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You could embarrass yourself and cause money problems if you screw up writing a check. Read More...

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Harlan L. Landes

Checkbooks are almost obsolete. But the old form of transferring money from one person to another is not quite ready to give up the ghost. Venmo might be fine for working out how to split the dinner check when you’re out with friends, and online bill pay definitely reduces headaches, but sometimes you have to pay a bill or put an initial payment down on a car, and you need to use a personal check.

File this under Essential Financial Skills for now. Having this skill makes you a financial bad-ass, or at least a budding financial bad-ass.

Checks come in books from companies that partner with your bank. Or you can order them separately for any checking account from independent checkbook companies. You can get fancy designs, which always cost money, or you can get a basic, traditional check design like the one I’ll use as an example here.

The fancy designs cost more. But whenever I open a new checking account, I make sure the bank will provide at least the first box of checks for free, if not free boxes of checks for the entire time I own the account.

Personal checkbooks usually have two options: single or duplicate. Duplicate checks just have special paper underneath each check that duplicates what you write so you have a record of it. That makes is easier to balance your checkbook and watch your finances.

The single checks assume you will remember what you paid, and they usually come with a check register. I always choose the duplicate checks because I find them more convenient when writing out a number of checks at a time, which I often do when I pay my bills.

Here’s an important piece of advice: Don’t write a check for money that you do not have in your checking account. Always track your finances so you know how much is available to pay. If you have $1,000 in your account and you know your $500 rent is about to be deducted from that account, you can’t write a check for $600 until you get more money.

Don’t try to beat the system thinking you’ll deposit more by the time someone cashes your check. Many checks are cashed electronically now and the money will disappear fast. It isn’t worth the overdraft fees or returned check fees.

Here’s what a typical check will look like once you’ve written it out. Take a look at this sample and the explanations below. (Someone seems to have a sizable power service bill from the Pulsar Quasar Electric & Gas company.)

Cash me at da bank, how bow dah?

Naturally, your check won’t have “VOID” and “NOT A REAL CHECK” written on it. That’s just so no one’s inclined to try to use this graphic for any other purpose than as an example.

Here are the parts of the check as labeled above, and what you need to know about each section.

Your address. If you ordered checks from the bank, this should be the address on your account. If you purchased checks separately, this will be whatever address you provided when you bought them. Make sure it’s accurate. But it will not hold up your money if it is incorrect. Some companies prefer you to also include your phone number, which you can write below your address or on the memo line (area 7) if you are so inclined.
The check number. You should write your checks out in numerical order as much as possible. That makes it so much easier to tell, when looking at your bank statement or activity, if someone still hasn’t cashed your check.
The date. When you write a check, put that day’s date here, and spell the month name out so there’s no chance of confusion. Pre-dating a check is when you write an earlier date. That’s completely unnecessary. If the company receives the check late, it’s still late, regardless of the date that’s written on the check. Post-dating is the opposite: writing a date that’s later than the current date. Some will do this when they know a deposit is coming and they don’t have money they need to cover the check in the bank account yet. Here’s the problem: any recipient can cash a check before the date that’s written on this line. Post-dating does not protect you. You could ask nicely and maybe the recipient won’t cash or deposit the check until the date you specify, but no one is required to wait. Big companies won’t. They’ll just ignore your post-dating attempt.
The name of the recipient. This will either be a person’s name or a business name. Double-check the name, including the spelling. If the name is not correct, it can cause problems for the recipient when he or she (or the business) attempts to deposit it. Fill any blank space on this line with a line. This slightly helps prevent fraud, and I like to put a line wherever there is empty space.
The dollar amount of the check. Write out the amount in Arabic numerals. If there are no cents, I like drawing a line as pictured above instead of writing the double-zero in 5,722.00. This is a personal preference.
The amount of the check written out. Spell out the amount of the check. If you run out of space for the cents, you can draw a horizontal line and put the amount of cents all the way to the right above the line. Put two cross marks (exes) underneath the line. (See the second example below.) You don’t need to write the word “dollars” because that is already printed on the check. The word “and” should only be used in place of the decimal point in the amount.
The memo line. Write something on this line that helps the recipient identify what that payment is for — or if you use duplicate checks, you can also use the memo line for a reminder for yourself. Some companies instruct you to use this for your account number or phone number.
Your signature. Paper checks are not valid without your signature. Don’t forget to sign your check before you send it away or hand it to the person or company you’re trying to pay.
Bank information. The number on the left is your bank’s routing (ABA) number. The next number on the bottom line of the check is your account number. Together, these two numbers identify your account and allow a bank to process your check. You should keep these numbers private, between you and the recipient only. The third set of digits is your check number. It should match the number at the top (indicated with a “2” in the example).

