Couples in
Conflict Over a Spouse's Obsession with Money
According
to a Citibank survey, 57% of divorced couples
said financial disputes were the primary reason
they didn’t get along. Today’s couples
are no exception, with money differences running
the gamut from rigid frugality to extremely lavish
spending. Find out more about their stories below:
Lawrence gives a whole new meaning
to “cheap skate,” eating moldy bread
and performing his own minor surgeries to save
money! Though Lawrence freely admits his frugality,
he has a hard time admitting that he’s
not being fair to his wife Kathy, who is kept
in the dark about their finances and given a
$200/wk allowance. Kathy laments the fact that
Lawrence refuses to buy car and health insurance
for the family and is ready to give up on the
marriage if Lawrence can’t make some concessions.
Video Clip: Kathy
issues an ultimatum as Larry strives to help
this couple find resolution.
Nicole’s
closet looks like a rack at any designer department
store – Louis Vuitton, Fendi, Prada, Coach
and Christian Dior – and it’s no
surprise considering she spends $1500/month on
clothes. Nicole’s husband Aaron wants her
to realize that they need to start saving for
a house and for their kids’ college funds,
but Nicole believes in living – and spending
-- for the present.
Tiffany
has her husband Brad wrapped around her finger – which
also sports an $18,000 ring he bought for her.
Brad admits that he will buy Tiffany anything
to make her happy, including a brand-new BMW,
but thinks the spending needs to stop. Tiffany
says that Brad knew she was high-maintenance
before marrying her and that he should accept
her ways. To get to the root of the situation,
Larry asked if Brad was trying to buy Tiffany’s
love out of fear of losing her. Larry suggested
Brad stop enabling Tiffany to take advantage
of his generosity
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In
today’s “Listen to Your Elder” segment,
Tiffany has enlisted Larry’s help in getting
through to her husband Curtis. In recent years,
Curtis has become obsessed with souping up his
car and drag racing with his buddies. To Tiffany’s
dismay, it often consumes his time and money,
leaving little for herself and their children.
Now that they are $25,00 in debt, Tiffany needs
Curtis to make a change before his hobby destroys
their family’s prospects for the future.
Quick
Clicks
Do you and your husband need help balancing the
budget? Check out today’s Advice Archive
articles:
Five Steps to Romantic Money Management
Money Fitness
Be on the Show: Are you experiencing similar
financial problems? Tell
us about it.
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