Marriage and finances
If you've been married awhile or are contemplating the big leap, you'd do well to take a gut-check of your finances. That's certainly what I did after 12 years of marriage when I started reporting a story for this Sunday's Work & Money section about newlyweds and money.
I'll be up front about my vices: Dragging out small credit card balances and selling cars too early. That's what I learned from this site - which takes a mighty severe view of finances. What do you expect? It's compiled by accountants.
But it's pretty good advice, and certainly something to shoot for, even if you're not in the perfect category.
My wife and I talk a lot about money, probably too much, but we certainly know where we stand.
That's the message I got this week even for newlyweds. Don’t argue, but do talk about finances. Work out differences. Approach challenges with an eye toward compromise.
That goes for even the simplest decision: Which bank gets the joint checking account?
For Jennifer and Derek Chiasson, newlyweds I talked to for the story, it was simple, says Derek. They chose her bank. "She can't stand my bank."