They say money can't buy you love, and that's true enough. But it's also true that, unless you have a totally limitless supply of funds- and probably even then- you will occassionally clash with your mate about money. If it happens too often, or without successful resolution, you may find yourself in the large group of people who say money was the cause of their divorce. Which is too bad, because it doesn't have to be that way.
Dr. Taffy Wagner, certified educator in personal finance, said she counseled plenty of people who walked down the aisle, said, "I do, and never talked about finances until an emergency came along and forced their hand. That's why she developed her program, Money Talk Before the Commitment Walk and Debt Stops at the Altar. Dr. Wagner encourages couples to be proactive, to realized financial emergencies will occur, and to be in a "solution-oriented mode instead of reacting emotionally." Most of the problems arise not from a lack of money, but from a lack of communication and a lack of knowledge.
"People aren't taught how to manage money," Dr. Wagner said. "We didn't have a class in K-12 on that subject." You can flip through a bride's magazine and find articles on how to budget for a wedding, but nothing on how to plan a budget for your life after marriage.
More to come: Recovering from financial meltdowns.
For more info: http://debtatthealtar.com/
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