Tag: bills

There are few things more heartbreaking than someone hating their job. Work is where most people spend the majority of their waking hours. And if your spouse is the breadwinner, they feel this responsibility—they have to work, they have to make money, or the whole system breaks.

The American Dream has evolved past the humble "white picket fence." Way past. We all strive for the "nice" home (as defined by HGTV and Pinterest) as opposed to the cozy one, keep a perpetual car payment instead of driving an older model, and chauffeur kids to an endless array of pricey activities rather than sending them outside. Call it creeping consumerism, entitlement, or plain old peer pressure. The point is, we see our hectic and expensive lifestyles as normal—and it’s time we realized that keeping up with the proverbial Joneses is actually extravagant and irresponsible.

Fear. It’s the four-letter word that infiltrates our families, our job market and even our economy. And while few of us enjoy fear, it is actually a very powerful and beneficial emotion. Why? Fear shows us that we need protection and it outlines a coming threat—be it real or imagined. The challenge with fear is knowing when it is necessary to command our attention and what to do when we feel it. Today, the most common fear felt by most married couples probably has something to do with money.

Many parents and families are now facing the consequences of overspending; not just on necessary household items or fun luxuries, but monthly bills.

"Batten down the hatches—quick, men."

The origin of this phrase came from crewman on ships at sea to prepare for bad weather. I do believe this is appropriate for the environment we are in today.

I am sure if you are reading this you know someone, or even maybe you yourself, are out of work. So how does financial advice apply to those who are in the red zone of a financial crisis? What a great question. I believe it is never too late to learn even if the application may be different in scope.