Divorce Advice For Women

You're probably thinking about divorce or maybe your divorce has already started and you need some advice. Divorce is a stressful and emotional experience and for many, it can become a nightmare. Are you discovering that your divorce is not turning out as planned? Is your husband bad mouthing you to your lawyer and everyone you know? Does your husband want more child custody just so he doesn't have to pay more child support? Does he believe you do not deserve the house, the cars, the dogs, or retirement fund? Divorces can get nasty. They start off well, you're both in agreement, but then the lawyers start putting ideas in your head about property and custody. 

Getting Started With The Basics 

First thing first when it comes to divorce is money. I know it's sad but true. Why make it about money when it should be about getting out of a loveless, manipulative and controlling relationship. It should be about protecting the children and the welfare of everyone involved. However, lawyers, court fees, mediation, evaluations and expert witnesses are going to cost money to help you plead your case. Step one is to prepare financially. If you don't have any money for a lawyer, then you should start cutting expenses and putting money aside until you can afford one. Make room on credit cards and ask friends and family to borrow as much as they can give you help you out. I know, you shouldn't burden others with your financial situation, but it's better to owe your friends and family money for the next few years than it is to endure another day in a bad marriage. 

Daily Diary 

Keep a journal of every fight and argument you have with your husband so you can recall dates and information really easy. The worst thing you can do is say something negative about your husband without anything to back it up. Write down how it started, what was said and how it ended. Do not leave out details and make sure to record the date and time the conversion started. Also note down anything your husband says he is going to fight for and keep good notes on anything he says he is willing to give you without a fight. Sometimes husbands change their minds about what they want to fight for once they get a lawyer. Keep notes on everything 

Property Records and Finances 

Make sure your name is on everything you want to fight for, including houses, cars, bank accounts with money and retirement funds. If your name is not on any of these pieces of property, you could end up not getting your fair share of them. Start investigating your husband's income, bank statements, receipts and anything else you can discover he has of value. Remember anything he has purchased while married, even if your name is not on it, you could be entitled to. Start saving money in a separate bank account or in cash. Most of all make sure you have enough to hire a lawyer as soon as you're ready to file divorce or as soon as he hires his own lawyer. You want to be the first to act in a divorce. 

Lawyers, Divorce Guides, Divorce Coaches and Child Custody 

Remember, unless you both agree to divorce and who gets what property, that divorce is a battle and you must be prepared legally and mentally. Hire a good lawyer that will fight for you and one that is affordable for you. Do not price shop a lawyer, because you get what you pay for. Interview your lawyers to find a good match. Once you have found a lawyer get yourself some good books and guides on divorce. These guides will give you inside strategies your lawyers are not willing to dish out unless you have lots of money to fight with. If you can afford it, find a divorce coach to tell you what to do each step of your divorce processes. Last but absolutely not least, get your hands a hold of some guides on how to win child custody. Lawyers do not give out much advice on how to win custody, but they will surely spend the money putting up the fight. Educate yourself on what matters when it comes to child custody and evaluations. 

Be prepared financially, legally and educationally. Take charge of the divorce process and always stay on offense. The first one to act will get the upper hand. Do not wait for him to get a lawyer first. 

First thing first is to get a free consultation with an attorney familiar with divorce and child custody in your jurisdiction. 

Get a free no cost obligation of your legal rights to divorce and custody. The free consultation will let you know yours and his legal rights to divorce and child custody. They will also let you know how to protect yourself and how much its going to cost. Just remember the first one to act will get the upper hand. Do not wait for him to get a lawyer first. 

Child custody is a completely separate issue and battle from divorce and usually 90% of the expenses and heart ache. Use these strategies to get the upper hand from day one. 

Do not wait until things start to go wrong to get this information that you should be doing even before you start the divorce process.

I wish you all the best of luck!

Article Source: https://EzineArticles.com/expert/Janice_D._Rubin/430883 

Kids, Parents & Money

Members of what is being called the "sandwich generation" are coping with balancing their own needs with the needs and expectations of family. These individuals are often "sandwiched" between the needs of their parents, who may require assistance with daily living tasks or medical care, and the needs of their children, who may require financial or emotional support. 

Within the next decade, the population over age 65 will continue to grow. Increasing life expectancies also means that more people are likely to have chronic health problems and family involvement in their care. 

This sandwich situation calls for open inter-family conversations to help ensure that money is managed thoughtfully and effectively, as well as cooperatively. It also means staying aware of your own financial plan when it comes to the increasing costs of medical care for your parents and education for your children.

