Comments on: A Year Already? http://blog.canadian-dream-free-at-45.com/2010/03/16/a-year-already/ A Blog About Early Retirement and Happiness Tue, 07 Sep 2010 17:54:28 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.9.2 hourly 1 By: Parents and Retirement Planning | Canadian Dream: Free at 45 http://blog.canadian-dream-free-at-45.com/2010/03/16/a-year-already/comment-page-1/#comment-46448 Parents and Retirement Planning | Canadian Dream: Free at 45 Tue, 07 Sep 2010 11:34:00 +0000 http://blog.canadian-dream-free-at-45.com/?p=1476#comment-46448 [...] discussion.  This is similar to the discussion I had with my wife, when I learned she was carrying $20,000 in credit card debt.  It was not a comfortable thing to talk about for either of us, but led to a galvanized effort of [...] [...] discussion.  This is similar to the discussion I had with my wife, when I learned she was carrying $20,000 in credit card debt.  It was not a comfortable thing to talk about for either of us, but led to a galvanized effort of [...]

]]> By: Steve Zussino http://blog.canadian-dream-free-at-45.com/2010/03/16/a-year-already/comment-page-1/#comment-41639 Steve Zussino Tue, 23 Mar 2010 19:32:29 +0000 http://blog.canadian-dream-free-at-45.com/?p=1476#comment-41639 Great story on working together with your wife. It is great working as a team and you learn a lot from this. Great story on working together with your wife.

It is great working as a team and you learn a lot from this.

]]> By: The Rat http://blog.canadian-dream-free-at-45.com/2010/03/16/a-year-already/comment-page-1/#comment-41496 The Rat Thu, 18 Mar 2010 03:36:55 +0000 http://blog.canadian-dream-free-at-45.com/?p=1476#comment-41496 Firstly, congrats on your anniversary! My wife and I got married last summer and our first anniversary is due in a few months. We also got married in the sunny south and loved it. What was great is that we knew to the penny what the wedding was going to cost us b/c of the all-inclusive package. I never ran into any surprises after we got married. We had been together for several years and we paid off our debts when we first started living together. One of the things that I felt was important for us to do was talk about finances. She dreaded the idea at first because it doesn't interest her one bit, but over time she has learned to appreciate the importance of it and we both realize its important for our relationship. A home has so many hidden costs, its unbelievable. The moment any renovations starts, expenses can fly in a lot of directions. Like your wife, my wife placed a high importance on being a home owner and didn't overly enjoy moving when I sold our principal residence on two occasions; but she realizes it was well worth it. Nice thread! Firstly, congrats on your anniversary! My wife and I got married last summer and our first anniversary is due in a few months. We also got married in the sunny south and loved it. What was great is that we knew to the penny what the wedding was going to cost us b/c of the all-inclusive package.

I never ran into any surprises after we got married. We had been together for several years and we paid off our debts when we first started living together.

One of the things that I felt was important for us to do was talk about finances. She dreaded the idea at first because it doesn’t interest her one bit, but over time she has learned to appreciate the importance of it and we both realize its important for our relationship.

A home has so many hidden costs, its unbelievable. The moment any renovations starts, expenses can fly in a lot of directions. Like your wife, my wife placed a high importance on being a home owner and didn’t overly enjoy moving when I sold our principal residence on two occasions; but she realizes it was well worth it.

Nice thread!

]]> By: Simple in France http://blog.canadian-dream-free-at-45.com/2010/03/16/a-year-already/comment-page-1/#comment-41450 Simple in France Wed, 17 Mar 2010 07:19:43 +0000 http://blog.canadian-dream-free-at-45.com/?p=1476#comment-41450 It's funny, I never really thought about that when dating. When my husband and I got married, he was debt free and I was just wrapping up my student loans--I may have had about $5,000 still to pay off at 4% interest. I think that a big debt surprise would have been a shock for either of us. Being in debt is a way of life, after all. Also, the mortgage. My husband and I agree that we want to buy a home, but I tend to hope we'll be able to buy something cash (most likely something small or to fix up) he often has his eye out on something larger! I think it's because, being French, he's never paid off a debt in his life (no student loans, no credit card . . .) I get all nervous when I think of a mortgage, sort of like having debt flashbacks! It’s funny, I never really thought about that when dating. When my husband and I got married, he was debt free and I was just wrapping up my student loans–I may have had about $5,000 still to pay off at 4% interest.

I think that a big debt surprise would have been a shock for either of us. Being in debt is a way of life, after all.

Also, the mortgage. My husband and I agree that we want to buy a home, but I tend to hope we’ll be able to buy something cash (most likely something small or to fix up) he often has his eye out on something larger! I think it’s because, being French, he’s never paid off a debt in his life (no student loans, no credit card . . .) I get all nervous when I think of a mortgage, sort of like having debt flashbacks!

]]> By: Four Pillars http://blog.canadian-dream-free-at-45.com/2010/03/16/a-year-already/comment-page-1/#comment-41431 Four Pillars Wed, 17 Mar 2010 02:36:14 +0000 http://blog.canadian-dream-free-at-45.com/?p=1476#comment-41431 Dave's Wife: Don't feel stupid for learning the right way to handle your finances. Stupid would be if you never learned/changed and still had the debt (or more). Dave’s Wife: Don’t feel stupid for learning the right way to handle your finances.