Here’s an alternative example without a round dollar amount, so you can see how the cents are written both in area 5 and area 6.

You have a number of options when writing amounts, and it doesn’t really make a difference exactly how you do it, as long as the amounts are absolutely clear, and the amounts in area 5 and area 6 match exactly.

If you don’t get checks for free through your bank account, you can order blank checks from any number of companies. Some of the most recognizable are Harland Clarke, Deluxe, and Checks Unlimited, but you can find more options on Vistaprint, Costco, and any number of other services and professional printers. You can even print your own.

Someday, paper checks will likely be eliminated from the banking system completely, but that’s a long way down the road. For now, even though they’re not as necessary in everyday life, you may still need to write occasional paper checks. Now you know what you need to know.

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Develop the money management skills that will have you adulting financially in no time. Like a boss. Read More...

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Zina Kumok

Resolutions are for suckers.

Well, sort of.

The idea of accomplishing specific yearly goals almost always ends up being a pipe dream. There’s a better way.

Rather than setting hard benchmarks that lead to clear win/lose scenarios, try aiming to improve in a more general sense. When you take away the pressure of abject failure, it’s much easier to work towards a better you.

For most of us, that probably includes learning how to better manage our finances.

Money management skills may not be the most important thing you could work on, but it’s probably the most needed. When’s the last time you checked your credit score? Re-filled your emergency fund? Talked to a financial advisor?

Even if you’ve done all these things recently, there’s probably a blind spot somewhere in your financial habits. Here’s how you can spot those weaknesses and address them.

Find your weak points.

Working on your money management skills is like trying to lose weight. You have to know what your weak points are if you want to see success. Are you eating too much or not exercising enough? Knowing where you’re deficient is the only way you can reach your goal.

Personal finance is the same way. You have to investigate what’s going wrong before you can improve anything. Are you spending more than you earn? Are your expenses too high? Are you not saving enough?

Go through your bank and credit card statements for the last couple months and write down how much you’re spending and saving. Divide your expenses into the following categories:

Rent/mortgage
Healthcare
Transportation
Groceries
Entertainment
Debt Payments
Utilities
Miscellaneous

Seeing your expenses laid out will show where you’re going wrong.

Compare your spending to your income. Are you spending almost 90% of what you earn? Are your loans taking a huge chunk of your income? That might explain why you can’t seem to save for emergencies or retirement.

Before you can work on a solution, you have to figure out what the problem is.

Start small.

Once you’ve identified what’s going wrong, you might be tempted to jump in the deep end. Don’t. Starting too quickly will lead to burnout and exhaustion, even before you’ve reached the one-month mark.

Don’t. Starting too quickly will lead to burnout and exhaustion, even before you’ve reached the one-month mark.

Starting too quickly will lead to burnout and exhaustion, even before you’ve reached the one-month mark.

Start with small, measured changes. For example, if you eat out three times a week, try cutting back to one or two. Then after a month, see if you can dial that back even further.

Going cold turkey might work for some people, but it can backfire for others. Like working out, if you do too much too fast, you might end up injured and less motivated than before.

Changing your financial habits and building better money management skills take time, so be patient with yourself and confident in the direction you’re heading. If you’re putting in consistent work, you’ll get there eventually.

Try different methods.

When you Google “how to budget,” you find millions of search results. Some experts recommend the cash envelope method, while others advocate using a mobile app. Each method has its own proponents who claim that nothing else works as well. In reality, it all depends on the person.

The best budgeting method is the one that works for you — and that you stick to in the long run.

If you’ve failed at budgeting or saving in the past, maybe the method you chose sealed your fate. Try a few different strategies until you find one that works for your personality and tendencies.

Seek outside inspiration.