Generous Boomers - Severely impacts our Retirement

Exactly how to teach children about money is a dilemma for many parents.  In fact, some baby boomers are concerned about how the support they give their grown children may impact their own golden years. Although they have these concerns, boomers think helping their adult children is slowing down their retirement savings.  One reason boomers don't see the impact on their retirement savings may be that they are tapping into "day-to-day" spending money and not dipping into retirement accounts to fund their children's needs. But, could some of that money be used to save toward retirement savings?

 

Lets Talk Money

Discussing finances can be complicated. Each generation thinks about money and the need to talk about it with other family members in ways that have been shaped by their upbringing and societal norms. An 86-year-old, for example, probably has a much different view of debt than do their children or their grandchildren. He may question why his 28-year-old grandson uses a credit card to buy new clothes even if he's already deeply in debt. Although talking about money may be a sensitive subject, good things happen when families discuss money. It's important to approach the conversation in an open, non-judgmental way. While finances are a taboo subject for many reasons, "harmony can be realised through understanding and communication," In some cases, families may find it helpful to include a neutral third party, to act as a facilitator.

 

Key points about families and finances:

1. Members of the sandwich generation cope with balancing their own needs with the needs of their parents and children.
2. Generosity to family is only natural but you need to plan for it.
3. Have conversations about money with family, because open dialogue about money benefits everyone
4. It may be helpful to include a neutral third party to act as a facilitator

 

Take Sarah, for example, a 46-year-old divorcee who supports her two adult sons. Sarah's financial advisor told her, "Let's deal with this now, or you're going to be making some really tough choices in five or 10 years," 

"You need to tell your children you can't be their sole source of financial support." The best way to avoid these complicated situations is to do what may seem uncomfortable: Talk honestly about money. No matter how you do it, what really matters is that you start the conversation and keep it going. "The money thing, from my perspective, is as much, if not more, about communication as it is about the money itself," 

Boomerang Children

While many people in this age group 18-30 may still be in school and have not yet moved out, others have returned home believing they can't afford to live independently because of high housing costs, credit card debts and student loans.

Tips to help you transition your adult child into financial independence:

1. Have an agreement that spells out the living arrangements and household responsibilities.
2. Be clear about what financial responsibilities children will have when they move back home (e.g., paying rent or a portion of utility expenses).
3. Require that children make specific progress toward paying down debt and adding to their savings.
4. Agree on a plan for the future.

Making a Better Sandwich

Femvestorsglobal can help you determine what financial needs you will have based on your own goals and unique family situation. For instance, you could consider an education fund, or purchasing long-term care insurance for your parents. You may also need to think about other health-care expenses and estate-planning issues with your parents. We help guide you and your family through these issues and decisions while helping you keep your own retirement planning on the right track.

Find Your Passion and Start Living It!

Retirement can be an exciting time in your life, but it can also be daunting. You may feel like you've lost your sense of purpose or structure now that you're no longer working. The transition from a full-time career to retirement can be challenging, but it doesn't have to be. If you're about to retire or have recently retired, there's a book you need to read called "So What Do We Do Now?: The Babyboomers Guide to Enjoying Retirement" by Eva Bennett.

Bennett draws on her own experiences of adapting to her husband's retirement, which involved moving to a seaside town. She ranks the impact of this life-changing experience right up there with childbirth. While we had the benefit of antenatal classes and new mothers' groups, there's very little available for impending retirees or the newly retired.

Retirement isn't always what people expect. Recent retirees said they were happier when they were working because they felt they had a purpose and structure to their days. Retirement doesn't mean retiring from life. There's an increasing trend for people not to retire outright, but to start working less. Research has shown that retirees who cease to contribute and to be productive and active, die earlier than those who continue to engage fully in society.

According to Bennett, the beginning stages of retirement are like a honeymoon period. You don't have to get up to go to work, you can play golf or go fishing whenever you like, and don't have to work to deadlines. But the euphoria and the novelty soon wear off. After all, there are only so many lattes you can drink and only so many times you can go fishing. Then what? Life can get boring. We need to re-evaluate who we are and what we want out of life because our former identity is no longer relevant.

There are three stages to the transition from old to new:

1. Endings (where we let go of the past),
2. The Neutral Zone (where we review the past and reflect on what we want to do now) 
3. New Beginnings (where we decide what we need to change or do differently)

As you create the new you, it's important to keep all aspects of your life in balance, including your finances, home life, health, relationships, leisure time, and your purpose in life.

