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How to Bring Your Love and Money Together for the Holidays

Monday, December 5th, 2011

The holiday season brings with it beloved traditions, joyous memories, and happy moments with friends and family.  And plenty of good old-fashioned financial stress!

For so many couples, the holidays are a minefield of difficult money decisions.  How do we stick to a budget and still give meaningful gifts?  Do we really need to buy a gift for Great Aunt Martha?  Where are we going to get the money to pay for all of this stuff?  With so many money-based decisions coming in the midst of all the other stressors of the holiday season, it’s more important than ever that your money communication stays strong.

Start this holiday season with a Money Huddle to check in on expectations and create a spending plan that won’t leave you broke come January.  Here’s what you need to cover:

  1. Money Personalities: The holidays bring out the strengths and challenges of every Money Personality. [more...]
  2. The Gift List: Work together to figure out who you need to buy for.  If money is tight this year, consider [more...]
  3. Spending limits: Before you set foot in a store or do any online shopping, know what you can spend [more...]
  4. Timing: Last-minute shopping usually leads to overspending.  If you haven’t already, start [more...]
  5. Check-ins: Plan on weekly Money Huddles to make sure you’re staying on track. [more...]

[Read the Complete Money Couple Minute HERE]

Make it Happen!

The Money Couple
Scott & Bethany Palmer

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Help, I Married My Money Opposite!

Monday, November 21st, 2011
We hear this all the time.  As we travel and speak around the country, this is a source of pain and panic for many couples.  We have found that 75% of all couples marry their opposite money personality!  No surprise that 70% of all divorces cite money as the reason for their split.  But being married to your money opposite does not have to ruin your relationship.  It can even make it stronger!  Here are four tips to surviving your money opposite:
  1. Know and OWN your Money Personality – What is your Primary and Secondary Money Personality? Are you a: Spender, Saver, Risk Taker, Security Seeker, or a Flyer? [more...]
  2. Understand your spouse’s Money Personality. – Once you understand how your spouse views and deals with money, [more...]
  3. Understand the Opposite Dynamic. – On one side of the spectrum there are Savers and Security Seekers, on the other side we have Spenders, Risk Takers and Flyers. [more...]
  4. Have some fun! – Enjoy your new found knowledge about yourself and your spouse. [more...]

[Read the Complete Money Couple Minute HERE]

Make it Happen!

The Money Couple
Scott & Bethany Palmer

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5 Steps to Fix Your Credit Score Together

Tuesday, November 8th, 2011
Don’t miss the “Love & Money Conference” – November 11 & 12! 

Click here to hear a radio promo.

Click here to read an article about the conference.

Click here to get more information.

Money affects just about every decision you make together. Helping your Money Relationship by improving your credit score is what we want to focus on in this Money Couple Minute. Your credit score is an important part of your financial picture and having a bad one can cause a lot of tension in your Money Relationship. So here are 5 tips to get your credit score back on track:

  1. Start as a united front. – You have to be on the same page as a couple to make this score go up. [more...]
  2. See what is real! – What is your score and how bad is it. This is not a time to point fingers or blame. [more...]
  3. Pay your bills on time!!! – You have to show consistency to bring the score up. Working on this as a couple will jump start the improvement. [more...]
  4. Pay them down as much as you can. – The more credit available the better your score. Pay your credit cards off but keep the credit lines open. [more...]
  5. Don’t cancel them as soon as you pay them off. – Often the Security Seeker in the relationship will want to [more...]

[Read the Complete Money Couple Minute HERE]

Make it Happen!

The Money Couple
Scott & Bethany Palmer

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More Money or More Love?

Tuesday, October 25th, 2011
More money does not equal more happiness in your relationship as stated in a recent study. It is important to look at the bigger picture when it comes to your relationship and money. Most of us assume that our budget, retirement plan, and cash flow work sheet will give us a happy relationship when in order and plenty. However, we have found this is clearly not the case.

Your views on money impact every decision you make as a couple from the big stuff like houses and cars to the mundane details like the kind of coffee you drink and the brand of shoes you wear. If you communicate about these decisions well, you have a good “Money Relationship”. If you argue and bicker about these decisions, you have a bad “Money Relationship”. We’re talking about something that goes far beyond your checkbook or bank balance. We’re talking about the way each of you think about and deal with money. Every person has a distinct way of thinking about and dealing with money. And in a relationship, those distinctions can be the difference between being on the same page about financial issues and having money be a constant source of conflict. That’s why when couples ask us how to build a strong “Money Relationship”, the first thing we tell them is to figure out their Money Personalities.

[Read the Complete Money Couple Minute HERE]

Make it Happen!

The Money Couple
Scott & Bethany Palmer

 

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5 Ways to Use your Credit/Debit Cards Together

Tuesday, October 11th, 2011
Credit cards are one of the major issues of tension and fighting in relationships. Couples that have a Spender or a Risk Taker Money Personality have to be especially careful. But never fear, couples and cards can mix, here’s how:
  1. Become strategic and intentional as a couple! – In your next Money Huddle talk about how you [more...]
  2. On-line shopping protection – Credit cards can give you a level of protection that you have to have! In case of [more...]
  3. Rental Car – Many cards protect the driver while renting a car. This is a great benefit and you should [more...]
  4. Organizes your expenses at the end of the year – Many cards will give you a consolidated report, itemizing your [more...]
  5. Airline miles! – If used properly, you can build miles for upcoming work trips and vacations. Using miles is [more...]

[Read the Complete Money Couple Minute HERE]

Make it Happen!

The Money Couple
Scott & Bethany Palmer

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Fall Forward Together

Tuesday, September 27th, 2011

As you look to the months ahead, consider these statistics:

  • National Retail Federation reports that consumers are expected to spend $4.75 billion dollars on Halloween this year.
  • According to mymoneyblog.com the average family spends $302 during Thanksgiving weekend.
  • According to wikianswers.com the average family spends $1000 during the Christmas holiday season.

