I remember it like it was yesterday. Dad opened the closet door and with angels singing quietly in the background, he retrieved the sacred box which contained their one and only credit card. He surely did not know what a lasting impression that random moment would have on me and my understanding of finances. That small experience cemented a life-lesson into my mind: do not use your credit card foolishly. Do not whip it out and charge your way to “happiness” whenever you “need” a new purse or a fancy meal. By keeping the card locked away and ceremoniously retrieving it in certain circumstances, Mom and Dad encouraged me to be wise with my spending.
The credit card box incident was not the only impression they made on me regarding money. When I was a little girl, I felt compelled to buy out the Dollar Tree every time we shopped there. After all, they had so much cool stuff and everything was only a dollar! I received around three dollars every week from my parents – and I got a lot of bang for my buck shopping there. ~smile~ Recognizing my zeal for bargain shopping, Mom suggested I walk around the store for several minutes before deciding to purchase anything. Then, after a few moments of mulling, I could put back whichever items I no longer wanted. Mom is very anti-impulse shopping and I am so thankful she instilled that trait in me! Most of the time, I would put something back on the shelf; and, on more than one occasion, I put everything back and left with a smile and my money.
Mom also suggested coming home and “sleeping on it” before making any large purchases. “If you are still thinking about it tomorrow, then you can come back and get it.” Oh, the money this woman has saved me over the years! Simply by teaching me to stop and think before I buy!
Money Messages
What money messages were you taught as a child and how do they affect you today? Are you happy with what you learned from your parents, desperate to handle money differently than your parents, or simply in the dark about the ins and outs of finances?
Whether you are a seasoned banker or an amateur budgeter, money will affect your marriage – for better or worse. Early in our relationship, Eric and I made some money mistakes; but, thankfully, we were able to get on the right track quickly. Getting that area of our lives under control has allowed us to focus our energy on work, family, and ministry without having constant money problems and financial conflicts looming over us. We regret not discussing finances more before marriage, but we are thankful to have received the financial training we did during our newlywed years.
We want you to have an awesome plan from the start! If you can talk rationally and respectfully to each other about money, you can communicate about anything.
Time for Another Blessing!
Eric and I want to bless you with some financial goodies, including Dave Ramsey’s book, The Total Money Makeover and some other surprises! Getting on the same page with your finances is one of the most important tasks to tackle before you say, “I do.” To enter to win the PreEngaged Dave Ramsey Prize Pack, contact us and send us a question related to money and dating or money management in marriage. We will answer your question privately, but may also use your question as the basis for a future blog post or training!
When our finances are in order, we breathe a bit easier. Though life does not always go as planned, we can deal with hiccups better when we have some money saved and debts paid. I remember Dave Ramsey saying that if your car breaks down before you have an emergency fund, you have a car crisis and a money crisis; but, if you have some money set aside for those unforeseen potholes, you can pull out the money, fix the car, and move on with life. Is building that financial cushion worth living beneath your means for a while? (Yes, it is!)
We look forward to receiving your questions and sending someone a fun PreEngaged Dave Ramsey prize pack!
What is your biggest concern regarding money and your future marriage?
Picture: iStockPhoto/halduns
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