One of the secrets of a healthy, active, and happy life is to feel young psychologically. It's never too late to find your passion and start living it. The so-called Third Age is the time to give back to the community and share your knowledge and wisdom. Being positive is an important part of enjoying your retirement and contributes to living longer. Some people enter retirement filled with negative thoughts and fears of ill health and lack of money. The key to happiness is to be happy with whatever you have.

In conclusion, retirement can be a challenging transition, but it's also an opportunity to create a new and fulfilling life. By reading "So What Do We Do Now?: The Babyboomers Guide to Enjoying Retirement" and following the three stages of the transition from old to new, you can find your purpose and balance in life. Remember to keep a positive mindset, stay active and engaged in society, and enjoy all that retirement has to offer.

The key is to find activities that align with your interests and passions, and to stay open to trying new things.

What can we learn from wealthy people?

The truth is, everyone craves to be wealthy. We secretly wish we could be like the wealthy. We look at them with a combination of admiration, envy and wonder. What exactly did they do to be so blessed? 

Yes, the super-wealthy rule the world. They live in the biggest mansions and own the choicest properties. They ride the most luxurious cars and marry the most beautiful women. When they speak, their words are carried by news media around the globe. 

The super-wealthy are abound in commerce, politics, entertainment, sports, IT, finance, oil and gas, to mention a few. In short, they abound in every sphere of human endeavour. 

The following names, not in any particular order, readily come to mind when we talk about the super-wealthy: Bernard Arnault, Bill Gates, Jack Ma, Elon Musk, Jay Z, Beyonce, Warren Buffett, Oprah Winfrey and Jeff Bezos. 

Among the super-wealthy you can count Buddhists, Christians, Hindus, Muslims, non-believers, Blacks, Whites, Browns, mixed races, men, women, and people from all continents. 

What exactly then separates the super-wealthy from the poor? If not some undue advantage in opportunities, skin color, religion, intellect, industry, talent, place and time of birth, what?

Here they are: 

Focus their Attention

The wealthy pay undivided attention to nurturing and multiplying their wealth. For instance, Bill Gates attributes his wealth not so much to what he makes as Microsoft's co-founder, but to the excellent work of his portfolio manager, Michael Larson. On the other hand non wealthy spend their money on trying to look rich. In short, the poor tries to copy the "Millionaire Next Door." To be wealthy, be wealth conscious and focus attention to not just making money but how to grow it and make your money work harder for you. 

Productive with their Time 

Time is the most precious and scarcest resource. As economists say, its supply is inelastic. You can't store or delay it, you can't stop it, and you can't increase it. Effective use of time requires a mindset that is productive. The super-wealthy use time well. While time is an abstract, how you use it is a mindset. Regardless of wealth, we all have the same amount of this most invaluable resource? From birth until death we have equal amount of time daily: 24 hours. You will be wealthy to the extent to which you judiciously use this limited resource. 

Focus On One Thing

To be wealthy, develop FOCUS. Focus on one thing at a time. While the wealthy focus on one thing at a time. Whenever the wealthy pursues an end, he burns his boat and never looks back. Take for an example, Jeff Bezos. He focused on ECommerce, Bill Gate on computer coding, and Jay Z on entertainment.

Think Big 

If you look closely, all the wealthy think big. Jeff Bezos is not just building an E-Commerce company, but the most customer centric company on the planet. Bill Gates did not just go out to build Microsoft, but the biggest software company in the world. Not to be outdone, Mark Zuckerberg's empire now includes Facebook, Instagram, Whatsapp and Messenger. Thinking big is about being methodical, seeing the bigger picture of "what could be." It's about having an uncanny vision of the future and setting your sail accordingly in the direction of that vision without being distracted by other "opportunities" along the way. It's about saying "No" to a thousand things so that you can say "Yes" to the "one thing" that matters to you. So thinking BIG is one of the hallmarks of the wealthy. Really, why think small if you can think BIG by focusing on one grandiose end at a time? 

Proximity 

Don King, the boxing promoter, once told Dennis P. Kimbro, the co-author of Think and Grow Rich: A Black Choice, his plan for becoming a billionaire was "by hanging around billionaires, learning all they know." So hatch a plan and find a way to rub shoulders with the wealthy. By so doing, you'll be sucked into the world of the wealthy. This will reprogram your mind. Hanging around the wealthy is not just about networking, but it's about getting close enough to be mentored by the wealthy. What can you do to enter the radar of the wealthy? Write a book, start a podcast or a YouTube Channel to mention three. You can't be wealthy unless you reprogram your mind to think like the wealthy. The easiest way to do that is to enter into the world of the wealthy through the back door - through what you do. 

