When I turned sixteen, my parents bought me a ten-year-old used Ford Escort. After a stream of thank yous and lots of big hugs, I took it out for a spin. I hopped in, manually cranked down the windows, popped a tape into the in-dash cassette deck, and drove straight to my friend’s house. Beater […]
Income Inequality and Money Imbalance in Relationships
Financial income inequality occurs when one partner earns significantly more than another. Money imbalances in relationships aren’t unusual. It’s rare for two working partners to make the same amount of money each month, but this imbalance can wreak havoc on your relationship. Ten years ago, I walked away from my high-paying career to become a stay-at-home mom. Although […]
What Do I Need?
“If you need anything, let me know,” a good friend said after telling her about my dad’s recent diagnosis. “Do you need anything?” another friend asked later that day. “I’d love a hug,” I said in response. As news of my dad’s illness spreads, I keep hearing the question in different forms. What do you need? […]
How to Make the Most of Your Time and Money
Last week I wrote about protecting and managing my parents’ money, but I didn’t write about the heartache involved in taking over the task. Money management isn’t a problem. I know how to help my parents financially. It’s my parents’ health that keeps me up at night. My dad was recently diagnosed with advanced-stage esophageal cancer. […]
Managing and Protecting My Elderly Parents’ Finances
The phone rings. “I need you to take me to the emergency room,” my dad says calmly. “My bloodwork shows some abnormalities, and my doctor wants me to go to the hospital.” It’s eight o’clock on Monday morning. I search for my shoes, provide the contractors modifying our new home with instructions, and race out the door. […]