No matter your financial goal, making the journey with other people is better than going it alone. You can find a community of like-minded people on internet forums, by taking financial classes or even searching on Facebook.

A community can make you feel more supported in your goals. Personal finance is still a taboo amongst many groups of people, so seek the support of strangers if your own loved ones are squeamish about the subject.

Reading finance blogs and books, as well as listening to podcasts, can inspire different ideas and serve as educational tools.

No matter what you’re trying to do, there’s someone out there writing about how they did it.

Track your progress.

When I decided to pay off my student loans quickly, I started blogging about it. I thought I’d feel more committed to my goal if I made it public. That ended up being one of the best decisions I’ve ever made.

I tracked my progress on the blog – celebrating when I made big payments, when my balance got down to four figures and when I made my last payment. My readers supported me throughout my journey, especially when I felt stressed and discouraged.

You don’t have to start a public blog, but it can help to document what you’re doing. A simple notebook or journal – even a private blog that’s password-protected – can work.

Seeing where you’ve been can make you feel better about where you’re going, especially when it starts to feel like a slog.

Money management skills don’t just appear. You need to cultivate them. Make an effort to improve, track your progress, and reap the long-term benefit of better finances.

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Every year you have to wade through health insurance plans. It’s such a PITA. We’ve got your guide to figuring it out. Read More...

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The best way to support Adulting.tv is to subscribe and leave us an honest review. Thank you!

Choosing health insurance is a huge PITA. You know it. We know it. Everyone knows it.

Unfortunately, it has to be done.

In this episode, we talk about the realities of the health care system, and we discuss what you need to know when navigating your choices. It’s never pretty, but you can make the best of the situation.

Concepts

An overview of the health care and insurance system.
Reasons that choosing health coverage is so difficult.
What you need to know about costs and health care coverage.
The ACA and your health care choices.
Tips for figuring out what coverage you need.
Strategies for evaluating your health insurance options.
Understanding health insurance alphabet soup: HMO, HSA, PPO, EPO.
When a high-deductible plan might make sense (and when to avoid it).
Ideas for reducing health care costs.

Pay attention to our “do nows” so that you can start mapping out your next steps for getting the right health insurance, including understanding how provider networks work. Our listener question deals with your options for affordable health insurance.

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Join the Friends of Adulting! Please leave an honest review on Apple Podcasts. We would really appreciate the feedback!

Resources

Difficulties of choosing health insurance

Hosted byHarlan Landes and Miranda Marquit
Produced byadulting.tv
Edited and mixed bySteve Stewart
Music bybensound.com

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You’re a grown-ass adult. It’s time to suck it up, get a job, and stop taking money from Mom and Dad. Read More...

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John Schneider

According to a 2016 Fidelity study, 47% of millennials have received some sort of monetary support from their parents. This support was “most likely to take the form of help with a cell phone bill, utilities or groceries.”

The cost to raise children today is much more expensive than ever before in history. In fact, between 2000 and 2010, the cost to raise a child increased 40% or $60,000. The most recent estimate from the USDA is that the cost to raise a child from birth to the age of 18, not including college, is $233,610.

If you’re taking money from Mom and Dad, you’re part of the problem. They’ve spent enough just to raise you, and now you’re asking for moar?

Every generation since the 1980s lives with their parents longer or boomerang back to the nest more frequently than the generation before them. Boomerang kids are now at its highest level since World War II.

When is enough enough?

Here are eight signs when it’s time to kindly thank Mom and Dad for their investment and walk away.

You have a job.

If you have a job, start cutting back on your parental monetary fund. Even if you only cut back a little at a time because you’re starting your career, the goal should be to become fiscally independent as soon as reasonably possible.

If you find your fiscal dependency is scheduled to last in perpetuity, you’re not doing it right.

You don’t have a job, but should.

If you don’t have a job but should, it’s time to grow up and get a job. Over time, complaints about the economy, who’s president, who’s not president, fairness or unfairness of life are excuses.

As entrepreneur and author Ryan Blair said, “If it’s important to you, you will find a way. If not, you’ll find an excuse.” Over time, you own your lack of employment or your underemployment.

Stop taking money from Mom and Dad and get make your own money. Everyone will be much happier in the long run.