Work Hard and Smart 

Most of the time, the things associated with the wealthy are Gulf Stream Jets, Super Yachts, Golf Courses, Ocean Blue Islands, Hot Air Balloons and mansions designed in heaven. These are what you see at the front end. But peel the curtain a little and what you'll see at the back end is hard work. Many believe hard work does not matter in today's digital world where you can "set everything up to work on autopilot." Beware; nothing could be further from the truth. Do you know that Jeff Bezos used to kneel to sort parcels when Amazon first started in 1995? Till date he exhorts his people "It's Always Day One", meaning maintaining the spirit of entrepreneurship of a start up. If you're not willing to work hard, then perish the thought of getting wealthy. In his Good to Great, author Jim Collins wrote about the concept of the "flywheel." That's what hard work is all about. No wealth is ever created by standing with hands akimbo. 

Keeps Learning and Growing

Learning in this context is not about amassing many PhDs and MBAs in assorted disciplines. Learning is not about endless webinars. It's about getting personal coaches to make you better and performing at your peak in all dimensions of life. It may interest you to know some super-wealthy started out with no to little money but through a dint of hard work, learnt to overcome the bad hand that fate dealt them at birth. One well documented example is John H. Johnson of Ebony Magazine fame who in his day rose to become the 400th richest American. 

In his book, Succeeding Against the Odds, he stated that his family was not only poor, but they were the "poorest of the poor." John H. Johnson learnt to speak despite being born with a stammer; he learnt to believe in himself despite being born into extreme poverty, he learnt to sell and ended up buying the insurance company that employed him. 

So don't blame your start in life, just keep learning and wealth will be within your grasp. 

Source: Paul Uduck

Kids, Parents and Money

The "sandwich generation" are coping with balancing their own needs with the needs and expectations of family. Current research shows that 44% of Americans between the ages of 45 and 55 have living parents or in-laws, as well as children under age 21. Many of these individuals are direct caregivers - with 64% of caregivers also employed full-time or part-time. 

Within the next decade, the population over age 65 will continue to grow, according to U.S. Census reports. Increasing life expectancies also means that more people are likely to have chronic health problems and family involvement in their care. Today, an estimated 7 to 10 million adult children are providing care and assistance for their parents long-distance. And, approximately 92% of boomers financially support an adult child in one or more ways. This sandwich situation calls for open inter-family conversations to help ensure that money is managed thoughtfully and effectively, as well as cooperatively. It also means staying aware of your own financial plan when it comes to the increasing costs of medical care for your parents and college for your children. 

Generous Boomers - Tenuous Retirement 

Exactly how to teach children about money is a dilemma for many parents, according to the Ameriprise Financial New Retirement MindscapeSM study: 52% of those surveyed said it was the advice they needed most. In fact, some baby boomers are concerned about how the support they give their grown children may impact their own golden years, according to Nathan Dungan, president and founder of Share Save Spend, an organization that helps people of all ages develop and maintain healthy financial habits. Although they have these concerns, only 29% of boomers think helping their adult children is slowing down their retirement savings - a key finding of the Ameriprise Financial Money Across GenerationsSM study. One reason they don't see the impact on their retirement savings may be that they are tapping into "day-to-day" spending money and not dipping into retirement accounts to fund their children's needs. But, could some of that money be used to save toward retirement savings? 

Money Talks 

Discussing finances can be complicated because each generation thinks about money and the need to talk about it with other family members in ways that have been shaped by their upbringing and societal norms. An 86-year-old patriarch, for example, probably has a much different view of debt than do boomers or their children. He may question why his 28-year-old grandson uses a credit card to buy new clothes even if he's already deeply in debt. Although talking about money may be a sensitive subject, good things happen when families discuss money. It's important to approach the conversation in an open, non judgmental way. While finances are a taboo subject for many reasons, "harmony can be realised through understanding and communication," Dungan says. In some cases, families may find it helpful to include a neutral third party, such as a financial advisor, to act as a facilitator. 

Key points about families and finances: 

1. Members of the sandwich generation cope with balancing their own needs with the needs of their parents and children. 

2. Generosity to family is only natural but you need to plan for it. 

3. Have conversations about money with family, because open dialogue about money benefits everyone. 

4. It may be helpful to include a neutral third party, to act as a facilitator. 

Take Ruth, for example, a 59-year-old widow who supports her two adult sons. Ruth's financial advisor told her, "Let's deal with this now, or you're going to be making some really tough choices in five or 10 years," Dungan recalls. "You need to tell your children you can't be their sole source of financial support. The best way to avoid these complicated situations is to do what  may seem uncomfortable: Talk honestly about money. According to Dungan, no matter how you do it, what really matters is that you start the conversation and keep it going. "The money thing, from my perspective, is as much, if not more, about communication as it is about money," he says. 

