Just the three of us: Me, my Honey, and my Money.

Yes, I know I am single. (No need to comment on the bottom of the post. I get it. And if I didn’t get it? Valentine’s Day always makes sure to remind us single people out there.)

In honor of the holiday I want to shed some light on a topic that has become near and dear to my heart. The psychology of couples and their money. Here is why: I have a ton of friends getting married (and many that are not accountants). The divorce rate is over 50% and rising. The majority of marriage end due to money related reasons. How many friends could I help if I simply encouraged them to talk the money talk before the wedding/baby talk? People simply have different views on money. (I honestly think that this may be finally what I decided I may want to do with my life – so feedback is much appreciated)

Happy Valentines Day – Feel free to take my mini-test with your honey. Ideally I would be curious to have each person take the quiz separately and then compare answers and discuss (although, maybe you should take it on the 15^th?)

1. How do you feel about joint checking accounts vs. separate checking accounts?
2. Do you share credit cards?
3.  If your honey spends $100 for a new pair of shoes, do you get the spend $100 for a new pair of shoes?
4.  If your honey spends $1000 in car repairs, do you get the spend $1000?
5. At what dollar value do you need to run your purchase through your spouse? $10? $100? $1000? $10,000?
6.  How do you plan to save for retirement? Kids? A house?
7. Do you think its important to pay for your kid’s college? Do you want them to go to private school?
8.  Do you believe in investing conservatively with lower pay out? Or would you rather take a risk and invest with a chance of a higher payout?
9. If you can’t have everything: Would you rather have an expensive house, clothes, car, or vacation?
10. How do you manage and maintain a “fun fund” – is it fair for one person to go on vacation without the other? Do you keep track? How do you make sure the other person doesn’t hold a grudge?

Food for thought. And really? This food for thought has way less calories than that chocolate you intend to eat tonight.

(Oh yea, and please feel free to email me with comments/questions/ideas – or to let me know how the conversation went with the test. malloryspigel@gmail.com. I can also put out a fire if this post caused one- OR LEAVE A COMMENT - If you are brave)

Do one thing just for you

Tell me if this sounds like you:
You wake up late for work. Hurry to work. Stay late because, well, we are young and have to put our time in. Come home. Pay the credit card. Run to the store for a birthday card/or more mascara/or "team snacks"/or milk or basically anything. Pretend that you are going to work out that night, but decide against it (typical). Call your mom. Turn on the TV. Pass out on the couch. Repeat.

Welcome to my life during a busy week. And aren't many weeks busy?

Once we grow up and get married and have kids I can only imagine (and as I have heard) that you have less "me" time. Less time to do what we really want to do. Or something that just makes us happy. I think it would be good to get in the habit now of finding something that I do JUST for me, and not for my parents or my friends or my coworkers.

I spend alot of time doing things for other people (that makes me happy) and I am sure most of us do. But shouldn't we make an effort to make time in our super busy lives for just ONE thing for "me"? The importance of having a "me" thing is not just for selfish reasons but mental sanity.

For me? It is writing this blog. At the end of the day, it doesn't matter if no one really reads this post. It gives me a chance to get my thoughts out there and on paper and have a moment to do what I love to do (write). For you? It could be that step class that you love going to. Or getting your nails done. Or taking a bath. Figure out what it is and do it. (That's my challenge - accept it if you please).

Learn Something New

A savvy girl in the real world has to be "well rounded". Sigh, but what does this really mean? And why is it so important?

I'm not saying that you need to be an expert in everything, or really anything for that matter, but you have to be able to briefly talk politics with your parent's friends, business issues with the manager at work, sports with the guys at lunch, and marriage (or babies) with your friends that are married (or have babies). I am not saying you need to be the expert on politics - but with the elections around the corner, it wouldn't hurt to know a thing or two about some debates so that you aren't the only one standing there in silent at a dinner party.

But what if I don't like politics (or sports or business news or world news or basically anything besides online shoe shopping and watching bravo?) It seems to me that people tend to only read or watch shows that are like them. If I don't like shorts, you won't catch me reading the ESPN magazine (or whatever they read....). If I only care about pop culture (which I don't, I care about shoes too...) then you will see me reading an US weekly and watching E! News. But what do I learn from that? I am completely guilty of this - How many times have I found myself reading a book that I could have written myself?

Last week I decided to download these "Laughing Historically" pod casts. They are short 5-10 minute videos that teach you something about history (in a funny way). I am about as much of a history buff as I am one of those girls who screams at the TV during a baseball game. But I like hearing little snipbits of funny history (or watching a baseball game at a stadium with friends). Turns out that I had something to contribute to conversation everyday at work that week. My coworkers actually ASKED me what I had learned in my podcast that morning. I will never be a history buff, or an avid die-hard baseball fan, but I have to admit that learning something new and branching out sure felt good.

Try it. Learn something new. Worth a shot right?

Disclaimer: I understand how you might not think there is any relevance for the goat, but I know nothing about goats. And if you have any interest on learning things about goats? well, you never know when you'll want to bust out goat facts. Plus, I thought the picture might be interesting enough for people to want to read this post. We will see if it works..