Financial infidelity: One in five Americans hides bank account

One in five Americans has hidden at least one bank account or credit card from their spouse or partner, a survey has found.

Younger people tended to be more likely to keep an account from a partner, with almost a third of millennials (people aged 18-37) admitting to having done so, according to the study by YouGov Plc, an internet-based market research and data analytics firm.

Twenty-four percent of Gen Xers (aged 38 to 53) had hidden assets, and 17 percent of baby boomers (54 to 72) admitted to having hidden an account, it added.

Just eight percent of people 73 or older had hidden a card or account, it said.

The study also found that almost a third (31 percent) of Americans said that keeping a card or account secret was worse than cheating romantically.

Meanwhile, 11 percent of all couples say they never discuss their combined finances.

source: news.abs-cbn.com

Feng shui tips to make your wedding 'lucky'

MANILA – Are you getting married this year? A feng shui expert suggests ways to enhance your luck on your big day.

Citing feng shui principles, Hanz Cua said details such as the venue of the wedding ceremony and reception could bring either positive or negative energy to the couple.

He advised couples to choose a venue with large windows to allow for light to enter, saying that more light signifies a brighter future.

The bride, he said, should consider wearing a gown in a color such as off-white, ivory, pale gold or pink instead of the usual pure white as this is associated with funerals in Chinese tradition.

In an instance when the bride needs to have “something borrowed,” she should get it from someone who has a happy and stable marriage, Cua said. This is to ensure that the couple will only get positive energy for their union.

Cua said it is also best for couples to make their exit from their wedding in a black car than a white one. He noted that black represents continuity, adding that the color will repel negative energy.

To those who want to take it a step further, Cua said wedding dates ending in 8 or 9 are considered auspicious in feng shui tradition. The number 8 shows eternity, while the number 9 stands for things that are whole and absolute. Dates with two numbers that add up to 8 or 9 are also considered lucky, he added.

While a lot of Filipinos do not believe in feng shui, many of them prefer to be on the safe side by adhering to its principles, buying trinkets and other “lucky” items for themselves and their homes.

Others, meanwhile, opt to respect the ancient Chinese system the same way that believers do not criticize their Catholic faith.

source: www.abs-cbnnews.com

Just married? Here are 7 money tips

Now that your dream wedding is over, what's next? To keep you in the honeymoon stage as long as possible, it may help to know that money problems are one of the most common causes of friction in married life.

It doesn’t matter if you have loads of cash or just have enough to get you by. Now that you’re married and all your money and assets are conjugally-owned (unless you had a prenuptial agreement), you may one day find yourselves running into arguments over how to manage your finances and assets on a day-to-day basis.

To avoid these issues and set your marriage off to a good start, especially on the money front, here are some tips to help you:

Discuss your life goals

To plan and manage your finances together, you need to know each other’s goals in life since these will determine your spending and your investment strategy. Do you want to have children? If so, how many and how soon? Do you plan to buy a house? If so, what is your time table for this? Do you plan to relocate? Pursue further studies? Start a business together? Travel? Goals can evolve with time, and make it a habit to revisit your goals every so often.

Set your priorities

This is directly related to the first. Money issues usually begin when spouses cannot agree on their priorities. Before these issues come up, have a conversation so that you would know what matters to each of you as individuals and as a couple. Let’s say you both decide that starting a business is your top priority for now, then both parties would understand that most of your joint funds will be going to the business, and that purchases of big-ticket items such as a house or car may have to take a back seat in the meantime.

Set a monthly budget

Now that you know each other’s life goals and priorities, set a monthly budget that you can live with. This will be based on your joint monthly income. Determine how much you would spend on the basics (utilities, housing, transportation) as well as on non-necessities (entertainment, leisure). Make sure to set aside an amount for savings. Determine how much each one would contribute to this budget (if applicable) and agree to regularly review this budget.

4. Decide on your bank accounts. Discuss if you would want to have separate bank accounts, a joint account, or both. Most likely, both of you already have individual accounts. If you are employed, then you would continue to have your own personal bank account. You may also wish to talk about how you would regard each other’s money. Some couples may prefer to have freedom to use their own money, while others may be more comfortable consulting each other on various expenses. This would differ greatly among couples, so you need to know what you are both most comfortable with.

Have a record filing system

Records are often overlooked by most people, but this is very important so that you can study your finances and have quick access to all the important records you need to have available. This would include bank statements, real estate titles, billing statements, etc. Make sure that both of you know where to find these records. You can also keep electronic copies of these records using various shared programs and apps that both of you can access anytime.