Stupid would be if you never learned/changed and still had the debt (or more).

]]> By: Dave http://blog.canadian-dream-free-at-45.com/2010/03/16/a-year-already/comment-page-1/#comment-41427 Dave Wed, 17 Mar 2010 01:20:13 +0000 http://blog.canadian-dream-free-at-45.com/?p=1476#comment-41427 @ Lynn Seidel: Thanks! The year has gone by pretty quickly. @ Financial Student: Good luck on your climb. @ The Personal Finance Blog: I think living with a spender keeps me from being "stingy" - as my wife so nicely puts it. @ Jon Snow - I think I'll see more of the benefits of a two-income household in year two compared to year one, as much of that one of our incomes was going towards consumer debt:) @ Lynn Seidel: Thanks! The year has gone by pretty quickly.

@ Financial Student: Good luck on your climb.

@ The Personal Finance Blog: I think living with a spender keeps me from being “stingy” – as my wife so nicely puts it.

@ Jon Snow – I think I’ll see more of the benefits of a two-income household in year two compared to year one, as much of that one of our incomes was going towards consumer debt:)

]]> By: Jon Snow http://blog.canadian-dream-free-at-45.com/2010/03/16/a-year-already/comment-page-1/#comment-41405 Jon Snow Tue, 16 Mar 2010 20:12:13 +0000 http://blog.canadian-dream-free-at-45.com/?p=1476#comment-41405 I've been married for 8 months, and of course it is wonderful on many levels... but I have to say that I underestimated the financial benefits of a two income household. As the months tick by, we are constantly surprised how fast things are amassing... if we had a clue about investing it could be even better. Well, I guess thats we hang out on blogs such as this.... I’ve been married for 8 months, and of course it is wonderful on many levels… but I have to say that I underestimated the financial benefits of a two income household. As the months tick by, we are constantly surprised how fast things are amassing… if we had a clue about investing it could be even better. Well, I guess thats we hang out on blogs such as this….

]]> By: The Personal Finance Blog http://blog.canadian-dream-free-at-45.com/2010/03/16/a-year-already/comment-page-1/#comment-41401 The Personal Finance Blog Tue, 16 Mar 2010 19:52:20 +0000 http://blog.canadian-dream-free-at-45.com/?p=1476#comment-41401 Congratulations to Dave and his wife on both milestones. I guess it's really true that spenders are attracted to savers and vice-versa. Well it's good to have a balance in the money management department. I'm debt-free, but that was quite a hard thing to do, since I'm a spender at heart. Remaining debt-free is going to be the real challenge. Congratulations to Dave and his wife on both milestones.

I guess it’s really true that spenders are attracted to savers and vice-versa. Well it’s good to have a balance in the money management department.

I’m debt-free, but that was quite a hard thing to do, since I’m a spender at heart. Remaining debt-free is going to be the real challenge.

]]> By: Dave's Wife http://blog.canadian-dream-free-at-45.com/2010/03/16/a-year-already/comment-page-1/#comment-41398 Dave's Wife Tue, 16 Mar 2010 19:24:23 +0000 http://blog.canadian-dream-free-at-45.com/?p=1476#comment-41398 @ Ben - Had my debt been due to education I would not have been embarrassed to let Dave know about the size of it. Unfortunately, I just had bad shopping habits and was living well beyond my means. It was my dirty little secret that I had $20k in consumer debt with no plan to pay anything back but the interest like I had been doing for the past 5 years. Dave knew I had debt, I just never gave an exact number until we were engaged and even then it was hard for me to admit that number. Having no knowledge of personal finance and having accumulated such a large debt was very embarrassing. Having to tell someone like Dave who is good with finances and does not enjoy debt in the slightest did not make it any easier. Having made such poor financial decisions made me feel rather stupid when I was shown what I should have been doing. At least I learned eventually I guess! @ Ben – Had my debt been due to education I would not have been embarrassed to let Dave know about the size of it. Unfortunately, I just had bad shopping habits and was living well beyond my means. It was my dirty little secret that I had $20k in consumer debt with no plan to pay anything back but the interest like I had been doing for the past 5 years. Dave knew I had debt, I just never gave an exact number until we were engaged and even then it was hard for me to admit that number. Having no knowledge of personal finance and having accumulated such a large debt was very embarrassing. Having to tell someone like Dave who is good with finances and does not enjoy debt in the slightest did not make it any easier. Having made such poor financial decisions made me feel rather stupid when I was shown what I should have been doing. At least I learned eventually I guess!

]]> By: Financial Student http://blog.canadian-dream-free-at-45.com/2010/03/16/a-year-already/comment-page-1/#comment-41393 Financial Student Tue, 16 Mar 2010 19:14:11 +0000 http://blog.canadian-dream-free-at-45.com/?p=1476#comment-41393 I get married right after I finished college so we pretty much got into debt together. Nice thing to do as a couple ;) Good for her on getting out of debt! We're going to start the up hill climb ourselves starting this May. I get married right after I finished college so we pretty much got into debt together. Nice thing to do as a couple ;)

Good for her on getting out of debt! We’re going to start the up hill climb ourselves starting this May.

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