Compared to those who merely live together, people who marry become economically better off. Men become more productive after marriage; they earn between ten and forty percent more than do single men with similar education and job histories. Marital social norms that encourage healthy, productive behavior and wealth accumulation play a role. Some of the greater wealth of married couples results from their more efficient specialization and pooling of resources, and because they save more. Married people also receive more money from family members than the unmarried (including cohabiting couples), probably because families consider marriage more permanent and more binding than a living-together union.  

People who are married are more likely to have emotionally and physically satisfying sex lives than single people or those who just live together.

Contrary to the popular belief that married sex is boring and infrequent, married people report higher levels of sexual satisfaction than both sexually active singles and cohabiting couples, according to the most comprehensive and recent survey of sexuality. Forty-two percent of wives said that they found sex extremely emotionally and physically satisfying, compared to just 31 percent of single women who had a sex partner. And 48 percent of husbands said sex was extremely satisfying emotionally, compared to just 37 percent of cohabiting men. The higher level of commitment in marriage is probably the reason for the high level of reported sexual satisfaction; marital commitment contributes to a greater sense of trust and security, less drug and alcohol-infused sex, and more mutual communication between the couple.

People who grow up in a family broken by divorce are slightly less likely to marry, and much more likely to divorce when they do marry.  

According to one study the divorce risk nearly triples if one marries someone who also comes from a broken home. The increased risk is much lower, however, if the marital partner is someone who grew up in a happy, intact family.  

For large segments of the population, the risk of divorce is far below fifty percent.  

Although the overall divorce rate in America remains close to fifty percent of all marriages, it has been dropping gradually over the past two decades. Also, the risk of divorce is far below fifty percent for educated people going into their first marriage, and lower still for people who wait to marry at least until their mid-twenties, haven’t lived with many different partners prior to marriage, or are strongly religious and marry someone of the same faith.   

By: Spencer Degraw

1. Anyone can call himself a planner.

To avoid amateurs, hire a planner who’s earned special credentials (such as a Certified Financial Planner or Personal Financial Specialist designation) by meeting training standards or having a certain level of experience.

2. Planning is more than investing.

Not all planners offer comprehensive services. Some just give investment advice or focus on one aspect of planning, such as insurance or taxes.

3. Expand your choices.

When hiring a planner, interview at least three pros to find the one who can deliver the services you need and who’s compatible with your style.

By:CNNMoney.com

A debt consultant provided hard-headed advice on how to extricate oneself from the clutches of credit-card companies. He shared a stall with a woman who offered to redesign clients’ spiritual lives according to the principles of feng shui. A chiropractor stood alongside a lady selling activity holidays to Italy.

This was Britain’s first divorce fair, offering everything that a divorcing couple could possibly want and some things they might not have known they needed.

Some of the 300 or so visitors to the fair, for instance, may have known they would need to change their will as a result of their divorce. They perhaps did not realise that they may also need to change the colour of their clothes and their living space as part of the separation process. Four very friendly ladies, all trained “colour psychologists” were on hand to explain.

For those looking for a more spiritual end to their marriage, outside on Brighton beach three ministers of the Rhythm of Life non-denominational church enacted a “ceremony of separation”. The ministers frequently preside over weddings and funerals but they claim there is now a demand among separating couples for a similar ritual to inaugurate their divorce.

By: Will Pavia

Accept that there will be unpleasant things in life. All the time, every day you’ll face hindrances: You’ll be too late or make a mistake or say something stupid. It’s the rent you pay to live in the house of life. It’s part of life. There’s no point in being disappointed when things don’t go your way.

Open your eyes and look around. There are more opportunities for happiness than you think, certainly for a Westerner in 2008. Embrace the moments. Try to remember them. Enjoy them.

Take time out. The ability to pause, mentally as well as in your actions, is important. Taking breaks is a prerequisite for experiencing happiness.

Pay attention to your family and friends. Social ties are important for happiness. Don’t let a day go by without thinking of, or seeing, someone you love.

Try to get in touch with nature every day. Take a walk in the park and spend a few minutes looking at nature.

Express your gratitude and respect for the good things you experience. Being thankful makes you happy and increases the chance of social connection.

Take your time: Giving each other time to come to grips with the idea of divorce is crucial, advises Robert Emery, a professor of psychology at the University of Virginia and author of “The Truth About Children and Divorce” (Viking Adult). “If you’re the one wanting out, you need to be patient,” he says. “You’ve been thinking about this for a while. It will take time for your ex to get to that place.”

Constance Ahrons, a professor emerita of sociology at the University of California, agrees. “People often make bad decisions during times of high stress,” says Ahrons, author of “We’re Still Family: What Grown Children Have to Say About Their Parents’ Divorce” (HarperCollins). Seeing a marriage counselor together, she suggests, can help couples figure out what has gone wrong and what might be salvaged.

Note: Recommendations for patience don’t apply to cases involving domestic violence abuse. In such cases, “get out,” says Ed Sherman, a California family law attorney and author of the forthcoming “Make any Divorce Better.”

Go away. Hide. Get a restraining order. Go to a place that specializes in domestic abuse counseling.

By: Jennifer Huget
The Washington Post
December 18, 2007

No matter what our financial background, we all have unique money stories imprinted upon us from a young age. And whether we’re conscious or not of what we’ve absorbed, we all pass along these stories, feelings and attitudes to our children, partners, friends and colleagues. Even if you don’t talk much about the topic, that in itself, is part of your story.

The first step in getting a handle on your money story is to figure out what your parents or other childhood models taught you about money. This influence is so strong that most adults recreate family money dynamics –the familiar –in one of three ways:

1.Being attracted and attractive to people who are similar to those “childhood models”

2.Interpreting other people’s behaviour as being similar to your parents or childhood models (whether it’s the same or not)

3.Doing all you can to get the other person to exhibit familiar behaviours.

Here’s the kicker: Even if you consciously choose someone who’s different from your mom or dad, it’s likely you’ll unconsciously try to change that person so they fit into the family blueprint (which is why we often get angry at a partner for not being who we want them to be).