You hear your parents fighting about money.

As much as the cost of having and raising children have grown, so too has the cost of adulting.

Adult expenses, such as healthcare, medicine, and taxes have grown and wages have not. This means it’s harder and harder for Mom and Dad to get by from paycheck to paycheck.

By 35%, money is the leading cause of stress in relationships. Don’t add to Mom and Dad’s financial stress by being a financial leech. If you hear or sense financial friction between Mom and Dad, it’s time for you to become economically independent.

Your parents drop hints that it’s time you pay your own way.

It’s often hard for parents to push their kids fully and completely out of the proverbial nest. Therefore, they’ll drop sly or even passive-aggressive hints that it’s time you pay your on way.

If you hear comments such as “It would be nice if someone paid for me once in a while” or “It’s nice you have all that money (even when you don’t pay for a thing),” it may be time you paid for your own things.

Stop taking money from Mom and Dad when even they have exhausted their patience. You’re not that special.

Your parents are approaching retirement.

It’s more expensive to retire in America than ever. This trend has continued for decades over many presidential administrations.

Older Americans are finding it harder to hold onto jobs, if they can even retain incomes that keep up with the rate of inflation. As housing, healthcare, and prescription drugs costs increase, Social Security becomes less and less helpful.

Many parents have sacrificed retirement nest eggs to put children through college. As you may be struggling with student loan debt, Mom and Dad may be struggling with retirement insecurity.

As your parents approach retirement, within maybe decades, it’s time to stop stealing from their future.

Put on your big-person pants, stop taking money from Mom and Dad, and become a contributing member of society.

When your parents are in retirement.

If your parents are in retirement and you’re still taking their money, stop.

When you have nicer things than your parents.

If any or all aspects of your life (think: car, vacations, home, phone) are nicer than your parent’s, then it’s time to stop relying on parental funding.

Sure, mom may not need or want the new iPhone and dad may hate the idea of taking on a new car payment. That doesn’t mean they want to forsake a fat retirement account for your “phat” lifestyle.

If you’re living like The Kardashians and they’re living like Rosanne and Dan Conner, it’s time to cut the purse strings.

When you can cover your own essentials.

There will always be parents who can’t stop giving money to their children and grandchildren. It’s cute when grandparents give money to grandchildren. It’s not cute when parents give money to adult children.

While there may be many reasons for their drive to do so, there’s one reason to make them stop. You don’t need their money.

These are just a few of the reason to stop making Mom and Dad take care of you. At some point, it’s not their responsibility to take care of you. You need to stop taking money from Mom and Dad.

Do both them and yourself a favor and make this decision independently. And do it sooner rather than later. You’ll both be happier for it.

Like what you’ve read?

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For a limited time you’ll receive our new book, The Best Bank Accounts for Adults, when you sign up!

Introducing the first book from the Adulting.tv team: The Best Bank Accounts for Adults: That Moment You Need to Put It Somewhere Other Than Your Mattress.

This book gives you a head start on making the most of your financial life with tricks and tips for finding the right bank account for you. The book is updated on a monthly basis with the latest information that’s will help you succeed right away.

For a limited time, the digital edition of the book is available for FREE.

Why do you need this book?

Checking and savings accounts are the building blocks of your financial success. The earlier, a person opens a bank account in their life, the more likely he or she will advance forward and improve his or her station in life. You cannot move from poverty to middle class without making the right financial choices. You can’t move to the upper class without bank accounts and investments.

Not only that, but if you make BAD choices with managing your money, there is a better chance you will lose it. The Best Bank Accounts for Adults provides the context you need for opening the right savings and checking accounts, and also highlights the best options available for you.

Who are the authors?

Harlan and Miranda have three decades combined in experience watching and writing about the financial industry. Their advice has been trusted by millions. Harlan created the first personal finance blog through which he recommended the best financial products. He also founded the Plutus Awards, which highlights more financial products based on the survey of some of the best writers in the financial media.

Miranda has been a freelance writer for over a decade, focusing on personal finance. Her advice has appeared in the Huffington Post, Seeking Alpha, Banks.com, and H&R Block. She is also the author of Confessions of a Personal Finance Blogger.

What do I get?

