Money can be a triggering topic for couples, and it can be hard to know how to talk to your spouse about money without fighting. Whether you want to plan for the future, pay off debt, or make big financial decisions, having your spouse on board is essential.  The trouble comes in when spouses have varying ideas of handling money, contrasting upbringings, or a big difference in spending habits. Fortunately, there is a way to talk to your spouse about money without fighting. It may just take a bit of planning and practice. Honest Communication Can Help On the surface, many couples thin ..read more

You know that building a budget is important, but it can be overwhelming knowing where to start. Things can feel even more complicated when you’re managing money as a couple. That’s why you need our best budget apps for couples list!  We break down the best features of some of the most popular budgeting apps. Specifically, we will share what makes them user-friendly and intuitive for couples. After you’ve reviewed the best of the best, you can decide which budgeting app might be right for you.  Best Budget Apps for Couples Need to get on the same page as your partner financially? Loo ..read more

Hey everyone! Andy here! A fellow Michigander and budding personal finance blogger, Brian Kubacki from Financial Zen has a guest post today. He's discussing how to live on one income. This is something his family is working on so they can achieve their own version of financial independence. Enjoy! Living off of one income is a goal my wife and I are enacting this year now that she has started a new career. It's all a part of our financial strategy for achieving FIRE. Unfortunately, my wife and I do not make the exact same salary. While she does make a good living at her new job, I’m the major ..read more

For the last 8 years, my wife Nicole and I have merged our finances. Our joint checking account has been the holding place for all of my paychecks and all of hers. It’s also been the account where all of our spending has come from. Overall, that system has worked pretty well over the duration of our short marriage. We’ve rid ourselves of almost $50,000 of debt, we paid off our mortgage and we’ve grown our net worth by $800,000. Our lives are comfortable. We have two kids that are happy and healthy. Life is good. Every once in a while though, Nicole and I have disagreements about money. What co ..read more

Last month, we paid off our $400,000 home in just under 4 years. It took a lot of diligence, patience and teamwork between my lovely bride and I, but we’re proud to check this important family milestone off our list at 35 years old. We spent some time celebrating this fun moment in our lives this weekend. Instead of burning the mortgage, my wife Nicole had a really great idea. We put together a paper mache piñata out of the mortgage documents.  Nicole Cutting the Mortgage Piñata After the Mortgage Piñata was ready, we let our kids and our friend's kids hit it with a bat until it burst wi ..read more

[smart_track_player url=”http://traffic.libsyn.com/marriagekidsandmoney/MKM46.mp3″ social_linkedin=”true” social_pinterest=”true” social_email=”true” image=”http://www.marriagekidsandmoney.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/07/Marriage-Kids-and-Money-Podcast-Artwork-1400×1400.jpg”]If you’re like me, your relaxation and decompression time comes with reading a good book. It is an excellent way to relieve stress, work your brain and learn something new. This month, I’ll be challenging myself and YOU to read one book focused on … Improving our Marriage Enhancing the relationship with our Kids Bettering ..read more

“Build a budget” is one of the most common pieces of personal finance advice. But a Gallup survey found that about 2 in 3 households don’t keep a detailed budget. It’s true that some families never start. But others give up on them after busting their budgets month after month. If you’ve ever wondered how to create a family budget that works, you’re in the right place!  We’ll help you set up a family budget that fits your goals in just a few steps. Then, we’ll walk through the process of making sure you can stick to your budget. The process is easier than ever thanks to different budgetin ..read more

You both plan on staying married “'til death do you part”. But what if your marriage ends before then? Since marriage and divorce have a huge impact on love and money, it might be worth considering a prenuptial agreement, or prenup for short. Prenups are one of the most controversial and emotional topics in personal finance, so let's explore the pros and cons of a prenuptial agreement. A Very Brief History of Marriage Before we can answer the question, “What is a prenup?”, we need a crash course in marriage. Though it may come as a surprise to some of us, marriages originally served as a busi ..read more

I've been looking for a fun creative outlet for a while now. This site is all about taking the first step to make major changes in my life.   So here we go! Who Am I? Andy Hill here. I'm 34, married and have two beautiful (and crazy) kids.  My ever-present number one priority is ensuring Nicole, Zoey and Calvin, my family, have the best life possible.  So far, we've had some major financial wins like becoming debt free, owning our cars outright and setting up a plan to have our mortgage paid off by next year.  I'm feeling very excited abou ..read more

Middle-aged adults caring for their minor children and aging parents face more sandwich generation stress than ever before. As a result, family caregiving responsibilities consume more time than ever before. If you’re drowning in professional and home-life obligations, you’re not alone. One in seven adults between the ages of 40 and 59 care for children and an older generation simultaneously, according to the Pew Research Center. Managing sandwich generation stress can seem overwhelming and unending — but it can be manageable. Keep reading to learn ways to reduce sandwich generation stress and ..read more