Your Money Personality: The Saver (4/26/2011)Every person has a distinct way of thinking about and dealing with money. And in a relationship, those distinctions can be the difference between being on the same page about financial issues and having money be a constant source of conflict. After all isn’t there a money component to just about every decision we make […]

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6 Tips to Confirm Your Spouse is a Good Money Match (4/11/2011)This Money Couple Minute we are going to give you excerpts from a featured US News and World Report article. Many points (2-6) were written by Karen Palmer (no relation) and highlight steps to improving your money compatibility from yours truly…The Money Couple! We are excited to be getting an incredible amount of National TV, […]

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The Code has Been Cracked – How to Bring Love and Money Together (3/29/2011)Quick: When you hear the words “financial relationship” what comes to mind? If you’re like most couples, you might think about your budget, your retirement savings, or even the fights you have about money.  But when we talk about a financial relationship, we’re talking about something that goes far beyond your checkbook or bank balance.  […]

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Engaged? 20 Questions to Bring Love and Money Together (3/15/2011)Your engagement brings with it a truly special time in your relationship.  You are filled with hope and excitement as you plan your wedding and think about your future together.  This is also the time when you start dreaming about the life you’re going to build — where you’ll live, what kind of family you […]

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3 Reasons A Spouse Won't Talk About Money (3/1/2011)You might not realize it, but nearly every decision you make on a given day involves money. You decide if you’re going to make your morning coffee or grab something at the local coffee shop. You drive to work or take public transportation, pack a lunch or order out. The way you and your partner […]

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Planning for Retirement: Three Essentials Every Couple Needs to Know (2/15/2011)Whether you’re 25 or 55, it’s not too early – or too late – to think about your retirement. If you want a retirement filled with fun, travel, or just some peace and quite, you need to start planning. Now. Planning for retirement demands healthy financial communication. Financial communication is at the core of your […]

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Five Money Relationship Mistakes and Solutions: Part 2 (2/1/2011)In our last Money Couple Minute, we talked about the money relationship mistakes couples make. There is a financial component to almost every decision we make as a couple – let’s learn how to make the financial communication the best so your financial relationship will be the best. This week, we’ll talk you through the […]

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Five Money Mistakes That Ruin Relationships: Part 1 (1/18/2011)When we talk about your financial relationship, we’re not just talking about those moments when you and your partner sit down to pay bills or balance the checkbook or tally up receipts. We’re talking about the ways money decisions filter in to every part of your lives. That means that the way each of you […]

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4 Ways to Agree on Tipping and How Much to Spend on Gifts (1/4/2011)When we first got married, Scott had been working as a waiter. He lived off of his tips and knew other waiters depended on them, too. I, on the other hand, had never worked in the food industry and didn’t think much about tips beyond adding a standard 15% to my bill. The first time […]

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5 Ways to Jump Start Your Financial Communication in 2011 (12/21/2010)‘‘Nobody can go back and start a new beginning, but anyone can start today and make a new ending.’’ – Maria Robinson We don’t always think about the ways our financial situation impacts our lives. Sure, it makes a difference in the house we live in or the car we drive, but it really trickles […]

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Unleash Your Child's Generosity (12/7/2010)We are a nation of givers. The Center on Wealth and Philanthropy at Boston College estimates that in 2009, individual charitable giving amounted to $217.3 billion dollars.  That money went to places like the ravaged nation of Haiti, the Salvation Army, state disaster relief funds, and local food banks and homeless shelters.   As adults, […]

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Enjoying the Holidays Without Financial Breakdown (11/23/2010)The holiday season is meant to be a time of joy, peace, and celebration. But because money plays a role in a lot of the decisions and often times we don’t agree, all that joy and peace is often squelched. The average American spends more than $800 on Christmas each year – whether they can […]

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Can Your Relationship Handle a Money Nag? (11/9/2010)Nagging. We all do it, whether it’s a little reminder about picking up his laundry, a subtle mention that she still hasn’t paid that bill, a nightly hint about washing the dishes. Being on the receiving end of another person’s persistent fault-finding always feels lousy. That’s especially true when it comes to nagging about finances. […]

