Family

When you consider combining your finances, it is important to make sure you are ready for the issues that can come with couple finance. There are a number of pitfalls that can trip up even the best relationships. However, some pitfalls are a little more serious than others. Because there are so many emotions involved … Read more3 Common Financial Problems for Couples

Many people will tell you that being a parent is rewarding and interesting work. Indeed, many people insist that, even though having children is difficult, it also offers a great deal of fulfillment. However, it’s important to understand some of the financial realities that accompany being a stay at home parent. You might say that … Read more3 Financial Implications for Stay at Home Parent

There’s a great Friends episode where Joey’s Dad is having an affair and his Mom knows about it. Joey gets really upset and thinks his Dad should end the affair and be reconciled to his wife. He confronts his Dad, and a while later his Mom comes over to yell at Joey for confronting him. … Read moreHandling the Emotions of Helping Your Parents

We all hate the money talk. Whether you are working out the details of your financial lives before you commit, or whether you have been in a committed relationship for years, talking about money always seems to be fraught with the makings of relationship peril. Even if you don’t plan to marry, if you are … Read moreHow to Talk to Your Partner About Money

Mixing money and family typically is not an advisable financial move. All too often personal feelings get tangled up in a web of financial burdens and it can be a very unpleasant and potentially long-term bad situation. It can be made even more complicated when the ones you are closest to in your family are … Read moreTips for Lending Money to Family and Friends

Having a pet can bring great joy, laughter and comfort to all around. Unfortunately, they can also mean additional, even unexpected, expenses in today’s already tough economy. According to the ASPCA, approximately 500,000 to 1,000,000 cats and dogs are currently in danger of abandonment due to the economic downturn. While caring for a pet is … Read more8 Ways to Lower Pet Care Costs

One of the major life milestones that our society still encourages is marriage. The idea of marriage as a cornerstone of society is one that has been around for millennia. However, these days it seems as though people are putting off marriage. Among the major reasons that people put off marriage is due to financial … Read moreWould You Put Off Marriage for Financial Reasons?

One of the more interesting things I read recently on Forbes had to do with whether or not you should have a “secret” fund of money in case of divorce. The author, Jeff Landers, looked at the possible advantages of keeping some of your assets separate from your partner’s, as well as the idea of … Read moreDo You Hide Money from Your Spouse?

The increasing cost of college tuition has many wondering if it is really possible to pay for a degree without the help of student loans. With outstanding student loan debt now surpassing credit card debt in the U.S., it has become clear that most of us accept student debt as a normal cost of a … Read moreHow to Lower College Costs and Avoid Student Loan Debt

Open enrollment time is upon us and that means you are finding out that premiums, deductibles and co-pays are probably on the rise. In some cases, benefits are shrinking as well. Many new health insurance plans won’t kick in until the new year, though, so that leaves a little more than a month to get … Read moreGet the Most Out of Your Health Insurance Before the Year Ends