You will receive, for FREE, ALL new editions of The Best Bank Accounts for Adults. I LOVE giving stuff away. I think just about EVERYTHING on the internet should be free. But in order to keep doing what we’re doing, we will be selling the books we write. For NOW, though, and for limited times here and there, we will offer most, if not all, of it for FREE.

The financial industry is always changing. Future editions of this book will have additional guides, up-to-date interest rate information, and MORE! But future editions will NOT be free. Download the digital copy TODAY.

ALSO, you’ll receive a free weekly(ish) newsletter that helps you in ALL aspects of your life: money, career, and relationships! You can cancel at any time. (But WHY would you want to?)

Just complete the form and check the option to download the FREE eBook.

Like what you’ve read?

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For a limited time you’ll receive our new book, The Best Bank Accounts for Adults, when you sign up!

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How well do you resolve differences in your relationship? Talaat and Tai McNeely share their story of conflict and resolution and offer great relationship advice about communication. Read More...

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Once in a while, we present Adulting.tv LIVE! Subscribe on YouTube to hear about future events, and share your questions about or suggestions for our next discussions!

Harlan L. Landes and Miranda Marquit welcome Tai and Talaat McNeely. The guests open up about their struggle with communication about finances early in their relationship, and how they overcame obstacles as a couple. Their story is inspiring, and the guests are candid in their sharing of their mistakes as well as the lessons they’ve learned.

Communication is the most important piece of any relationship, and in this episode, our guests share the tools that have helped them — and others they’ve coached — survive and thrive within a relationship.

This episode is essential watching for anyone in a relationship, and the tools and tips are effective for resolving more than differences about just money.

Talaat and Tai McNeely, “America’s #1 Money Couple,” are financial educators that are on a mission to get individuals and couples on the same page financially, and to experience the joys of financial freedom. They are co-authors of Money Talks: The Ultimate Couple’s Guide To Communicating About Money. They are also the hosts of the top rated podcast, The His and Her Money Show. Talaat and Tai McNeely (His and Her Money) have been featured in numerous publications such as T.D. Jakes Show, FoxNews.com, MSN.com, Essence, and Business Insider.

Watch the video above or listen to just the audio by using the player below.

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Hosted byHarlan Landes and Miranda Marquit
Produced byadulting.tv
Edited and mixed bySteven Flato
Music bybensound.com

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My finances weren’t a shitshow when I hit 30, but they certainly weren’t as good as they could have been. Read More...

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Miranda Marquit

We all have regrets.

After I made it through my 20s, I had my own share of regrets — including financial regrets.

While my finances weren’t a complete shitshow at the end of my 20s, they still weren’t where I wanted them.

If I could go back to my 20s, there are a few smart money things I’d do differently:

Start a retirement account much earlier.

Even though I had the option to save for retirement early in my 20s, I didn’t.

In fact, I didn’t start saving for retirement until I was in my mid-20s. I missed out on more than five years’ worth of tax-advantaged compound interest as a result.

I’d have about $30,000 more in my retirement account today if I’d started earlier.

Over time, that compounds even further, meaning I’ve left hundreds of thousands of dollars on the table. All because of that decision not to start a retirement account earlier (and take advantage of a match offered to me at one point).

The smart money is always on investing early and often, and getting it in a retirement account with tax advantages.

Figure out my priorities.

I spent a lot of time in my 20s not really knowing what I wanted. I didn’t even try to figure out what I wanted.

Instead, I followed a prescribed path: get married, finish college, have a baby, buy a house. It didn’t even occur to me to think about whether any of these things made sense for me or meshed with what I wanted in life.

In fact, if I hadn’t bought a house in my late 20s, I’d been in a better financial position today. I’d have been able to invest more, and I wouldn’t have had to pay $10,000 to unload the house when my ex and I made fast decision to move across the country.

There’s nothing wrong with buying a house, but you should know why you’re doing it, and make sure it fits with your lifestyle goals.

One of the smart money moves I made when I got into my 30s was to sit down and decide on my priorities — and revisit them regularly.

Spend consciously.

If I’d understood my priorities, I would have changed the way I spent money. The key to making better financial decisions for your own life is understanding your priorities and spending consciously.

