Everywhere, Easter marks new beginnings – new life, spring in the northern hemisphere and an important farming milestone almost everywhere. That’s because it’s associated with the equinox, when day and night are of equal length all over the globe. And it can also mark a new beginning in your relationship!

But if you read all the adverts, and especially the glossy magazines, you could be forgiven for thinking that to celebrate the holiday properly you must get away. The rich and famous go to the coast of course. Or to swanky lodges. Or all sorts of exciting places abroad. But what if money’s tight – as it is for most of us this year? Continue Reading

Money isn’t only the root of all evil, it’s also the cause of a lot of arguments. Especially between couples. Mostly that’s because money’s so important in our lives of course, but it’s also because we all handle money in different ways. Maybe you expect a high standard of living, for example, and so tend to spend every last shilling you earn. While your spouse prefers a more modest lifestyle and wants to save for the future…

And so you argue. The best way to avoid problems like these is to talk about money before you wed. That may sound thoroughly unromantic, but it really is a good idea! After all, courtship’s all about finding out if two people are really compatible, isn’t it? And that includes your attitudes towards money. There really is no point in marrying someone who’s going to make the rest of your financial life a misery!

So lay all your financial cards on the table long before you start planning the wedding. Your income, expenditure, any loans or savings. Be 100% truthful! And discuss all your hopes and dreams. Maybe you want to study some more for example, or buy a house. If so how might your ambitions be financed? Make a budget together, and think through how you’ll manage the money – housekeeping, allowances, individual spending money, savings, whether to have a joint bank account or not…

Agree on whatever works for you, and start doing at least some of it straight away. Because you’d be amazed how much easier it is to get things like this started before you’re actually married! Later on, trying to change things like each other’s spending habits can be very difficult indeed. Continue Reading

Life’s full of difficult decisions. Such as whether you should end a long but joyless relationship. Or move from a safe but boring job to a riskier one that’s more rewarding. Or whether to start a new business. But whenever you’re faced by tough choices, it’s easy to become overwhelmed by doubts and anxiety. However attractive the new opportunity might seem, you find you’re unwilling to let go of what you have. Even though you don’t like it much.

That’s because no matter how much you think through the alternatives, it’s practically impossible to convince yourself that you’re not making some sort of mistake. So you worry about what might go wrong and fear losing what you have. Your anxiety makes you more pessimistic and afraid, so you prefer safety to change – and feel unable to move forward. But the fear of losing what you have can mean you miss good opportunities. Continue Reading