Relationships

 
couple Marital satisfaction, is it attainable?  What role does money (or the lack of it) and who controls it have to play on the perceived satisfaction of each partner? Management skills can be implemented today, and if properly used, can be used as tools for satisfaction in that area of your marriage.  Stewart H. Welch, III provides guidance  in his 10 Minute Guide to Personal Finance for Newlyweds (Macmillan, 1996) - and you don't have to be a newlywed to benefit from the book, or the tips below:

    Adapted from How Couples Can Avoid Fighting Over Money, 
    (Ebony * August 1999)
    Talk about money during a calm time: - make an appointment in the near future with those who share the resources.  Determine values and priorities before the meeting.
    Discuss goals:  Short term (one year or less), intermediate term (one to five years), and long-term (five years to ?? years).  Do your goals reflect your values?  If not, analyze what changes need to be made.  When goals are established, develop a specific and measurable strategy to attain them.  Make an appointment to begin re-evaluating the goals on a regular basis.
Earmark: Put aside money for those unexpected financial needs.  Set aside a specific amount each paycheck.  Even better, if possible, have your employer withhold it before you even see it.
Be Fair: Money shouldn't be used to manipulate or control your partner.  Agree that earning power is not a weapon for an argument.
 The Disease of Materialism - James Dobson

Materialism is a dissease that infects the human family--and it's not a problem only in affluent cultures. Author and financial counselor Ron Blue tells the story of visiting a small, rural village in Africa. Ron asked a native there what the biggest problem was facing his village. The man replied, "Materialism."
Ron was taken aback. He expected it to be the lack of food or medical attention or perhaps problems with neighboring villages. But materialism? These villagers didn't have televisions or cars or satellite dishes--the sorts of things we associate with "the good life."
But this villager tod Ron, "If a man has a mud hut, he wants one made of stone. If he has a thatch roof, he wants a tin roof. If he has one acre, he wants two. Materialism is a disease of the heart. It has nothing to do with where one lives."
That's probably the simplist and best explanation of materialism. And it might hit pretty close to where you live. Take a good hard look at the loved ones in your life--and then think about where your real priorities are.