Remember, just about every holiday discussion has a money component. So how do you approach this “battlefield” and fall forward together? Here are some Money Huddle conversation starters. Use them – or your own ideas – to get the discussion going. And be ready to compromise with your spouse as you work together to find new ways to approach this season of traditions:

Halloween
Thanksgiving
Christmas

[Read the Complete Money Couple Minute HERE]

Make it Happen!

The Money Couple
Scott & Bethany Palmer

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The Love and Money Lifestyle Series Coming Together

Tuesday, September 13th, 2011
We are thankful for the support from so many people as we diligently work to bring to you the new Love and Money Lifestyle Series in January 2012 – a kit that is going to change the way couples think and deal with Love and Money. Below is the “Welcome Letter” that gives you a taste of what’s to come. Be sure to click on the top left corner of this Money Couple Minute and you can get a glimpse into the production… stay tuned, give us your feedback – we’ll be giving you more details over the next couple of months. Make it Happen! The Money Couple

The Welcome Letter to the New Love and Money Lifestyle Series coming January 2012

Tired of arguing about money? Sick of feeling like you have to lie about your spending? Ready to put an end to money disagreements once and for all?

Then you’ve opened the right box! We’re Scott and Bethany Palmer, the Money Couple. We’ve developed a whole new way for couples to think about and talk about their love and their money, and we can’t wait to share it with you.

For so many couples, love and money just don’t seem to gel. But we know that with the right tools, every couple can learn to stop fighting about money and start building a better future, one filled with closeness, connection, and all those dreams that drew you together in the first place.

Think of this box as your love and money toolkit. Use the 12 fun, energetic, and engaging sessions to rethink your approach to money – as individuals and as a couple. Over the next 90 days, you’ll learn more about yourselves, find ways to communicate about money without arguing, and develop a stronger, more committed relationship.

Starting your new Love and Money Lifestyle is as easy as 1-2-3:

Step 1: Grab your Love and Money Guidebook and a pen.
Step 2: Start with the Introduction and Session 1 DVD, then listen to a new session once a week for the next 12 weeks.
Step 3: Follow up each session with a few of our relationship building exercises and watch your lives change!

Along with the DVD series, you’ll find fun reminders of all that you’re learning – the Love and Money Game, Money Personality magnets, the book, CDs and two bonus DVDs to watch together or pass on to friends.

We’re so glad you’re starting this adventure with us!

Make it Happen!

The Money Couple
Scott & Bethany Palmer

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Slash the Cash – Three Ways to Control Your Teenager’s Spending

Tuesday, August 30th, 2011
Teens know a lot about money. At least, they know a lot about spending money. But few people know how to help their teenagers manage their finances, particularly when it comes to spending.
Last year young shoppers spent over $170 billion – double the amount just 10 years earlier on clothing, food, music, and technology (reported by 20/20). If that sounds outrageous to you, consider these facts:
  • According to the JumpStart Coalition for Personal Financial Literacy, nearly a third of high school seniors reported having a credit card of their own or one co-signed by a parent.
  • In 2010 alone, more than 110,000 Americans under age 25 filed for personal bankruptcy. (Elizabeth Warren, Professor of Law at Harvard Law School).
  • 78% of college students have credit cards, according to student loan maker Nellie Mae. The typical student carries a balance of $3,200. One out of ten college students carries a balance of more than $7,800.

Here are three ways to control your teenager’s spending:

[Read the Complete Money Couple Minute HERE]

Make it Happen!

The Money Couple
Scott & Bethany Palmer

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Begin With the E.N.D. In Mind

Tuesday, August 16th, 2011

One of the biggest mistakes couples make when it comes to money is to worry and obsess about finances to the point where it becomes all consuming. After all doesn’t every decision we make as a couple always come back to money? Why don’t we be intentional, talk about it, and get it out in the open so we can stop the fights, stop the questions and become closer as a couple. That’s why we advise you, as a couple, to plan regular conversations about your finances. We call them Money Huddles because they’re an opportunity to talk through your money relationship.

Before we dive into the details of the “Money Huddle” it is imperative to understand what a money relationship is. When you hear the words “money relationship” what comes to mind? If you’re like most couples, you might think about your budget, your retirement savings, or even the fights you have about money. But when we talk about a money relationship, we’re talking about something that goes far beyond your checkbook or bank balance. We’re talking about the way each of you think about and deal with money. Your views on money impact every decision you make as a couple from the big stuff like houses and cars to the mundane details like the kind of coffee you drink and the brand of shoes you wear.

[Read the Complete Money Couple Minute HERE]

Make it Happen!

The Money Couple
Scott & Bethany Palmer

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The Money Couple’s Back-to-School Survival Guide

Tuesday, August 2nd, 2011

According to our research, back-to-school expenditures are second only to Christmas so the school shopping is a “biggie”. In addition to the tips below, be sure to read a recent article we were interviewed for – click here. Enjoy this time of year, keep your money relationship intact, teach your kids a thing or two and get your school year off to a great start:

  1. Decide who will do the school shopping.Clear communication will prevent doubling up on items, or worse, spending more than you need to! [more...]
  2. Involve your kids.The Money Couple is the first to admit that shopping for school supplies with the kids in tow can be less fun than a root canal. [more...]
  3. Start early.You don’t have to wait until the last week in August to gather school supplies. [more...]
  4. Talk about it.The Money Couple finds very few couples who ever talk about back-to-school spending. [more...]

[Read the Complete Money Couple Minute HERE]

Make it Happen!

The Money Couple
Scott & Bethany Palmer

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