Marriage

Today’s Money: Keep Your Cash Divorce

This morning on Today I spoke with Al Roker on how to keep your cash and your sanity when going through a divorce. To learn more check out the video clip below.

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Money 911: Divorce & Beneficiaries

On Today’s Money 911 we talked about changing beneficiaries after a divorce or marriage and how to build credit so you can purchase a future home. To learn more watch the video clip below.

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Today’s Money: Financial Infidelity

This morning on Today, I spoke with Ann Curry and psychiatrist Gail Saltz about how to deal with financial infidelity from your spouse.

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Money 911: Student Loans & Mortgages

On Today’s Money 911 we talked about how to juggle paying for school, while saving for retirement. Plus, what to do when paying for a mortgage is part of your divorce decree. Check out the clip below to learn more.

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Getting Married? Tips to Help You Save on the Wedding

Picture 1This week, my New York Daily News column – which is syndicated, so it may have ended up in your local paper, as well – was about recouping some of the cash that’s spent on weddings. Everything from the dress to the decorations is finding a place on the used market these days.

Of course, saving money upfront is an even better option. The column caught the eye of my friend Josh from college, who shot me an email this morning outlining the money-saving strategies he and his wife used when they got married in 2000. More…

Money 911: Credit, Debt & Divorce

This morning on Today we talked about why a good credit score could still result in a denied credit card, and how to negotiate debt in a divorce. Check out the video below for all of the details:

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Stopping Overshopping — Once and For All

iStock_000007557621XSmallWe all know that shopping makes us feel good. It’s a scientific fact – when we see something we want, it triggers the release of feel-good endorphins and hormones that inspire us to make a purchase – something I talk about in my book, The Difference. But I know from reading many of your e-mails that, in some cases, this kind of feel-good shopping can become a real issue. When you shop compulsively – buying things you don’t need, and racking up debt – it can take a real toll on your life.
 
My good friend April Lane Benson, PhD, is an expert in overshopping – and how to stop. She authored a book – To Buy or Not to Buy: Why We Overshop and How to Stop – to help compulsive shoppers curb their behavior and live a financially responsible lifestyle. Recently, April let me know about a new study she’s working on to test her treatment for compulsive buyers. The treatment has been a success for more than 100 shopaholics – and it incorporates a series of steps that help to re-shape buying behavior, and keep you from falling back into a bad habit once you’ve fixed it. More…

How to Money-Proof Your Marriage

New research shows that couples who fight about money more than once or twice a month are significantly more likely to head for divorce. This morning on TODAY, psychologist Gail Saltz and I talked about tips for how you can money-proof your marriage — like coming clean about your finances from the get-go, and making a plan to save and to pay down debt. To learn more, watch the clip below!

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Saving, Spending, and More on Money 911

What is a Uniform Gift to Minor Account, and how does it differ from a 529 Plan? How can I pay for my wedding and avoid building more credit card debt? How can I remove old accounts from my credit report to boost my score? I helped the Money 911 panel answer these questions (and more!) on the TODAY show this morning. Watch the clip below for our money advice.

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Ask Jean Tuesday: Money and Marriage

iStock_000005100597XSmall“I recently got engaged, and am looking to prepare financially for life after our wedding. I’m not sure what we should do about things like taxes and health insurance. We’re just a little confused about what we should be doing.” – Amanda, Arizona

Well, first of all – congratulations on your engagement! I’m glad that you are thinking ahead about how your life will change financially once you tie the knot. It’s important to have that money talk now, rather than let it slide until applying for a mortgage reveals credit card debt you didn’t know your spouse had.

So what should you do first? Ask – and answer – the following questions: What do you own? What do you earn? What do you owe? And what do you spend? Being open and honest about these things opens a platform for discussion, and allows you to plan for your future. You’ll be able to make the right decisions about opening joint bank accounts and credit cards (I, personally, prefer the yours, mine and ours system, in which each partner has his or her own bank account, and they share a joint account for household expenses). More…

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