Start investing

Investing early in your marriage gives you one great advantage: time. You don’t need large amounts of money to invest especially in mutual funds or other investment products for retail investors. What you invest in will depend on your circumstances and your strategy, of course. Make sure you top up as you go along. Find a financial adviser you both trust and are comfortable with.

Set up a sinking fund

Both of you can contribute to this fund on a regular basis. Agree on how this will be used—as an emergency fund, to purchase a large-ticket item that you are planning for, to pay for childbirth expenses, etc.

As with almost anything concerning your marriage, your joint finances will run smoothly if you both remain open and honest to each other about the direction you want it to take. All it takes is a little careful planning—and a whole lot of communication.

source: www.abs-cbnnews.com

How should couples manage their finances?

MANILA, Philippines – Money issues can be a "marriage killer" if it’s not addressed by couples at an early stage.

Efren Cruz, a registered financial planner, said couples should be open to each other about their financial status before tying the knot, because this will help them in settling debts, if there are any.

“There should be a disclosure as to how much debt you have and bringing into this union. That’s important because you don’t want to get a surprise. And if you know the balance, you can probable help the person in trying to bring it down,” he said on ANC’s “On The Money.”

Cruz said couples should also decide on who will make financial decisions on investing and saving funds.

“Whoever has the discipline to control money should be the CFO [chief financial officer],” said Cruz.

It is also key for couples to set common goals in aspects of education, travel, entertainment, retirement, insurance, and medical needs.

After identifying goals, couples should decide how much they are going to contribute to the funds, which can be pooled or divided based on income.

“At least you have a pooled fund for your common goals…the pooled fund can be used for saving up for a house or buying a car,” said Cruz.

Investments tools are also useful when managing finances, but it depends on what the couple’s risk preference is.

Some couples may also consider entering a prenuptial agreement to protect their respective assets.

“It will be nice to discuss certain aspects with respect to the finances of the family before they actually finalize it,” Cruz said.

source: www.abs-cbnnews.com

3 reminders when looking for love

MANILA – With Valentine's Day fast approaching, how do you get your special someone to feel excited about this red-letter day for couples?

In an interview on DZMM’s “Ma-Beauty Po Naman” on Sunday, human sexuality expert Dr. Agnes Bueno shared tips on how people should approach "love," whether youre already married or still looking for that special someone.

1. Don't overthink
Bueno said romance cannot be forced and must come naturally. “Hindi pwedeng ipilit ang maging romantic,” she said, likening it to dancing where steps just flow smoothly.

As such, she advised couples not to overthink, which she said can cause problems to the relationship.

"Itong mga bagay na ito kasi nasa dalawang tao 'yan eh. Di kailangang i-programa. Napakahirap i-explain din kung minsan. Healthy relationships are built on a give-and-take thing," she said.

2. Love yourself

When it comes to sustaining interest between couples, Bueno said it is also important to take care of one’s appearance.

She explained that this also reflects a person’s measure of self-respect.

"[Being careful with one’s appearance is important,] not just in a relationship. Self-respect —it goes with everything," she said.

3. Hint but don't tell

For women, Bueno said they should not ask guys if they like you straight out.

“The moment na sabihin mo na, the romance is out. It has to be given. Kailangang hindi mo hingin for it to really be romantic,” she said.

But Bueno said women can give hints if they do like the guy.

“Mahirap maging faithful kung lalaki ka. You have to be able to understand na natural sa lalaki yan. 'Wag maghintay. Mag-cue sa lakaki na gusto mo sya,” she said.

source: www.abs-cbnnews.com

2,000 Pinoy couples to tie knot on Valentine's Day

CEBU CITY - Two hundred couples will exchange "I dos" on Valentine's Day at a mass civil wedding sponsored by the Pag-ibig Fund at the SM Cebu City Trade Hall.

They will be among 2,000 couples nationwide that will marry simultaneously under Pag-ibig's "I Do, I Do, Kasalang Bayan."

Vice President Jejomar Binay and Pag-ibig CEO Darlene Marie Berberabe will stand as marriage sponsors at the Cebu mass wedding.

Cebu City Mayor Michael Rama will serve as the solemnizing official.

Pag-ibig Fund Visayas vice president Victoria dela Pena said the mass wedding is the first of what will be a yearly event.

source: interaksyon.com