A strong marriage is built on a foundation of trust. When you don’t trust your spouse, everything else in your marriage suffers. And once trust is lost, it is hard to rebuild—not impossible, but definitely hard. And when people think of the loss of trust in a marriage, thoughts typically turn to issues around infidelity. And while infidelity is a real issue many couples … [Read more...]
Search Results for: finance
But He Says She’s Just a Friend; So How to Tell If She’s Really a True Friend or a Side Chick?
Hi Dr. Buckingham, My husband spends more time with his female friend than he does with me. We live together and have been married for four years now. He says that he is not going anywhere, but he continues to lie about his interactions with his friend. I love my husband and take my marriage vows seriously, but I am wondering if my husband feels the same. At times, I think … [Read more...]
If Your Relationship Has Flatlined, Here Are 5 Real Steps to Resuscitate a Lifeless Marriage
By Veronica Tetterton, Ph.D. Many married couples have witnessed first-hand, the sharp descent from marital bliss to misery in the wake of the exchange of their wedding vows. What happens to the marriage after we say “I do?” According to psychology research, life happens. We encounter new stressors of children, work, finances, all while trying to maintain our role … [Read more...]
Sneaking Around with Benjamin and Grant Again? Financial Infidelity is Still Cheating
Yeah, you've been hitting the town with Benjamin and his friends again, hoping your husband doesn't find out. No, you're not having several sordid, lustful affairs with some guys named Benjamin, Grant, Jackson and Lincoln. The characters in question are the namesakes of the bills you keep secretly withdrawing from your savings without your husband's knowledge. Your sneaking … [Read more...]
Singles, Before You Give Up on Getting Married, Read This
“I know You can do all things; no plan of Yours can be thwarted.” Job 42:1 “If I don’t get married by age X, I’m just not going to get married.” Have you ever said this yourself? I understand, it’s challenging to wait for the right person to come into your life, especially when you've past the ideal age you wanted to marry. You've read the statistics about the ideal time to … [Read more...]
Work It Until It’s Wonderful; Ending the Myth of the White Picket Fence Theory
Marriage is wonderful, and it can resemble the legendary white picket fence lifestyle. However, the lie of it all is that it just happens. Two people get together and because they are madly in love, the fantasy is that they will get married and live happily ever after. It just doesn’t work that way. Folks who believe this lie are devastated when “madly in love” becomes “I … [Read more...]
4 Simple Mistakes That Can Destroy Your Marriage
I know several happily married couples, but I have yet to meet the perfect couple. That’s because they don’t exist. Even the happiest couples have stuff to deal with. And while some problems may be rather harmless, some things can really damage a great relationship. I have a great marriage, but we’ve had our share of problems. But in each instance, one of us owned what went … [Read more...]
3 Silly Assumptions I Constantly Make as a Married Man That’s Hurt My Marriage
After 11 years of matrimony, my wife and I have fallen into a routine of expectations. Expectations from what time we get up in the morning, to who's taking the trash out on Tuesday nights (me), to who's taking our son to his swim lessons on Fridays (her), down to what time is appropriate to even think about initiating sex. And if you're fortunate enough to have years invested … [Read more...]
Do You Need a Dating Detox?
I know this post isn’t for everyone because a lot of women are enjoying the status quo. But for those who aren’t, let’s talk. Ladies, some of you are DOING TOO MUCH when it comes to your relationships. I understand that you don’t want to be alone. I understand you want to spend time with a man and not your girlfriends. I understand it’s been a while since you’ve been on a … [Read more...]
Money Monday: Five Things Successful People Understand That Poor People Don’t
Prosperity is within everyone's reach. It's not easy, and it often requires sacrifices that others are not willing to make. But each and every day, people like you are making their financial dreams a reality. Here are five things that successful people understand about achieving financial freedom. 1. Stop living in the past. Your future starts right now It’s easy to get … [Read more...]
5 Things Husbands Should Get Over When it Comes to Their Wives
Men and women are different. It’s been established and confirmed eons ago. From emotions to communication styles, we simply are who we are and that’s okay. What use to confuse us in the past when it came to our mates, should no longer be a concern. Some have accepted the uniqueness of their mates, while others are still scratching their heads with confusion. In my opinion, … [Read more...]
Don’t Go to Bed Angry – Your Marriage Can’t Take It
Did your parents ever tell you not to go to bed angry? My mother instilled this in me. Whether an old wives’ tale or a biblical adage, there is something to it. Every couple has disagreements but you don’t have to go to bed angry. It took me years to realize this. Sure I knew the saying but that doesn’t mean I followed it. It can be a challenge to get yourself together in … [Read more...]
A Husband Shares the 3 Major Epiphanies He Had During His Horrific 11th Anniversary
This past weekend, my wife and I celebrated our 11th anniversary. She planned the whole thing. My only responsibility was childcare for our 4-year-old son. Check. I was simply ecstatic because it wasn't up to me to plan and execute a whirlwind weekend extravaganza designed to symbolically match my enthusiasm of another year of marriage (and not to mention character … [Read more...]
Is There Any Topic Off Limits in Your Marriage?
Are you open enough to share your deepest, darkest, inner truths with your spouse? An even better question is, is your spouse open enough to receive that level of info? Two key ingredients in most healthy relationships are communication and friendship. With friendship comes sharing and a sense of comfort. When we trust, we open up, and who should we trust more than our … [Read more...]
Money Monday: The 4 BIG Expenses That’ll Keep You from Becoming Rich
Eliminating your morning Starbucks coffee and cutting coupons are perfectly legitimate ways to cut costs and rein in your finances. But you’ll never get rich playing so-called small ball. To reach financial success, you need big wins. You need to address the areas of your financial life that will save you not $5 here or $10 there, but tens of thousands of dollars. … [Read more...]