CHELSEA FAGAN

• Save up an emergency fund equal to at least three months of your living expenses.
• Create a debt repayment schedule that pays down your debt at a minimum cost of interest and maximum benefit in profit to you. Compare the interest on your debt with the...

• Find a non-stressful time to have a money talk.
• Begin the conversation by appreciating each other.
• Both you and your partner should then, in turn, share how money was regarded and handled in each family.
• Both of you should, in turn, share money hopes and dreams, as we...

Rules that will help you make a success of budgeting:

• Don't create any debt you cannot repay within a month.
• Don't make buying expensive things a habit.
• Check your account balance at least twice every week.
• Don't assume savings will happen automatically.

Your cash flow is healthy if:

• 50% of your income pays your fixed costs like rent, telephone, and utility bills.
• 30% of your income pays for variable and lifestyle costs like groceries and travel.
• 20% of your income pays...

How many times have you bought things you didn’t need or couldn’t afford?

We often make these wrong financial decisions because we do not have a budget.

Cooking your own meals is a great way to save money.

Financial security means you must embrace the Italian grandmother's mindset — cooking for yourself and your family members is imperative, and eating out or ordering food is a treat.

The next time you’re tempted to go to the...

Nothing scary or complicated about investing.

None of your money should sit idle in a bank account except your emergency fund.

Your money should actively work toward reaching a goal on its own to your benefit.

With your partner, you need to have goals and dreams involving investments, property ownership, and retirement, not just falling in love and hoping all turns out well.

You should willingly postpone your fairy-tale ending to build some stability for yourself.