Boomerang Children 

According to Pew Research study in 2021 47% of 18-29 are still living with their parents whilst  usafacts.org states that 16.9% of young adults aged 25-34 live with at least one parent. While many people in this age group may still be in education and have not yet moved out, others have returned home believing they can't afford to live independently because of high housing costs and student debts. 

Tips to help you transition your grown up children into financial independence: 

1. Have an agreement that spells out the living arrangements and household responsibilities. 

2. Be clear about what financial responsibilities children will have when they move back home (e.g., paying rent or a portion of utility expenses). 

3. Require that children make specific progress toward paying down debt and adding to their savings. 

4. Agree on a departure date. 

Making a Better Sandwich 

Your financial advisor can help you determine what financial needs you will have based on your own goals and unique family situation. For instance, you could consider investing in a 529 plan for your children's or grandchildren's college expenses, or purchasing long-term care insurance for your parents. 

You may also need to think about other health-care expenses and estate planning issues with your parents. 

Your advisor can help guide you and your family through these issues and decisions while helping you keep your own retirement planning on the right track. 

Article Source: https://EzineArticles.com/expert/Joshua_Ely/256297

False Promises and Financial Freedom

If you have them, you probably know that credit cards and after pay services make false promises of financial freedom, only to find out later that instead of being free, you've been imprisoned in debt. It's as bad as some men, lulling you into a sense of security, only to be screwed over in the worst way possible. Indeed, credit cards as well as after pay services are the bane of everybody's existence, and the sooner you realise it, the better it is for you. 

The Freebie

Most people, men and women alike, are enticed by credit card and finance companies with freebies. You've all heard about it. As long as you put in your application, you're promised free and in the words of Keith Cunningham "things and stuff" as soon as your application is approved. What you don't know is you'll be paying for those freebies faster than you can grab the credit card or your phone from your purse. Indeed, in this day and age, freebies come with a price, so find out what it's really going to cost you. 

Not Interested 

Credit card and after pay companies thrive on interest and hidden charges. Every time you take out your credit card, you can be sure that you're secretly being charged for something. Before you add another credit card to that arsenal you already have in your handbag. Whether it is a credit card or after pay product, read the fine print and find out what additional charges and interest will inevitably come with your purchases. Don't be fooled by the fancy lingo as it is time to get educated. Check your statement on the interest rate you are paying and the additional charges in interest if you do not pay in full or miss the payment deadline and incur late fees.

It's Payback Time 

Your credit cards work best if you can pay for it in full every time your bill comes out. You won't have to deal with monthly interest and additional charges. But then, that defeats the purpose of having a credit card in the first place. However, you can't fight the system, so the best you can do is make the system work with you. Use your credit cards responsibly. 

Using afterpay is not worth it when you do the numbers, by the time you have paid off your favourite outfit, it will be at the back of the wardrobe with all the other clothes and shoes you don't wear.

Ostentatious and unnecessary purchases should be avoided, and no, that doesn't include those strappy, brown sandals you've been checking out for the last two weeks, regardless of your payment option.

Only take out your credit card when you absolutely need to, such as when you're buying groceries or things you really need and can't live without. 

Better yet, hide your credit card somewhere where you won't be tempted into making impulse purchases. If you read my story, I used to keep my credit card in the freezer.

Indeed, credit cards are more liabilities rather than assets and it's not easy to get rid of them. But as long as you take control, you'll be okay. 

Eventually, it'll all be paid off and you won't have to worry about exorbitant interest and finance charges. 

Then and only then are you really on your way to financial freedom. 

Generational Financial Responsibility

As with most skills, talents, and overall 'education' gained throughout a lifetime of experiences, remember - practice makes perfect, and consistency is key. We suggest that when imparting knowledge of finances; from children saving change in a piggy bank, to teenagers saving a percentage of an allowance or gifts in cash, working with them in a mentor role, as they start their very own bank accounts is critical to generational success. 

Practice Makes Perfect 

Every day, month, quarter and year, there are activities and habits needed to be accomplished consistently. This helps ground children in the basics of financial literacy, which are appropriate to their family wealth factors and long-term responsibilities such as philanthropy. 