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Can Your Relationship Survive a Layoff? Four Steps to Success! (10/26/2010)“We’re sorry, we have to let you go.” Those dreaded words from your boss mean more than the loss of a job. They mean the major shift in your way of life. For many couples, that shift brings with it heavy-duty strain – on their finances and their relationship. But a layoff doesn’t have to […]

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How to Say No to Your Kids' Money Demands (10/12/2010)“Can I get a new Gameboy?” “Can I have $10?” “Can I have the shoes that light up?” Whether it’s a new toy, a new game, a new outfit, or a new adventure, it seems kids never stop asking their parents for more. And who can blame them? Some studies have shown that children… [Read […]

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Stop Money Fights Before They Start (9/28/2010)According to a recent study at Utah State University, couples who reported disagreeing about finance once a week were 30 percent more likely to get divorced than couples who said they argued about finances a few times a month. Conflict is simply part of being in a relationship. But money arguments, more than any other […]

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Ask the Money Couple: Customized Advice to Solve Your Financial Communication Problems (9/14/2010)How can I get my wife to stop driving us into debt? Why is my fiancé so uptight about money? Does every financial conversation have to end with a fight? We hear from couples like you all the time, men and women who are watching money problems eat away at their relationships. In fact, financial […]

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Financial Security for Seniors: 5 Steps to Protect Your Parents (8/29/2010)When most of us think about financial issues, we consider our immediate needs (the mortgage, car payments, credit card bills) and our long-term needs (retirement, college funds for the kids, savings). But we don’t often think about one of the most obvious – and difficult – financial concerns facing so many of us: Our parents. […]

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5 Questions Every Parent Needs to Ask Before Helping a Child Get Out of Debt (8/16/2010)We don’t sound the debt alarm very often, but when it comes to young adult children asking their parents for help with debt, well, the alarm bells start ringing! These days, even 19-year-olds can be riddled with debt. Student loans, car loans, credit card debt can add up quickly, leaving young people buried in debt […]

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4 Ways to Survive Back-to-School Spending…Plus ABC News! (8/3/2010)According to the National Retail Federation, the average American family will spend more than $600 on clothes, shoes, supplies, and electronics during the 2010 back-to-school season, making this the second biggest consumer “event” of the year (you can probably guess what the first is!). But unlike Christmas, this time of year often catches people unaware […]

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Step-kids and College: 5 Ways to Make Sure Everyone is Happy (7/5/2010)Figuring out how to pay for your child’s college education can be a major financial headache. Add the complex dynamics of a blended family to that situation and the stress level can go through the roof! But it doesn’t have to be that way. With some honest conversation, a clear plan, and a solid sense […]

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Should You Go Into Business Together? 5 Secrets to Making It Work… (6/21/2010)For many couples, the idea of working together sounds heavenly. But we’ve seen so many life partners try to be business partners only to find that their finances – and their relationships – can’t survive the shift. There are, however, couples who can make a business work–we work together and love it. So if the […]

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5 Steps to Confessing Financial Infidelity (6/4/2010)Nearly every relationship harbors some level of financial infidelity. It might be as minor as not telling your partner what you really spent on her birthday gift or as major as keeping a secret bank account to pay for your gambling addiction. (Find out where you stand with the Financial Relationship Index) Either way, the […]

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4 Steps to Confront the Financial Cheater (5/24/2010)Shelley was putting away her husband’s laundry when she discovered a stash of bills for a credit card she didn’t recognize. It’s a story that plays out over and over with couples we talk to. Everything seems to be fine and then Bam! One of them discovers the other has been keeping money secrets. If […]

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Planning for the Wedding: 5 Tips for the Parents, Bride, and Groom! (5/10/2010)With clear expectations and solid financial communication, couples can get to their big day without the added stress of money battles. Here’s how to make sure the road to the wedding is as wonderful as the wedding itself. For Parents: 1. Get on the same page. View complete details HERE. 2. Be sure about what […]

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4 Steps to Your Best Summer Vacation Ever! (4/29/2010)When money is tight, the first thing to get cut from the budget is fun–things like vacations, dates, and family outings. But those are the parts of life that make it interesting! And what good is having a tight budget if you aren’t enjoying the life you’ve worked so hard to build? If money is […]

