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Married Life & Weddings

You've made a budget and stuck to it.  You've clipped store coupons, purchased food in bulk, and bought store brands.  You feel a little squeezed, but overall, you are proud of the fact that you actually managed to put a few dollars into savings this month. 

Then the phone rings.  A loved one needs money. 
 
This loved one is the type that spends every dollar as soon as it comes in.  They call you foolish for passing up that new outfit in order to pay off your credit cards.  They refuse food in your home because it is not name brand.  Still, they want some of your money because they did not manage their own well enough. 

What do you do?

Sure, you could yell, scream, bang your head on the table, or visualize smacking them in the head.  Chances are however, you will write them a check, and start your savings account all over again. 
 
If any of this sounds familiar, here are some steps you can take when dealing with a loved one who cannot or will not save money, or at least manage their money better.

If you're in the midst of planning your wedding and your wedding budget is falling short, you basically have 2 choices:

Cut back on some of your wedding plans

Do some last-minute saving for your wedding 

Here are some fun and unique things you can do to find more money for your wedding... 

If you are currently planning a wedding, there are a few things you can do to make sure you don't spend too much money on your wedding and stay within a budget -- keeping your wedding expenses in check.

Some simple wedding budget tips...

As I read an article on a Seattle News website about the money squeeze that seniors face, I couldn’t help but wonder why these seniors don’t move in with their adult kids. 

I realize that I recently wrote about how adult kids living with mom and dad can put a drain on the parents'  retirement. But if you turned the situation around, it could actually be quite advantageous for parents to move in with their adult children.

Extended families are good for finances...

The death of a spouse is a traumatic experience that can set your head spinning and your heart reeling.  Few people are ever ready for this tragic event emotionally or even financially.

Unfortunately, adding to the inner turmoil that you are probably experiencing, are the financial matters that must be dealt with immediately.  Knowing what needs to be taken care of can be a tremendous help at this point, alleviating some of the stress and tension that is certainly swirling around you.

You would think that any way you can find to save money would be a good thing, right?  Well... not necessarily.

A large number of Generation Y is still living at home with mom and dad, in an effort to save for the future. 

While this means these adult kids will have more money in their bank accounts to buy a home and start a family, it also puts a strain on Mom and Dad's savings. And they still have their own future to plan for.

Before you take that job and become a two-income household, rather than a one-income one, there are a few things you might want to consider first.

With cost of living expenses rising, bonuses and pay increases shrinking, many single-income families are toying with the idea of becoming two-income families.  However, before you take that job to increase your family's income, be sure to do your math to make sure you are not increasing your expenses more. 

Here are some tips before you make the switch...