I spent a lot of time and money on things I didn’t really think about. One day, I looked at my cluttered house and realized that I could have gone to Europe — twice — if I hadn’t bought a bunch of random shit without thinking about it.

Impulse purchases are a huge part of the way most of us make spending decisions, and I did a lot of pointless spending in my 20s.

Today, I think about my purchases. I ask myself if an expenditure will help me reach one of my goals, or if it is completely necessary. By thinking about purchases, I reduce the financial waste in my life and I ensure that I have more money to put toward the things I really value.

Track spending.

On top of spending more thoughtfully, I also wish I had tracked my spending. I had no idea where my money was coming from, and where it was going.

Without knowledge of what I was doing with my money, I didn’t fully realize how much I was spending. I didn’t see patterns in the way I managed my finances. As a result, I wasted a ton of money (and time).

If you haven’t started tracking your spending, it’s a smart money move you can make today.

Borrow less.

I treated debt as though it was my money instead of someone else’s money. I borrowed even when I didn’t have to. With a full-tuition scholarship and a cushy on-campus job, there was no reason for me to get student loans. But I took them and spent, spent, spent.

I maxed out credit cards in the name of shopping and road trips. Even after I married, my ex and didn’t have a problem borrowing more than we should have.

It’s hard to find a smart money move that beats having as little debt as possible. When you’re in debt, you pay interest instead of earn it, and that, again, means you miss out on benefits of putting your money to work for you.

Learn about investing.

Even after I finally opened a Roth IRA, I still didn’t take the time to learn about investing. That was a huge mistake.

If I could do it again, I would read up on investing, learn about index funds, and do more with investments. It would have meant a lot more money in my pocket today and in the future.

Now, I use investments to help me meet a number of goals, from my emergency fund to my travel fund.

Do yourself a favor and learn about investing right now. Just understanding the basics can go a long way toward helping you build wealth for tomorrow.

Work more (or at least work smarter).

I took off work whenever I could during my 20s. Mostly, I took work off to have fun. Which meant that not only was I not earning money, but I was spending it, too. (Yikes. Spending money I didn’t even have.)

While I didn’t need to get rid of all my fun, the fact of the matter is that I had a serious case of FOMO. I did everything any one of my friends suggested. I was the only person that went to each event. I could have worked a couple more shifts a week and still maintained a social life.

At the very least, I could have learned to work smarter. Sometimes it’s not so much about the amount of work you d as it is about the way you do it.

A few things I did right in my 20s.

Even though I could have made more smart money moves during my 20s, that wasn’t a completely lost decade.

I did manage to do some things right, including:

Started a debt pay down plan. Thankfully, I realized that I needed to change things up before I hit 30.
Bought proper insurance coverage. My ex and I bought life insurance when we married so we would be covered (and our son would be cared for).
Started a business. I think it was a smart money move to start a business while in my 20s. I’ve been able to build my desired lifestyle as a result.
Paid attention to my credit. While I didn’t need all the debt, I did do a good job on my credit. I made payments on time, and I had a diversity of accounts by the time I reached 30. As a result, I’ve been able to do pretty much anything I need to.

If you’re in your 20s, don’t be stupid with your money like I was. Take some time to think about your finances, and get off to a good start.

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Money is a big deal. And it can sometimes be a deal breaker in a relationship. Here’s what you need to know when it’s time to talk money with your S.O. Read More...

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Miranda Marquit

Money represents one of the essential conversations you need to have with a potential life partner.

However, not everyone is comfortable talking about money. Your S.O. might not be, either.

No matter how much s/he might try to avoid the subject, though, it’s important to get on top of the situation. You need to talk money with someone who’s going to be such a huge part of your life.

Why you need to talk money

Money is a huge part of life. We don’t like to think about it in those terms, but the reality is that it’s a necessity. You and your partner need to be on the same page when it comes to money.

Your money situation impacts all areas of your life. Money is a cause of stress and, the American Psychological Association notes, can also affect your relationships.

You need to make financial decisions with your partner, and that means you need to talk money. It might seem just fine that one of you takes care of most of the money issues without conversations, but it’s really not.

I know.

In my marriage, my ex didn’t want anything to do with the budget or finances — even when I asked him to participate.

