Money and finances are one of the top 3 reasons cited for divorce. It is a very important topic couples must deal with. It erodes a lot of people’s marriage and brings about unbearable stress in the lives of couples. As a couple, you need to have an open and honest dialogue about this topic of money. First, think about how you grow financially within marriage. After you’ve … [Read more...]
Marriage and Money: 4 Easy Steps to Financial Closeness with Your Spouse
This is part of a sponsored campaign with Wells Fargo. All opinions are my own. Recently, I had such a wonderful time sitting on BMWK’s Financial Intimacy panel sponsored by Wells Fargo. Founders of BMWK, Ronnie and Lamar Tyler, strategically positioned this discussion as the kick-off event to their 3rd annual BMWK Marriage Cruise—to make it clear that financial connection, … [Read more...]
My Husband Asked if I Was Happy in Our Marriage, I Had to Be Honest
The other day my husband asked me on a scale of 1 to 10, how happy I was in our marriage. We're coming up on our 7 month wedding anniversary and tend to check in with each other about what's working in our marriage, and what areas we can afford to improve in. It didn't take long for me to answer my husband's question. I automatically knew I couldn't give him a confident 10. … [Read more...]
Love and Money: Yours, Mines or Ours?
by Terry and Deborah Owens, On a recent Wealthy U News One segment on News One Now with Roland S. Martin, we discussed couples and money and how to get past financial stumbling blocks and build wealth together. One of the points that Roland made that I whole heartedly agree with is that, “Some couples manage their money like they are room mates in case things don’t work … [Read more...]
BMWK Cruise: The 3 C’s to Managing Love and Money in Your Marriage
by Terry and Deborah Owens Love and Money was the title of our workshop on the Black and Married With Kids Cruise and imagine our surprise to arrive home and find a new Couples Retirement Study from Fidelity Investments. It drives home the same message we delivered to the more than 70 couples that sat in the audience eager for knowledge: “Go Back To Basics With The Three … [Read more...]
3 Ways to Have a Financially Blessed Marriage
Being financially blessed is a desire of all couples in order to provide for their families, enjoy life, and prepare for the future. Here are 3 ways to have a financially blessed marriage. 1. Pay God First After watching my mom pay God first each Sunday at church my entire childhood, I was so excited to do it once I started making my own money. God has shown Himself faithful … [Read more...]
5 Financial Mistakes You Need to Stop Making in the Name of Love
Adults are messy enough when it comes to love, sex and relationships. But for real rachetness, add money to the mix. Too many people pay dearly both emotionally and financially because they insist on treating love as a form of currency, like the yen or Euro, with an exchange rate convertible to U.S. dollars. For examples of the relationship disasters that result, just look at … [Read more...]
3 Keys to Ensuring Financial Success as a Couple
My household was not exempt from experiencing the heartache the Great Recession brought millions of American families. When my husband was laid off from his job in 2009, we had no idea what was in store for us over what has turned into a four year journey. As we have embraced our life as a one-income family, I have found that teamwork, communication, and honesty are the … [Read more...]
My Husband Lost His Job! 9 Ways That We Are Dealing with A Layoff
My husband learned earlier this year that he would be without a job by the end of the summer. It was definitely a shock for us, but we are taking it in stride. I have noticed that we each play a key role in handling the layoff. In addition to our respectful roles, I see that as partners, we both are doing things to safeguard our marriage through this uncertain (and kinda … [Read more...]
What if the Woman is the Breadwinner?
What are your thoughts when you hear that a married woman is the breadwinner in her home? Be honest. Do you think, “wow, that is awesome… she is doing her thing?” Or, do you think, “why the heck is she the breadwinner… what is her husband doing?” My husband and I both work outside of the home. He makes more money than I do. To be honest, he always had. I have never had … [Read more...]
Married Parents Face Poverty, Too
Conversations involving poverty often revolve around single parenthood, unmarried mothers and the like. However recent data has shown that the poverty rate for married couples is going up--an increase of 47 percent since 2000. While single parents have always seen more financial burdens, the fall of wages and rise of unemployment combined with lack of paid leave and … [Read more...]