Children who will inherit significant wealth and the responsibilities that go along with it, require world-class preparation. Balancing income and outgoings and understanding compound interest is one thing, but managing assets, establishing a growth-mindset, and teaching a child to have vision, is another. Parents may have built up a very successful business, but your children may someday need to sit on the board and also approve the management of investments that support an extended family.

One way to engage children is to play off of their passions; otherwise, financial education will feel like classroom instruction. There are "family wealth advisors" who work with families to identify the things their children already have an interest in, and are willing to spend time pursuing such as a favorite sport or activity. From this identification, these counselors develop a learning program around the child's interest or passions as a theme. 

The end goal is to help each family member of the next generation to have an individual 'economic vision statement,' and to have developed the skills required to realise their unique vision and support in turning the vision into a reality.

While many families want their children to understand the basic concepts and terms, their children need to go beyond the introductory level of money management to incorporate family values, such as those related to charitable giving or volunteering, as well as their particular interests in participating. Their 'economic vision statements' themselves will evolve as these children mature and become more focused in their individual interest and goals. 

Consistency is Key 

Every family takes for granted that if a child is going to be a proficient at tennis, golf or the piano, they need regular lessons, a great teacher, and practice. It's that same thing for financial education. And so, those kids who get practice, great instruction, and lessons do better." By incorporating the "passions" and interests of your children - regardless of age. 

Those parents who hope a financial education specialist can take their kids and tutor them may have good intentions, but they're not taking necessary actions to address the challenge. Parents and children must be involved. To do it otherwise is just a waste of time and money, not every family has the appetite to take on this work. It's costly. It takes a fair investment of time. And it certainly requires all family members to begin to look at their actions in a different way. In general, there's certainly interest in financial education, but I think a lot of it is just trivial unless there's an ongoing commitment to the process. The commitment needs to be at least as powerful as the commitment to building the next pro golfer.

Planning for Financial literacy 

Learning starts early - just as models of non-productive behavior do. While parents may have good intentions for raising money-mature children, they often fail to succeed because they don't move from 'soft' intentions to a realised program of financial education tailored to the age and interests of the next generation. 

The kids who do well have parents who've gone from good intentions to being intentional. Every parent has the good intention for their children to grow up financially intelligent, but few of them really act on it. Parents who have a growth mindset, are committed to their intentions can help ensure the orderly transition of financial planning from parent to child.

Hot Tips: 

• The prime age is between 6 and 14 for learning and building good, solid money skills 
• Preparation for building and managing wealth is an on-going activity, if you want to create and sustain long term generational financial responsibility
• Consistency, planning and practice truly does make the real difference

Money Disparity between Husband and Wife

When both partners work, share household duties and merge their salaries, you would think that these changes are for the better, for women. Unfortunately, not all of the changes are good as a large majority of women have received plenty of less desirable results. 

According to the Pew Research Center. Only 3.8% of women earned more than their partners back in 1960, but a 2020 TD Ameritrade survey found the number of female breadwinners had jumped to 21%. More than a quarter of women reported that they made as much as their male partners.

Studies also showed that when a women out-earns her husband, he is more likely to cheat. In fact, about 15% of the men in a study by the American Sociological Review.

(opens in new tab)

The sad fact is that when we earn more than our husbands, we experience more stress on the home front and all have claimed that making more money is hurting the marriage. 75% of us have said that we wished we weren't the breadwinner. The survey asked divorced women and 66% responded that making more money led to the divorce.  

Note, that Gender roles are changing in other ways as men are increasingly willing to pitch in around the home and many do dishes and cook the meals. However, when men are unwilling to participate in household and childcare duties even though they're earning less money than their wives, many marriages fail. 

In order to succeed in this situation, a couple needs to have a partnership in their marriage. Both spouses should have similar values regarding work and money management, and share household responsibilities equally. We need to converse prior to marriage with the expectation that the husband may not be the main breadwinner. 

In order to alleviate as much stress and tension as possible, couples should address their expectations for earning power. Historically, men associate their self-worth with how much money they earn, more than women do. If the wife is earning more, we deserve to have more say in how the money is managed. Many women need to negotiate this issue as it can be a taboo subject is some relationships. You need to align on how will the funds be handled differently? Will your household responsibilities change? If the wife is earning more money because she is spending more time at work, a couple seriously needs to discuss household and childcare responsibilities. In the end, what makes the most sense? It's not about women making all the decisions, but that couples are sharing the decision-making, now. 

