Money Articles


When family ties are stressed by finances

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With an ever tightening economy many families are finding themselves deep in debt with shaky job prospects and the stress is running over into their families. Today's families already face mounting pressures but along with financial stress the ties that bind families together can be weakened considerably. Adults may find themselves so overwhelmed with trying to deal with financial pressures that they neglect to nurture the family unit. Children may not fully understand what is causing the increased stress in their home and even blame themselves and withdraw from family life. But the good news is that no matter how difficult the financial times are for your family there are ways that you can increase the bonds that hold your family together and perhaps even draw closer. Here is what you should be doing when family ties are stressed by finances-

"When family ties are stressed by finances" »

The Love Budget

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Budgeting can be difficult for some people. When you talk about budgeting as a couple in a marriage relationship it generally complicates things. However, your financial future as a couple needs to be secured by sitting down together, making a budget, monitoring it, and sticking to it. Some couples have one person do all the finances and giving the other a spending limit. Some couples do things jointly. Other couples have one person tracking expenses, but talking together over all purchases. However you decide to control the finances in your marriage relationship, making and keeping a budget is key to your financial success as a couple in a marriage relationship. Here's how to get started:

Step #1: Financial Goals.

"The Love Budget" »

Improving the Money Relationship

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Money issues have been sited as the number one reason for divorce. Taking a proactive approach when it comes to money issues can save you a lot of heartache and stress. Having a plan, communicating about your money, and mastering your self-control are only the basic ways of preventing money issues. Find what works in your marriage relationship when it comes to preventing money issues and build on it. These tips are designed to help you overcome money problems in a marriage relationship or prevent them to begin with.

Tip #1: Have a plan.

"Improving the Money Relationship" »

How to loan money to family and friends

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There is perhaps no more explosive topic than the issue of whether or not to loan money to family or friends. In an attempt to avoid this potential minefield many people of means simply make it a policy to never loan money to their nearest and dearest. Other people assume that loaning money will be easier to family and friends sometimes with disastrous results. If you have been approached by a family member or friend about a loan you may be uncertain about whether or not it is a good idea. Before making a final decision read on for how to loan money to family and friends-

If the money is going to be a gift or has undefined repayment terms ("pay me back when you can")-


1. Hand the money over to the other person and walk away.
If you are gifting the money to the recipient or have not defined repayment terms you must simply give them the money and then divorce yourself from the whole process. What the recipient spends the money on is now none of your business. Remember nothing creates conflict more in a family or friend relationship than the issue of money. You are only the source of the money not the decision-maker in this process. If you cannot abide by these non-involvement terms than you had better define the amount of money the recipient wants as a loan.

"How to loan money to family and friends" »

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