This was stressful, we didn’t really have the same priorities, and it didn’t help that he didn’t know our situation and I felt like I was always trying to make things work.

If you want to be successful with your finances and in your partnership, you need to talk money, at least a couple times a month. Even if you keep your finances separate, touching base is a good idea. You need to be aware of problems that can cause you problems down the road.

Why doesn’t your partner want to talk money?

Your first step is to figure out why your partner isn’t interested in talking about money with you.

This can be a touchy situation because money is so related to our emotions and our view of ourselves. It’s important to approach it with tact and realize that your partner might be reluctant due to:

Embarrassment: Something in your partner’s money situation might cause some embarrassment. They might not want to disclose past mistakes and/or current debt.
Trust issues: Depending on where you’re at in your relationship, your partner might not be ready to talk about money with you. You don’t need to exchange bank account information or anything like that. But you should start, generally, with what matters to each of you.
Your attitude: One of the things I learned about myself during a relationship is that sometimes I come across as a perfectionist with high standards. Also, I used to be really judgy. I had to learn to be more accepting before my partners could disclose things to me.

Figure out why your S.O. is reluctant and try to go from there.

How to start talking about money with your S.O.

No matter the situation, it can be difficult to figure out how to start the conversation. After all, you might not agree about money, and resolving those differences can be daunting.

In some cases, you can glean information about your partner’s money habits by paying attention to the way they use money.

You can use such things as a touchpoint. If they spend a lot on something, you can probe a little. “Hey, do you like X? I notice that you have a lot.”

At some point, though, you might need to just suck it up and ask. Let your partner know that you think things are moving along enough that you are ready to talk money.

Plan a time where you can sit down and talk about finances. It should be a time when you have both had a little time to relax, and when you aren’t hungry. These talks go so much better when you aren’t distracted and when you don’t start off grumpy.

If you are already together, and your partner doesn’t like to talk money, try and frame at something that is good for you both. Start out by saying how important it is that you are a team, and that you want his/her input.

When you can approach it in a way that shows your partner that you value his/her opinion, s/he is more likely to respond positively.

Try to make it a regular occurrence, where you set up a time each week or each month to review something. Base the frequency of a budget review on what your partner is willing to do at first. As you make it a habit, your partner is likely to take a greater interest.

What happens when nothing works?

In some cases, there is just no convincing a partner to talk money with you. If this is the case, you just need to do your best. Look for ways to be real about money and even to protect yourself.

If you haven’t combined your finances, consider staying away from the big pot if your partner isn’t willing to talk money.

When you already have combined finances, but you are doing everything with the money management, try to draw your partner into conversations in non-confrontational ways, and consider making contingency plans that protect your finances.

In the end, your best bet is to start talking about money before you seriously commit to a partner. You’ll be better able to figure out how to move forward.

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Do you set New Year’s resolutions?

If so, there is a good chance that you are setting at least one financial resolution. The third most popular resolution is some variant of “spend less and save more.”

Unfortunately, no matter how devoted you are to better managing your money in the coming year, there is a good chance your money resolution will be abandoned sooner than you planned.

Why is that? Why do we set money New Year’s resolutions that fail? In this episode, we look at New Year’s resolutions, finances, and how you can take your money goals to the next level in the coming year.

Concepts

Are you setting resolutions, or just making a laundry list of wishes?
Do you have unrealistic expectations for your New Year’s resolutions?
Problems with getting your goals to align with your values.
Tips for changing your goal-setting strategy.
Consider creating processes that can help you achieve more.
What money New Year’s resolutions can work for you.
How to stop making resolutions only once per year and work on improvement year-round.
Tips for figuring out a realistic timeframe for your money resolutions.

Use the “do nows” to start putting together a realistic action plan that can help you make the most of your New Year’s resolutions and money goals. Also, find out our plans for getting to the point where it’s possible to max out your retirement savings.

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Resources

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How to Fail at Almost Everything and Still Win Big

Hosted byHarlan Landes and Miranda Marquit
Produced byadulting.tv
Edited and mixed bySteve Stewart
Music bybensound.com

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What’s your excuse for not investing in yourself? We all have one. Here’s what you need to know about ditching the excuses and living your life. Read More...