A couple must agree that money doesn't equal power and their relationship is worth much more than either before they can adjust to the new model of marriage. By creating unambiguous marital roles and fully addressing all aspects of the family finances, especially how it is handled, you can survive the changing financial and employment landscape of today. In the end, it's about attitude, as opposed to the actual dollar amounts that cause the most conflict. If either spouse feels resentful or critical, it will eventually come to the forefront of any argument and ultimately destroy your marriage. 

Financial Independence for Women

For security reasons Ladies, it is important for us to have the knowledge about how to make financial decisions. 

Facts that many of us choose to be single, and the divorce rates are getting higher should underline the more important reasons why we need to equip ourselves with complete financial knowledge to survive in our life. 

We must know that: 

We cannot live from month to month. It is important to save some part of our income, whether from our partners or from our own salary. 

We must have our own personal account instead of a join account with our spouse. It will increase our self confidence as well. Having a personal account will be useful when something happens to our spouse, as our personal account will give us more flexibility and authority than our joint account. 

We must have our own investment and retirement account. This will help protect our finances when the breadwinner of the family turns his heart against the family. 

We must have our own credit card. The best time to have a credit card is when you need it the least, when you can pay on time. A credit card will be very useful under urgent circumstances, when you do not have enough cash on hand. Although we may think that you may not need a credit card, it is recommended to have one for urgency. 

We must get involved in monthly family finances. Almost all of us have something to eliminate, by working together with our partner, as a collective, we could save more than before. 

Having enough money in our savings will give us the courage to leave an unpleasant job or a horrible marriage. 

What should always be remembered is being able to manage a family and personal financial does not mean that you can forget your destiny as a woman. 

To build a happy and harmonious family, women and men are equal, we should not compete against each other. 

4 Things That Women Should Accomplish Before Saying "I Do" or "Settling Down"

Statistically 50% of marriages ends in divorce and in certain parts of the world, we legally can't get divorced so the real numbers are actually higher.

The Myths - 

In today's world, women are more independent than ever; however, many of us are still haunted by the myths of "happily-ever- after" and "love can conquer all", which plays a major part in the high divorce rates. 

But Let's face it ladies.......... many of us still long for the fairytale ending of some handsome Prince sweeping us off our feet, taking us away from all our problems. This only works in the movies. In real life, after the honeymoon stage, everyday life starts to pay a visit-and often. 

The Culprit - 

The truth of the matter is these are some of the real culprits that threaten our happy ending: 

• Finances 
• Sex 
• Communication 
• Family 
• Religion 
• Resentment 

Many relationships are doomed to fail before they even begin because they are started under such false pretenses. There are no guarantees, but if you're thinking of getting married or co-habiting longer term, at some point in your life and want to increase the odds of happiness, take that L.E.A.P. These four simple must do's (as I like to call it), prepares you for whatever's to, come by starting with the one in the mirror, you! 

L-is for Lifestyle 

First take inventory of the life you currently live and the kind you see yourself living in the future. You may lead a quiet, laidback, walks-along-the-beach type of life or you may like the excitement of concerts, parties etc. You may be quite the traveler; can't stay put for long periods of time. Are you a vegan, religious, or a neat freak? Do you live lavishly, accepting only the finer things that life has to offer? You get the idea. Compatibility is a major aspect of a relationship. Learn your lifestyle. 

E- is for Earning 

Get your finances in order. Money's not everything, but let's be real honest-when things go wrong in a relationship, there's nothing happy about being broke and alone with no plans. Set your income goals and go for it -full speed. Make sure you have a high interest savings account in your own name and never give this up. You may have stocks, property and other investments- ave you protected your assets is something happens and your situation changes. Are you in debt? Take a look at your credit reports. See where you stand on paper and take the proper steps to improve your score. Don't wait until you get into a relationship to do these things, because love has a way of distracting us, especially women. Go in solid or close to it. 

A-is for Alone 

This one may seem obvious, but few of us truly get this. Spend some alone time with, that's right, you. Fall in love with you first before loving someone else. Ask yourself, "Who am I"? Figure out what truly makes you happy. Do you have trust, commitment, or jealousy issues? Are you religious or are you spiritual? If you don't deal with these issues now, they will surface once you're in a long term relationship (married or otherwise), I promise. 

P-is for Passion 

Last, but probably the most important of the four. Follow your dreams. Never and I mean never give up on your dreams. Take every single step towards that dream. Focus on you before you focus on someone else. If you do it the other way around, 9 times out of ten, you'll end up putting your life on hold. Find that career and do what it takes to achieve it and thrive. 

