Financially Ever After: The Couples' Guide to Managing Money – Communication Scripts and Tools for Thriving Together from a Former Wall Street Journal Columnist

by Jeff D. Opdyke

Your Guide to Managing the Real Dollars—and the Real Emotions—of Your Relationship Too often with money, couples face two choices: fight and risk making the situation worse, or keep quiet and risk making the situation worse. Financially Ever After offers a third option: family financial fluency—the insight, knowledge, and vocabulary every couple needs to communicate effectively about money. Jeff D. Opdyke, previously The Wall Street Journal 's syndicated "Love & Money" columnist, covers any and all financial issues that couples face, including budgeting, deciding on whether to have joint or individual accounts, dividing up family financial chores, confronting debt, making major purchases, as well as handling mortgages, employment, children, and even engagement rings. He offers dozens of real-life scenarios between couples, with scripts and suggestions for how to broach delicate money-related subjects with your significant other, whether he or she has a shaky credit history or is feeling left out of family financial decision-making. The book also provides helpful tools to organize your financial life, such as a budgeting chart, a "scorecard" to track spending, and an "affordability calculator" to help you figure out how much buying a house will cost you. A must-read for any couple starting out, Financially Ever After lays the groundwork for building a healthy and thriving financial life together.

Genres: Nonfiction, Finance

232 pages, Paperback

First published March 25, 2009

Reviews

[Foolishly Seasoned · Rating 4 out of 5]

Entirely picked up this book from the library on a whim. Opdyke writes in an easy going manner for couples guide to financial success. While I currently do not have a partner, I did find this book incredibly insightful, and the information still relevant. Its surprisingly a bit thorough for being a smaller book. It does give me a lot to think about and change my opinion on some aspects I had originally thought about finances to be as such. I would definitely recommend giving this book a read, and I'd probably have to reread this book at some point. xD

[Kristen · Rating 2 out of 5]

Filled with grammatical errors and mistakes. Also repeats phrases (for example: "as such") over and over. Both make me take him and his "words of wisdom" less seriously. If he edits this version, he needs to reconsider his Editor.

[Yano Triwibagyo · Rating 3 out of 5]

A decent book for new couple, specially for working couple. It provides concept how to manage the money together, and prevailing your ego, which is not easy.
However, illustrations in this book are somewhat not applicable for people outside the US.
I could say, this book yields as good start to understand how to manage the money, but you probably need another book to get more practicable solutions/illustrations.

[Liz · Rating 4 out of 5]

The content is very good. There is enough sound advice throughout the book that anyone who cohabitates should find this book useful. As others have mentioned, the book is very poorly edited. There are many grammatical and usage errors throughout. I read the e-book version, so maybe the physical copies are better.

[Alima · Rating 2 out of 5]

The main thing about managing money in marrage is talk about how you earn them, where you spend them and how. Married people are twice richer that single or divorced. Saving is also an expense.

[Beckie · Rating 3 out of 5]

"Financially Ever After" is a fairly basic look at the practical relationship between money and marriage. Author and Wall Street Journal columnist Jeff Opdyke has some opinions, especially when it comes to joint versus individual accounts, but most of his advice is beyond debate. (OK, I think he overestimates the chances of one's kid getting a sizable outside college scholarship.)
The bulk of the book covers basic topics like budgeting, but addresses the emotional as well as practical elements of a shared financial life. The last few sections about estate planning, power of attorney, and retirement were especially helpful as they cover topics couples are less likely to sort out from the beginning if they're young.
The writing, I thought, was trying a bit too hard, and while Opdyke is careful not to assume which partner earns more or stays home with the kids, some of his gender-related comments were a bit jarring. On the whole, it's a book one reads for utility rather than pleasure, and serves its purpose well enough.

[Heather · Rating 4 out of 5]

In the spirit of having just gotten married, I am delving into financial planning reading. Since we were "older" (relatively speaking) when we got married, we have each been financially independent for many years. So, this was a great first step into understanding the psychology of finances for a couple. And for anyone that tells you this isn't a major issue in every marriage, they're lying. Money can make or break a marriage, whether both people work or one person works.

I appreciated the honesty of the author in conveying his (and his wife's) own experience, and although this won't be a sole resource on the subject for us, it was a great introduction into how to approach joint financial planning and why people choose various methods.

I plan on reading other books by this same WSJ writer on the subject on financial planning.

[L · Rating 2 out of 5]

A little outdated with the aspects with "balancing a cheque book", a concept I feel many people either don't know how to do or are doing away with. The book covers very typical things and primarily center around communication. What relationship book isn't about communication? The 10 questions to ask your partner about finances was helpful. The most memorable tip was using the Gatekeeper (one person manages all) or the Tag Team (both equally manage) style of financial planning. I'm sure there are much better financial planning books out there. Definitely not something that will be of great use for anyone who has a basic knowledge of financial planning.

[Jen · Rating 4 out of 5]

I found this book helpful (as a new spouse) but I found his older book, Love and Money, more helpful. This one presents ten questions that couples should ask each other and themselves (the first is, "Do you have a basic understanding of money?") before marriage, and then a section of considerations for after marriage. I would recommend this for couples who are thinking about getting married or who are engaged. It was useful to read after marriage as well.

[Erica · Rating 2 out of 5]

Geared towards couples thinking of getting married and/or sharing financial responsibility. It did not give many tips for the already married folks. I could have used more nitty-gritty how to with how to run finances when married, but instead it focused more on the psychology of managing money with a partner.

[Curt · Rating 3 out of 5]

Good ideas on how to handle finances as a couple - tips for avoiding arguments, etc. Some good advice on budgeting, and handling daily finance. Also some good tips on things to know about a person before getting married (or for learning after the fact if you are already married). Not all was applicable for me, but is helpful for the many instances I have to work with couples on their finances.

[Cat · Rating 3 out of 5]

Some of the info might feel a bit dated or redundant for someone who is currently in a successful marriage or who has at least been there and done that. However, this would be a great read for a young newly engaged couple.

[Brad · Rating 4 out of 5]

Basic, sound advice. Too bad Melanie and I didn't read it 17 years ago.

[Eric · Rating 4 out of 5]

Some interesting ideas about money management

[Sensibly Sassy · Rating 3 out of 5]

6th book of 2010

[Jenny · Rating 2 out of 5]

Not really aimed at me, but the best advice was to communicate lots and discuss life & financial goals with my partner.

[John · Rating 4 out of 5]

Everything you need to succeed financially as newlyweds rest in your larynx and you head. Express without anger, that are not belittling and hurtful. Talking will do much more for you than silence.