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John Schneider

If you made it to work Monday morning, congratulations!

You survived life and work for another week. Why does this warrant a celebration?

The leading cause of death in the U.S. is heart disease. The most common time of the week for heart attacks is Monday morning between 4 am and 10 am. Researchers say, “an ‘outpouring’ of stress hormones, such as cortisol and adrenaline, occurs within working people on Monday” mornings.

Americans hate their jobs and are dying not to go!

Monday morning blues and Sunday funday.

A Monday doesn’t go by without a friend of mine posting on Facebook a meme or video expressing their dread of yet another work week. A Friday doesn’t go by without a steady stream of posts celebrating the weekend’s arrival.

A recent study showed that nearly 70 percent of Americans hate their jobs. They’re “not engaged” (17.5%) or are “actively disengaged” (51%). Even before they’ve paid off their student loans, people are over their jobs and checked out.

Most Americans suffer the five stages of grief on a weekly basis. Sunday funday is fun only because it’s the only day of the week many of us enjoy.

Is this you?

The value of investing in yourself.

On average, adults between the ages of 35 and 49 watch 33 hours of television a week, yet 81% of Americans want to write a book.

If you’ve lost passion for your life and work, how will you get that passion back and become the person you’re meant to be? From experience, I can tell you that you must invest in yourself in order to get off the couch and live your dreams.

For about two years, not long ago, I was miserable at my job. My working conditions were horrible and I lost my passion. My life felt like the instructions on a shampoo bottle: Wake. Work. Sleep. Repeat.

I wanted to write a book. By this time, I had a book mostly written. It fell on my list of importance when life became hard and routine and I grew apathetic. I soon realized that either my situation couldn’t continue or I couldn’t.

It was then that I started to make little investments in myself. I started doing 30 minutes of cardio a day. Rather than listen to music while I did my cardio, I listened to motivational speakers.

These little investments were contagious. A half an hour on the treadmill evolved into long weekend runs. Listening to motivational speakers on YouTube turned into listening to motivational and educational podcasts, reading “how to” eBooks, meditating and journaling. I said and did different things and got different results.

Einstein would arguably be proud.

I soon found the courage to quit my soul-sucking job and align with my purpose. I published my book and three more since then. That first book birthed a new career for me and my life has never been better.

This is the value of investing in yourself.

Rescue yourself by growing yourself.

When a plane prepares for take-off, the airline attendant on the plane’s sound systems says, “If there’s a drop in pressure, oxygen masks will fall from the ceiling. Put on your mask before assisting others.” This goes against every mother’s instincts, but a mother can’t rescue her children if she needs rescuing herself.

How are you rescuing yourself?

Whether you want to advance in your current career, start a new career, simply be a better person, or be more helpful, how are you rescuing yourself from “the routine,” “the daily grind,” and “the 9-to-5?”

Are you reading books at nights and on weekends? Are you listening to podcasts when you’re driving to and from work? Are you learning new skills through your current employer or elsewhere? Are you taking webinars at nights and on weekends? Are you eating healthy and exercising?

These are investments in yourself. Many of us make the mistake in thinking that the growing stops upon graduation from school, but graduation is only the beginning of growing. We have many, many more years of learning ahead of us. It’s our responsibility to continue to grow, improve and contribute.

Yet we make up excuses why want can’t do better or be better. We build artificial walls in our minds that rationalize the routine of the 9-to-5 grind. We tell ourselves that we’re not smart enough, educated enough, good looking enough, young enough, old enough, healthy enough, or important enough. My favorite, and the ultimate excuse free with time.

My favorite, and the ultimate excuse, is that you don’t have enough free time.

The dilemma is that someone with similar circumstances as you found and is living their passion. If they can do it, so can you!

Learn the lesson or repeat it.

Your current state is your teacher. Tony Robbins says that “life doesn’t happen to us, it happens for us.” If your current state is depression, stress, or unhappiness, there’s a lesson for you to learn.

When I was first inspired to write my book, that was the whisper. I ignored the whisper and then the inside voice. I ignored the talk and the call. Not until my yelled at me did I heed the call.

If you don’t learn your lesson now, you’ll repeat it until you do. As my experience shows, the only way to get value from the lesson is by investing in yourself.

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