet to build a large emergency fund, or aren’t on pace with your retirement savings.
How To Marry Your Finances
It’s no secret that money can be a serious wedge issue for couples. Survey after survey reports that when couples argue, finances are often at the heart of the discord. Here’s how every couple can lay the groundwork for financial compatibility.
Avoid This Common and Costly Insurance Mistake
If you have a low deductible of just $250 or $500 on your homeowner or car insurance policies I want you to listen up right now. You need to call up your insurer and ask for a higher deductible. Yes, I said higher.
Four Financial Moves Every College Grad Must Make ASAP
Forget all the commencement speeches about your dreaming big, not compromising, and following your passion. That’s all terrific advice, but not nearly as important as the nuts and bolts of four
Life Insurance Made Easy. Really!
Life insurance is such a difficult financial hurdle for so many of you. You’re either queasy about pondering the need for it in the first place, or you are rightfully queasy about getting taken by an agent selling you a way-too-expensive policy.
What You Need To Know About New Alternative FICO Score
For years I have pointed out how ridiculous it is that people who don’t have credit cards, but responsibly pay-as-they-go with debit cards and cash, are put at a severe disadvantage in our financial system.
Same-Sex Married Couples To Get Federal Tax Recognition Regardless Of State
The U.S. Department of the Treasury announced Thursday that when it comes to taxes, it will recognize same-sex couples' marriages even if they live in a state that does not.
SUZE ORMAN: The US Tax Code Is “A Travesty” For Gay Couples
Personal finance expert Suze Orman took a break from her soap box at CNBC on Monday to speak candidly about her experience as a gay taxpayer in America. "There is such discrimination [in our tax
Changing Lives One Wallet at a Time
Letter From Wynne Sandra Korr, Dean and Professor at the School of Social Work, University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign. Thanks to the
