Comments on: Marriage and Money: Do You Have a Plan? http://www.simplemarriage.net/marriage-and-money-do-you-have-a-plan.html Keep it simple. Make it better. Thu, 09 Feb 2012 02:13:08 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.3.1 By: Two fingers of pleasure http://www.simplemarriage.net/marriage-and-money-do-you-have-a-plan.html#comment-7844 Two fingers of pleasure Sun, 13 Jun 2010 05:14:38 +0000 http://www.simplemarriage.net/?p=6280#comment-7844 [...] Marriage and Money: Do You Have a Plan? : This Simple Marriage post is spot on – without a plan, how can you get where you want to be? A Frugal Marriage Equals More Passion: A great post on Simple Marriage about the joy of living below your means. [...] [...] Marriage and Money: Do You Have a Plan? : This Simple Marriage post is spot on – without a plan, how can you get where you want to be? A Frugal Marriage Equals More Passion: A great post on Simple Marriage about the joy of living below your means. [...]

]]> By: Mohammed http://www.simplemarriage.net/marriage-and-money-do-you-have-a-plan.html#comment-7840 Mohammed Sat, 12 Jun 2010 05:18:35 +0000 http://www.simplemarriage.net/?p=6280#comment-7840 We started out married life when I was unemployed and in debt. Thanks to my wife's prudence and austerity measures (as well as interest-free loans from family), after 9 years together (it was our anniversary, 1st June), we are nearing the end of the tunnel. Debts are almost cleared, I have a stable (?) job, we have a house. Things are looking up. At least financially! Because of the change/improvement, our budgeting has gone to pot. Spending is increasing and the *simple* life which strengthened our relationship is becoming (at least for me) uncomfortable in its wastefulness and extravegance - more specifically, our different spending priorities. Surprisingly, this is putting a strain on our relationship!! I would have thought the other way around is more usual - reduced financial stability = greater relationship stress. We haven't made the adjustment and really need to talk it through. I think one area is saving for a rainy day - note the question mark in "stable (?) job"... Any advice welcome! We started out married life when I was unemployed and in debt. Thanks to my wife’s prudence and austerity measures (as well as interest-free loans from family), after 9 years together (it was our anniversary, 1st June), we are nearing the end of the tunnel. Debts are almost cleared, I have a stable (?) job, we have a house. Things are looking up. At least financially! Because of the change/improvement, our budgeting has gone to pot. Spending is increasing and the *simple* life which strengthened our relationship is becoming (at least for me) uncomfortable in its wastefulness and extravegance – more specifically, our different spending priorities. Surprisingly, this is putting a strain on our relationship!! I would have thought the other way around is more usual – reduced financial stability = greater relationship stress. We haven’t made the adjustment and really need to talk it through. I think one area is saving for a rainy day – note the question mark in “stable (?) job”… Any advice welcome!

]]> By: Adventure-Some Matthew http://www.simplemarriage.net/marriage-and-money-do-you-have-a-plan.html#comment-7831 Adventure-Some Matthew Thu, 10 Jun 2010 14:00:55 +0000 http://www.simplemarriage.net/?p=6280#comment-7831 My wife and I had plenty of money talks before even getting engaged, and they only increased after the engagement. Our pre-marital counseling included an over-view of personal finances and some advice where it was needed. We have a monthly budget and any purchase over a set amount is discussed before being made. Our only debt is school, and we have a solid plan to pay it off upon graduation (that will work even with two minimum-wage, full-time jobs). Fortunately, we share views on most things financial, so it is easy for us to make decisions. My wife and I had plenty of money talks before even getting engaged, and they only increased after the engagement. Our pre-marital counseling included an over-view of personal finances and some advice where it was needed. We have a monthly budget and any purchase over a set amount is discussed before being made. Our only debt is school, and we have a solid plan to pay it off upon graduation (that will work even with two minimum-wage, full-time jobs).

Fortunately, we share views on most things financial, so it is easy for us to make decisions.

]]> By: Sam http://www.simplemarriage.net/marriage-and-money-do-you-have-a-plan.html#comment-7814 Sam Wed, 09 Jun 2010 04:18:43 +0000 http://www.simplemarriage.net/?p=6280#comment-7814 The above tips are great and easy to implement. Before, my dear husband and I only work on monthly plans i.e. salary vs bills, leftovers save. Now we have a bigger plan involving 2 big words - Financial Planning! Once we engaged a qualified FP, it opened a big new world to us...see how we did on the first part. These may also help to consolidate into the long term plan. http://workandwok.com/2010/04/21/managing-family-finances-planning/ The above tips are great and easy to implement. Before, my dear husband and I only work on monthly plans i.e. salary vs bills, leftovers save. Now we have a bigger plan involving 2 big words – Financial Planning! Once we engaged a qualified FP, it opened a big new world to us…see how we did on the first part. These may also help to consolidate into the long term plan.
http://workandwok.com/2010/04/21/managing-family-finances-planning/

