10 Financial Principles To Live By

Money worries rank among the highest causes of marital stress and divorce. Few couples recognize that their spending habits might have more to do with their emotions, their upbringing, and their communication skills than with their net income.

Dr. Bernard Poduska, author of Till Debt Do Us Part: Balancing Finances, Feelings, and Family, offers 10 principles that can help couples deal with their finances. With Valentine's Day just around the corner, take the time to rekindle your relationship. These life-changing principles may help you develop good patterns for a healthy financial future together.

Principle 1: Financial problems are usually behavior problems rather than money problems.

Principle 2: If you continue doing what you have been doing, you will continue getting what you have been getting.

Principle 3: Nothing is worth risking the relationship.

Principle 4: Money spent on things you value usually leads to a feeling of satisfaction and accomplishment. Money spent on things you do not value usually leads to a feeling of frustration and futility.

Principle 5: We know the price of everything and the value of nothing.

Principle 6: You can never get enough of what you don’t need, because what you don’t need can never satisfy you.

Principle 7: Financial freedom is more often the result of decreased spending than increased income.

Principle 8: Be grateful for what you have.

Principle 9: The best things in life are free.

Principle 10: The value of individuals should never be equated with their net worth.