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Week 13: In-Law Relations

Finances and Family
I love the idea of  having rules about money management within a family. I believe that having clear rules and expectations on how to save, handle, and spend money when kids/teens are still living in the home, they will be able to have more financial success after they leave the home because they will have the proper skills and knowledge. 
When I was growing up, my parents never talked to me about money. I never knew how much money my parents made, how much they spent on needs or wants. I was also never taught to save money. I worked while I was in high school, but I never saved the money I made. I wasn't taught why this is important. I thought that once I graduated high school, things would just fall into place financially. I would somehow have the means to pay for housing, school, a car and gas, and all other needs and wants. I didn't realize how off-base I was until I was struggling to pay for anything during my first semester of high school. When I met my husband, I was thousands of dollars in debt with nothing to show for it. It was embarrassing and I felt incompetent. This has helped me to understand how important it is to be educated on the importance of being financially knowledgeable. I'm so glad Poduska touched on this topic. It is a great reminder on what I should be teaching my children. They are young, but it is never too early to talk about finances!
Creating Ties
I always tell people that I got lucky when I married my husband. The reason I feel lucky is because I only dated him for a few months before we decided we wanted to get married. The first time I spent time with his family was the same weekend my then-boyfriend proposed to me. Thinking back on all of that, I can't believe what a hurry I was in. If I were to give any advice to someone in that same situation, I would tell them to slow down and take their time. One very important part of dating is getting to know your potential in-laws. They will be your family for as long as your husband is your family. Make sure that you will be able to get along with them and love them for the rest of your life. I got lucky. My in-laws are some of the most amazing people I've ever come in contact with. They are very easy to get along with and I love them like family. I have some friends have have very tumultuous relationships with their in-laws and I can see the toll it takes on their marriage. It's so important to create ties with your in-laws in order to protect your marriage. 

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