]]> By: Dustin http://www.simplemarriage.net/marriage-and-money-do-you-have-a-plan.html#comment-7808 Dustin Tue, 08 Jun 2010 22:16:34 +0000 http://www.simplemarriage.net/?p=6280#comment-7808 Thank you for sharing your story, Ashley. The hard work you are doing now will pay great dividends in the future of your marriage and family life. We have two little kids and one on the way very soon, so I can certainly relate to those unexpected expenses! :) Thank you for sharing your story, Ashley. The hard work you are doing now will pay great dividends in the future of your marriage and family life. We have two little kids and one on the way very soon, so I can certainly relate to those unexpected expenses! :)

]]> By: Dustin http://www.simplemarriage.net/marriage-and-money-do-you-have-a-plan.html#comment-7807 Dustin Tue, 08 Jun 2010 22:14:28 +0000 http://www.simplemarriage.net/?p=6280#comment-7807 You're too kind, Derek! Your comment is awesome, as is your vital work in helping people find success in their finances (and marriages). You’re too kind, Derek! Your comment is awesome, as is your vital work in helping people find success in their finances (and marriages).

]]> By: Dustin http://www.simplemarriage.net/marriage-and-money-do-you-have-a-plan.html#comment-7806 Dustin Tue, 08 Jun 2010 22:13:26 +0000 http://www.simplemarriage.net/?p=6280#comment-7806 What a PERFECT quote from Scripture, Favor. Thank you for sharing it! What a PERFECT quote from Scripture, Favor. Thank you for sharing it!

]]> By: Dustin http://www.simplemarriage.net/marriage-and-money-do-you-have-a-plan.html#comment-7805 Dustin Tue, 08 Jun 2010 22:12:51 +0000 http://www.simplemarriage.net/?p=6280#comment-7805 Thanks, Sara! It's great to hear that you guys have made it a point to be intentional with your money and open up the communication about it as you prepare for your marriage. Congratulations in advance on your upcoming (cash) wedding! Thanks, Sara! It’s great to hear that you guys have made it a point to be intentional with your money and open up the communication about it as you prepare for your marriage. Congratulations in advance on your upcoming (cash) wedding!

]]> By: Dustin http://www.simplemarriage.net/marriage-and-money-do-you-have-a-plan.html#comment-7804 Dustin Tue, 08 Jun 2010 22:11:04 +0000 http://www.simplemarriage.net/?p=6280#comment-7804 You're very welcome, Julia! I really appreciate you sharing your story for others to learn from. As you've experienced, open communication about money is simply vital to a success in both marriage and life. It sounds like you guys have taken your knocks, but you have now learned some valuable lessons that will serve you well as you move forward and get back on solid financial footing. You’re very welcome, Julia! I really appreciate you sharing your story for others to learn from. As you’ve experienced, open communication about money is simply vital to a success in both marriage and life. It sounds like you guys have taken your knocks, but you have now learned some valuable lessons that will serve you well as you move forward and get back on solid financial footing.

]]> By: Ashley http://www.simplemarriage.net/marriage-and-money-do-you-have-a-plan.html#comment-7802 Ashley Tue, 08 Jun 2010 20:39:59 +0000 http://www.simplemarriage.net/?p=6280#comment-7802 My husband & I share a bank account and use a partly cash system. After each pay period, we take out the cash we've budgeted for groceries, general spending, kids' allowances, and gas. The rest in the account we use to pay bills online. This worked really well for a while, but some pay periods we run out of spending cash & have to dip into the bank account (if something hasn't come through or money has already been deposited for the next pay period). With 4 kids, it's difficult to budget sometimes...things always seem to come up. We recently realized that we've gotten in over our heads somehow (expenses have increased, income hasn't decreased), but before we could get seriously late, we went to a non-profit debt management organization & started a program to pay off all our unsecured debt in 3 years, saving us $100/month in payments. We also combed our account & cut over $300 in extraneous monthly expenses. We're pinching every penny we can so we can be debt-free & not worry about money. It's such a strain on relationships and families. I hate being dependent on it! We also pray a lot about it & try to give our stress up to God instead of ourselves & each other. And we give any "extra" we find to the church or various charities. :) My husband & I share a bank account and use a partly cash system. After each pay period, we take out the cash we’ve budgeted for groceries, general spending, kids’ allowances, and gas. The rest in the account we use to pay bills online. This worked really well for a while, but some pay periods we run out of spending cash & have to dip into the bank account (if something hasn’t come through or money has already been deposited for the next pay period). With 4 kids, it’s difficult to budget sometimes…things always seem to come up. We recently realized that we’ve gotten in over our heads somehow (expenses have increased, income hasn’t decreased), but before we could get seriously late, we went to a non-profit debt management organization & started a program to pay off all our unsecured debt in 3 years, saving us $100/month in payments. We also combed our account & cut over $300 in extraneous monthly expenses. We’re pinching every penny we can so we can be debt-free & not worry about money. It’s such a strain on relationships and families. I hate being dependent on it! We also pray a lot about it & try to give our stress up to God instead of ourselves & each other. And we give any “extra” we find to the church or various charities. :)

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