Free From Broke

A Personal Finance Blog for Regular Folks

Money

Fighting Fair: How to Disagree About Money in Marriage

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Marriage can be hard enough some days. Throw money into the mix, and things can get downright ugly.  However, just as disagreements in other aspects of your married life don’t have to result in permanent rifts, disagreements over money don’t have to ruin your relationship.  As with all things in marriage, money issues need to be worked through. Here are some ideas for overcoming disagreements about money in marriage:

Know Thyself

One of the best things you can do is understand your relationship with money.  In order to articulate your position on money to your partner, you need to be able understand.  Think about why you spend (or save) money the way you do.  You should also come to grips with why you don’t like the way your spouse handles money, and determine whether or not your own preferences and money prejudices are coloring the situations.
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10 Money Quotes Worth Remembering

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If you’re lucky, your parents will have instilled you with advice to help you manage your personal finances on your own. However, these words of wisdom were likely only drawn from their own limited experiences, whereas these 10 money quotes are sourced from academics, artists, playwrights and even the church and together can ensure you have a well-rounded monetary education and understand both how to have a healthy relationship with money and use it to achieve your goals.

‘Money can’t buy you happiness but it does bring you a more pleasant form of misery.’

-Spike Milligan

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The Greatest Impact On My Finances

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You can have your spreadsheets, online budgeting sites, statements, etc…  Want to know what the single greatest positive impact on my finances has been?

Is it a great lawyer that helps me with business decisions?  An awesome CPA to guide me with tax questions?  A fantastic financial advisor to direct my investments?

Nope, they got nothing on this person.

I’ll tell you – it’s my wife.  Let me explain…

Back in the day I was in debt, had no savings, no investments, and my net worth was measured in “things” I owned (not like a house but more like guitars and music CD’s).

I wasn’t the picture of good financial health.

But I slowly worked my way out of my financial funk.  I educated myself.  I paid off my credit cards.  I contributed to my 401(k).  I started saving.

I did these things on my own.  Had I not met my wife I would have continued to improve my finances but not to the extent that they are at now.

My wife turbo-charged my finances, well, OUR finances.

Here’s why my wife is the greatest impact on my finances and my best financial tool: [Read more…] about The Greatest Impact On My Finances

Working Hard For What You Want – New Jetta Ad

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Have you seen the latest commercial for the new Volkswagon Jetta? In the ad (called Moonighting), the main character, Tom, is working as a nurse (? I think) and he sees some ads for the new Jetta.  He then goes through the classified’s and proceeds to take on a number of jobs in order to afford the new car.

Here is what we see Tom doing to earn money:

  • Nurse – what appears to be his regular job.
  • Golf ball collector at a driving range – you know the guy that drives the little car that gets hit with golf balls.
  • Self-defense dummy – you see a group of women beating up on him while he wears padding.
  • Dog walker.
  • Dresses up as a hot dog and hands out ads for a food joint.
  • Bicycle cab driver.
  • Rodeo clown.
  • Nude model.

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SmartyPig Race Out of Debt Contest – One Winner Gets Almost Five Thousand Dollars!

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SmartyPig is running a new contest called “Race out of Debt.” The winner will get $4,951.  Why $4,951? Well, it seems that’s the average American’s credit card debt as of this Summer.  Sound like a lot?  It’s actually down 13% from last year!  So to celebrate bringing our debt down, SmartyPig is going to make one contestant super happy.

SmartyPig Race Out Of Debt Contest
Pork Run For Cash!

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