Holding together a marriage is no easy feat, and many couples face the same kinds of problems across the board.  It’s not easy to devote your life to another person and a lot of times, married couples fall into routines whereby they take each other for granted, hide bad feelings instead of talking about them, and basically create distance when it would be so easy to come together.  But the worst problems that many marriages face by far are financial.  When it comes to sharing assets and acting responsibly where money is concerned, some spouses just can’t seem to get it together.  But you can’t allow financial difficulties to destroy your marriage.  So here are a few ways to get your finances, and your marriage, in order.

1. Form a budget.  Overcoming any financial trouble starts with forming a budget.  This means checking your income against your expenses in order to see where you’re going astray.  Creating a budget that allows you to live within your means will help you to get spending in check, pay down debt, and curb the financial arguments that have plagued your marriage (as long as you both stick with it).
2. Consolidate debt.  When people get into financial trouble, they often find themselves in debt with various creditors, from lending agents (like banks) to credit card companies.  By shredding credit cards and consolidating debt to one low-interest loan, you have the opportunity to lower your monthly payments and reduce your overall debt, which will allow you to pay your debt down more quickly (especially if you’re not adding to it).
3. Consider banking options.  Problems can arise when two people with very different spending habits throw all their earnings into one pot (a joint banking account).  Even though both parties may have done well enough on their own, blending money can lead to issues when one hand doesn’t know what the other is doing.  Although online banking has made it easier than ever to check your balance in order to avoid overspending, one partner might know the money in the account is for an automatic withdrawal while the other thinks it’s okay to go on a shopping spree at Bloomingdale’s.  You may be better off keeping separate bank accounts and splitting the bills, with each party responsible for what they can handle with their earnings.  Every independent adult needs to feel like they have control over their own money and this may be the only way to get it and to keep both partiesaccountable.
4. Meet with a financial planner.  If you’ve tried to fix your finances on your own with little success, perhaps it’s time to consult a professional.  A financial planner can not only set you up with a budget and help you to manage your debt; he can also give you the tips you need to go it alone in the future.
5. Marriage counseling.  Serious arguments about your finances may seem fairly self-explanatory on the surface, but it could be that there’s something more going on.  So in addition to getting some help with financial planning, you may want to see a marriage counselor.  This way you can deal with both your financial issues and any other problems (communication, for example) that could be exacerbating the situation.

Although the clouds of economic recession are still looming over America, the road to recovery has mercifully begun and many people are seeking to take out a loan. Whether they are hoping to fund the purchase of a new home or simply searching for the capital to launch their small business venture, ordinary Americans are flocking to the nation’s banks hoping to secure a loan. While this is certainly an encouraging sign for the country’s financial prospects, there is a wealth of vital information regarding the loan process that many are simply unaware of. The current economic crisis was caused in part by the reckless lending practices of banking institutions who gave loans to unqualified borrowers. We owe it to ourselves as a nation to learn from this catastrophic misstep and educate ourselves on the loan process before borrowing significant sums of money. Below are five of the most important things to consider before taking out a loan.

1.) Motivation: Ask yourself if the purchase or expenditure you are borrowing money to fund is truly necessary. While you may think your new restaurant concept is perfect and must be taken to market immediately, chances are it will still be successful in six months time. That upgrade to a new SUV for your growing family may be essential, but if you can get by with the old station wagon for a while longer it is best to wait it out. Taking out a loan to make an impulse buy is one of the riskiest financial decisions you can make.

2.) Affordability: Before taking out any type of loan you should first determine whether or not you can realistically pay it back. Loans are a tempting notion and many would be borrowers succumb to the allure of seemingly “free” money. While the short term enjoyment may be fun, eventually the burden of continuous, ever-present debt becomes overwhelming. If you suspect that you may not be able to repay your potential loan, be responsible and decline the offer.

3.) Expediency: Echoing the sentiment above, you should be confident in your ability to repay a loan quickly before borrowing money. Certain loans, such as payday loans or auto title loans contain escalating interest rates which punish borrowers who fail to make timely payments. Avoid this issue altogether by only exploring loans which you can repay in a reasonable amount of time.

4.) Alternatives: Before assuming the responsibility of a bank loan you should be sure that you have explored all available options. If there is another source of money available to you, from family or friends for instance, try to borrow from them before signing any contracts.

5.) Emergency: Always plan for the worst when it comes to loans. Assume that you may lose your job or experience a health emergency and then ask yourself if you still want to borrow money; if the answer is still “yes” after considering the worst case scenario then a loan may be your best bet after all.

When it comes time to leave the nine-to-five behind and head off into the sunset (so to speak) you may be at a loss as to what to do with the rest of your life.  You might have plans to travel, start your own small business, volunteer, or spend more time with your family.  But considering that your income is about to become a lot more limited (especially if you lost funds during the recession) you might not have the money to enjoy your retirement the way you had planned.  However, if you find that you’re living in a situation you just can’t afford, there are ways to stretch your retirement dollars.  Here are just a few locales that could offer you the carefree retirement you’re looking for.

1. Nicaragua.  Believe it or not, the Central American country has come a long way in the last couple of decades, cleaning up the drug problems that permeated the world news to create a place that is safe, comfortable, and looking to take in retirees.  As of last year, they implemented a foreign retiree residency program to help international retirees make Nicaragua their home away from home.  Housing prices are realistic (even for beachfront property), the cost of living is low, and the government encourages small business.  For the person looking to retire in style, Nicaragua has a lot to offer.
2. Malaysia.  Although Thailand also has a lot to offer foreigners looking to retire (with low prices on everything from housing to food to services), Malaysia goes the extra mile by making it extremely easy for retirees to gain legal residency status, something that many Asian nations are not too keen to offer.
3. The south of France.  Although Paris is not the cheapest place in the world to retire (not by a long shot), there are regions in France, especially in the scenic southern portion, where retirement on a budget is possible.  Whereas you can expect to pay upwards of $2,000 a month for an apartment in Paris, you could buy a house in southern France for less than $100,000 (a lot less, in some cases).  You will also enjoy the laid back atmosphere of rural living, tons of outdoor activities, and of course, incredible health care, which is not only offered to citizens, but foreign retirees, as well.
4. Florida.  It may be cliché, but if you’re looking to retire in the U.S. you could do worse than the southernmost continental state.  The weather is undeniably hot and humid throughout much of the year, but you won’t ever have to deal with cold winter storms again.  And the fact that there is no state income tax is a bonus if you plan to use your extra time to start your own business.
5. Right where you are.  You don’t need a regional directory to tell you that the place you currently reside is awesome!  If you own a home and you can afford to continue living there (even on a truncated retirement income) then there’s really no reason to uproot your entire life (especially since this is a terrible time to sell a home).  Remain close to friends, family, and an area that you are intimately familiar with.  If you’re content, there’s no reason to move upon retirement.