So enclosing my friends, remember-although nothings guaranteed and no rule is set in stone, one thing's for sure-no one can give you happiness, you must supply yourself with a plethora of it...then there will be plenty to go around. 

Article Source: https://EzineArticles.com/expert/Rhonda_Phillips/383764  

The Emotional Triggers of Credit Card Debt

I used to always say that shopping was cheaper than a psychiatrist!

Here is a mind blowing statistic: In 2021, Women accounted for 75% of consumer purchases. And in a country such as the US, where spending is a driving force of the economy and the average consumer credit card debt is $6,275, there is an enormous amount of buying power in the hands of women. 

There are several reasons why women purchase more than men; for instance, we are often in charge of the household expenses and day to day shopping or we spend more because of societal pressures regarding appearance and lifestyle. Another reason is the need to manage our emotions through the act of shopping. 

Men, on the other hand, have a more straightforward approach to purchasing goods; they spend money on things they deem are needed or necessary and are much more focused on saving for the future. They are not as vulnerable to credit card debt as women because they see themselves as the providers of money. 

However, when men do buy, it is usually for larger scale purchases such as electronics, houses, or cars. These are more lasting purchases and houses and cars are generally considered assets. On the other hand, women tend to spend the most money on clothing, shoes, and accessories. 

The rate of bankruptcies, because of credit card debt, for women between the ages of 25 and 44 is the highest for any group. Women are more likely to purchase an expensive handbag, shoes, or electronics than to save their money.  

Young women also have more exposure to celebrities and their lifestyles than every before, they try to emulate their lifestyles through their purchases—often leading to more credit card debt.

Another reason women are more likely find themselves in credit card debt, is our emotional connection with money. For women, money often symbolises security or the ability to attain a better lifestyle. It is often difficult for women to separate our emotions from the detached business of money which creates many problems over time. We tend to express our love, goals, and individualism through money, while to the majority of men, money is just money. 

Women assign money with a value that it doesn’t have, the ability to improve our self-esteem or our happiness. These are values that have been adopted in childhood because our parents are more likely to encourage boys to be more entrepreneurial while girls are often subconsciously taught that we should be taken care of financially. 

These influences are the blueprint for a life of financial success or financial disaster. As women, we do not learn how to properly save and invest, therefore, we find ourselves in credit card debt as we don't really know what else to do with our money. 

This is where femvestorsglobal comes in as we can support you exactly where you need it.

Addressing the emotional connections that you have with money and your old stories as to why, is an important step in the process of achieving financial responsibility and a debt free life. 

Women and Real Estate

If you don't already own a home, there are so many reasons to from a financial perspective: 

• build equity
• save money on taxes and use your equity as back-up security 

Equity is the ability to increase the difference between your home value and the amount you owe on your mortgage.

Moreso, as a woman there is an even important reason, it is a tremendous source of security for your future. 

Many women that own real estate have seen success in other parts of their financial lives as well! 

This could include renting out spare rooms for additional income.

If you already own a home, you should think about paying down your mortgage a bit more each month or year. 

If you are married, this will only increase the value of your assets towards your retirement. 

In fact, it is an opportunity to become more active within the financial realm of your life. 

By becoming interested in the insights of the financial details of how it works (i.e. through paying off your mortgage earlier, refinancing when rates lower or appraising the home when values rise), it can lead to taking more of an interest in other areas of your family's personal finance. 

For women that end up alone, either through divorce or widowed, owning a home can provide tremendous financial security. 

It provides options that provide security later on in life such as: tapping into the value of the home, getting extra income or taking advantage of the increased value. 

Since real estate prices have gone up so much these last few years, partially due to low interest rates, you might be thinking that you can't afford to get into the real estate market where you live. 

You can look in other areas. 

For example, central CBD locations have become prohibitively expensive. 

Therefore, many people are buying homes in the outer suburbs and have already seen property values rise. 

Or you might be thinking that you don't have enough saved for a down payment. 

Many people don't believe in mortgage insurance, the reality is that this may be worthwhile to enable you to purchase a home. It is likely you will see this money returned as the value of your home may have gone up so the insurance is money well spent.

If you don't do anything about it, you still won't have enough saved for a down payment. 

The alternative options is that you could buy a small 1 bedroom apartment and rent it out. It doesn't always have to be the home you need to live in.

My first investment property was a 1 bedroom apartment in a boutique development in Melbourne's CBD in Australia. I have since purchased further investment properties and have not lived in any of them.

I am a "rentvestor" which means that I rent myself and buy houses to rent out to others.

If owning a property is aligned to your goals, the key is to just get started!