Marriage Resources
When the wedding-day celebrations end and the honeymoon draws to a close, all couples inevitably face the reality of life together-for better or for worse. Use these recommended sources to find out what a marriage entails from a practical point of view. Learn about your financial and legal rights as a spouse, and find online group support. This guide also provides resources for military spouses. Finally, if you are in need of some external help, you'll find directories to marriage counseling services as well.
Expand All Guide SectionsHave a Healthy Marriage
If you and your partner are considering marriage, there are some worthwhile resources to look into ... read more »
Money Management
Efficient money management is a key element to any successful marriage: one of the best ways to ensure a healthy marriage is by having an open and honest dialogue about money with your spouse. These sites can help you get your finances in order and reinforce the importance of being open and honest about your economic situation and expectations.
Dulcinea's Insight
- If you need help financing your home or paying your taxes, use some of Dulcinea's other Web Guides to find resources. The findingDulcinea Homes Web Guide can help you rent, mortgage, or buy a home and can assist you in moving. Some others to consider reading are the findingDulcinea Income Tax Web Guide, Retirement Web Guide, Family Web Guide, Parenting Web Guide, and Estate Planning Web Guide.
- If you're not married yet, don't wait until after you tie the knot to discuss your financial future with your potential spouse. Discussing and organizing your finances even before you get married can prevent lots of complications from developing.
- SmartMoney.com outlines the most essential steps of arranging a couple's financial situation in an article titled "Marrying Your Financial Lives." The discussion details elements you might not even consider—like managing disability insurance and tax cuts.
Dulcinea's Picks
For financial advice ...
Charles Schwab
teaches recently married couples or those considering marriage how to create a joint financial plan. Even if you do not intend to use Charles Schwab's financial services, you can still use this step-by-step guide to managing joint finances as a starting point for your shared financial plan.
CNNMoney.com
discusses couples' finances in a series of articles and links about male and female perspectives on money issues and how to understand your partner's viewpoint. The "Planning" section of this site helps you develop a system for managing your finances as a couple-learn to deal with debt, accumulate savings, and find out about retirement options.
The Nest
is designed for newlyweds and explores all of the new issues they face. In addition to the site's sections on money and real estate, you'll find a lot of other useful and practical information worth browsing. You have to join to access some articles, but registration is free.
The Administration for Children and Families
, a division of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, promotes healthy families and marriages. Use its "Marriage Calculator" to determine the financial effects of your marriage decisions, such as living apart, buying a vehicle, and the number of hours that you work.
Money Crashers
is a blog with advice on common financial issues. Whether you are a newlywed struggling with your spouse's spending habits, or you simply want to learn how to work with your spouse as a more efficient financial team, these discussions can clarify the conflicts and solutions.
Kiplinger.com
provides this archived article that offers advice on how to manage joint finances. Some text in the article is linked for more information. For example, "track cash flow" links to a page on keeping track of joint spending through the year, which can help you determine a budget.
For women specifically...
The Women's Institute for Financial Education
is dedicated to making women financially independent with sound knowledge about money. Resources include links like "Investment and Saving," "Retirement," "Budgets and Planning," "Tax Talk," and more. Visit the "Resource Center" for an online savings calculator or to submit a question to the site's panel of experts.
Who knew?
WebMD
presents a study showing that marriage ultimately brings more happiness than money. Romantics, rejoice!
Marriage Law
Marriage is a legal union as much as a romantic or spiritual one, so it's important to know how ... read more »
Seek Marriage Advice
Forums and blogs are valuable sources for information on what other couples are doing: read about ... read more »
Couples Counseling
Whether you are having marriage troubles or just want to strengthen communication skills with your ... read more »
Resources for Military Spouses
Military spouses are in a unique position and have a particular set of issues in sustaining a ... read more »
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