WellnessWithHolli

How to Manage Money in Marriage Jennifer Scott  The wedding hall is cleared, the glitter dust cloud has settled, and thank-you notes are sent: You are officially past wedding mode and into married life. Newlyweds have a long and exciting time to look forward to together. However, there are also a lot of important decisions to make. One of the most vital parts of married life is effective money management. It’s important that you and your spouse are on the same page when it comes to finances. After all, financial disagreements are one of the leading causes of relationship stress, and ignoring money issues is a recipe for disaster. Instead, strengthen your relationship by tackling your finances together with these helpful tips.  Focus on Frank, Respectful Communication When it comes to money, there’s no point in beating around the bush. The more frank conversations about money you and your partner can have, the better off you’ll be. Always remember to say exactly what ...

On the last blog, I talked about the first three Stages of a Relationship : Stage One - Passion and Chemistry Stage Two - Power and Control Stage Three - Problem Solving and Compromise We are going to  move on the final two stages of a relationship, but before we do I just want to remind everyone that these stages typically occur in the order that I am giving them to you. However, because of transitions or crises or changes in your relationship, you will move back and forth into these stages and you may stay in some stages longer than you do others. This is to be expected.   Let's move on to Stage Four - Co-creativity and Mutuality.   Couples typically start to settle into this phase after they have been together for some time or at least after they have worked through Stage Two and are able to integrate Stage Three into their relationship with a level of ease.   It is my opinion that at the root of Stage Four is a key ingredient to healthy re...

Over the Valentine's Weekend, my husband and I had the pleasure of attending a beautiful wedding in the wine country of Southern California. A sparkling lake outlined with rows of vines served as the backdrop for the elegant ceremony. Listening to the vows laced with poetic verses and timeless scripture, I couldn't take my eyes off the bride and groom. Although they met in high school nine years ago and have been sweet-hearts ever since, their mutual love and respect for one another simply glowed. For a few minutes, my mind revisited the 5 Stages of a Relationship ~ and I thought of how this couple (although still young at 27) has successfully navigated through two of the most difficult stages.  Although there are hundred of books written on this topic, I am going to keep it simple...and short. The first Stage is the easy one. Most of us sail through this one! Most of us are familiar with Stage One - Passion and Chemistry.   This one does not need much explanatio...