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4 Tips to Help You with the Not-So-Empty Nest (4/12/2010)Close to 14 million adult children are still living at home. These kids are called “The Boomerang Generation” and for good reason. Just when you think they’re gone, they come flying back. As much as you love your kids, there comes a time when you’re ready for them to move into adulthood. When they aren’t […]

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6 Tax Refund Tips (3/29/2010)More than half of all Americans will get a tax refund this year. Since the average refund is around $2800, that money can make a significant difference in your financial picture. This money decision, like every other money decision, calls for solid financial communication. Once you know what your refund will be, use some of […]

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Is There Life After Foreclosure? 4 Steps to Recovery (3/15/2010)We are meeting with lots of couples in this situation and seeing the stress this huge upheaval can cause in a relationship. If you’re losing your home, here’s how to pick up the pieces and move forward. 1. Grieve the loss – Get the complete details in this Money Couple Minute HERE. 2. Avoid the […]

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6 Steps to Helping Your Adult Children Financially (3/1/2010)Every parent knows that our care and concern for our children doesn’t stop when they hit adulthood. But most of us are a little unclear on how that care should play out financially. Trying to figure out when and how to help adult children with money problems can lead parents into all kinds of financial […]

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Should We Marry Our Money Before We Say "I Do"? (2/15/2010)We aren’t going to be subtle on this one: Our answer is, “Absolutely not.” Don’t marry your money until you are legally married. We have seen too many engagements end, leaving couples who have combined their money with the painful task of sorting it all out during an already difficult time. Naturally, if you are […]

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When Money and Romance Collide (2/1/2010)Sometimes Cupid’s arrows hit the pocketbook and the results are not pretty. Not long ago, we sat down with a couple that was having major financial issues. He was a romantic Spender who loved to splurge on his sweetie, but… Read the entire Money Couple Minute HERE. View all the Money Couple Minutes and discover […]

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Is It Time to Take a Risk? (1/18/2010)What now? It’s a question we are hearing from more and more couples as the recession takes its toll. Those who’ve lost jobs wonder what they’ll do next. Those who’ve taken a major financial hit are trying to rebuild. Those who’ve weathered the changes so far are worrying if they’re going to be the next […]

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5 Financial Resolutions You Shouldn't Make (1/4/2010)Getting out of debt is one of the most common New Year’s resolutions—it’s right up there with losing weight. And like losing weight, it’s a resolution that, more often than not, is broken before January comes to an end. Everyone should set financial goals for their families. In setting these goals, it is important to […]

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Taking a Financial Holiday (12/17/2009)If you’re like the vast majority of families, your finances have gone through the ringer this year. Maybe you’ve changed jobs—or are still looking for one. Maybe you’ve lost your retirement funds and are trying to figure out how you’ll make it through the next year. Maybe you’re still doing okay but worry that the […]

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No Holiday Headaches!!! (12/8/2009)We find that regardless of a couples’ income, holiday spending can quickly become a battlefield. One of you spends too much, one of you spends too little. Someone splurges when they should have skimped, someone saves when they should have shopped. The key to making it through the holidays with your sanity-and your budget-intact is…  Click […]

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A Great Idea for Getting Kids Excited About Giving (12/1/2009)Here was an idea we received from one of our readers that we couldn’t resist passing along… “Just yesterday our kids took some money they had been saving for a few months and used it to each buy their own assortment of hats, gloves and socks. My husband and I bought our own pile too. […]

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Get Your Kids Excited About Giving (11/23/2009)Every parent wants to raise compassionate, generous children. Giving to others should and can be fun, it doesn’t have to be the financial equivalent of eating your vegetables. With the right approach, practicing generosity can build family unity, develop a deep sense of compassion in your kids, and teach them invaluable financial communication skills that […]

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Spending "His" Money (11/10/2009)Power and money have a long partnership. Typically, the person with the money has the power. And this can often be the case in relationships as well. The partner who works can resent the way his partner spends “his” money. The partner who’s not working can feel like she doesn’t get much say so in […]

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How to Handle Holiday Spending? (11/3/2009)For many couples, the holidays are a minefield of difficult money decisions. How do we stick to a budget and still give meaningful gifts? Do we really need to buy a gift for Great Aunt Martha? Where are we going to get the money to pay for all of this stuff? With so many money-based […]

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