The Newlywed Game: 1 month anniversary!

I can't believe Sunday was our 1 month (technically 4 week) anniversary! My moms (mom and mother-in-law) both emailed us happy 1 week anniversary, a week after we got married.

I was thinking things have been pretty crazy this first month of marriage.

The first week was our honeymoon. First time on vacation with only each other for a week. Probably should have tried that out before we got married. But I knew from our many years of dating we would have an amazing time. Which we did!

In the months before the wedding, there were a lot of little things that were costing us money. The trip to vegas for bachelor/bachelorette party, mani/pedi, getting hair cuts, etc. I also took a week and a half off without pay for the wedding prep and honeymoon. So, I was looking forward to coming back to the tiny apartment, working regularly, and getting our finances in order.

Then, we spent some of the wedding money on the new man toy. And we got the opportunity to move to a bigger apartment! Good bye money! It costs $100 to transfer cable?! $30 to transfer gas and electric?! Then our place didn't come with a washer or dryer and the laundry facilities are a hike away. So, out to sears we went! Love all the new stuff but jeez! I don't know what Suze would say!

Hubby was excited that he got an extra $80 on his pay check since his status changed to married. Gotta start saving that to pay off the washer and dryer! Just kidding kids, we have the money! Remember don't buy stuff you don't already have the money for!

But that is about all that has changed. Our wedding day was amazing, we had so much fun, but it was a weird experience. The reason I was bugging him for 3 years to marry me was I wanted to stand up in front of our family and friends and speak those sacred vows. The night before the wedding at the rehearsal dinner at my parents' house, he was celebrating with his friends and family and they figured since the wedding wasn't until 4:30 pm they could party all night long. I was not excited about this plan. He was staying at a hotel with his parents and a bunch of the guys decided to crash there too. So a lot of what I was thinking about at the alter is "Is he hung over? Drunk? Is he going to pass out?" I was really worried he was going to pass out. I think we both did a good job saying our vows. That was what was important to me. But afterwards, I didn't feel any different. I think it is because those vows aren't going to be too difficult for me to keep. I really want to watch the video from our ceremony and get the professional pictures!!!

Financial Friday

Now I am no financial genius. My dad handled all my finances until I moved to So Cal. When I moved in with Hubby, I finally got my own bank account, because they didn't have my bank down here. When I was in college, I lived the good life. Mani/pedis, tons of new clothes, going out to eat all the time. Now that I have my own bank account, all that as stopped. I am the spender in the relationship though and he is the saver. I think its probably because he makes more than I do. I have learned a lot living with Cheapo (Hubby) and was able to support myself (seriously, no money from Hubby or Dad) through three month of unemployment. My husband and I are completely debt free. How many other college educated people in their mid twenties can say that? We were really lucky we didn't have to take out student loans and have gotten help along the way. I am so grateful because it is a very secure feeling.

I think people have figured out how to save money and not get into credit card debt. But there still seems to be a lot of people making mistakes with their money. My poor friend became a victim to a "financial reality check" courtesy of me recently.

Here are some of the things I wanted her to realize and hope you learn something from too. If you all don't need help in this area let me know and we can come up with something else to discuss on Fridays. Hopefully, its a good reminder before we go blow all our cash partying this weekend!

This friend was telling me that they were going to buy a house. I personally don't like to discuss how much money my husband and I make or how much money we have saved from what we have made, but this friend has told me how much money they make. I have used this calculator before to find out how much of a house we could afford, just out of curiosity http://cgi.money.cnn.com/tools/houseafford/houseafford.html. I learned from using this calculator that we could afford more of a house if Hubby paid his car off (which he has since done). I also learned that we could not afford a house in the crazy expensive city we live in. I knew that my friend would not be able to afford a house either.

They have a car that is not payed off. They have student loans. A little credit card debt. This is one people need to consider more, a car that is 10 years old or has 100,000 miles on it. That car is going to need to be replaced soon. Will you still be able to afford your mortage payments and a new car payment? These friends were also not preparing for the worst. I just started following a blog of a lady that experienced the worst. http://aboneill.blogspot.com/ She lost her husband to cancer. When I told my friend that she can't buy a house just because her husband makes good money because something could happen to him. She said, "You can't think like that". Well, you might end up with a big financial problem if you don't.

I know that there are deals out there right now, but that doesn't mean everyone should buy a house. This friend actually went to the bank to get a loan and was told what I had already told her, that they can't afford a house. Now don't go do the calculator, find out you can't afford a house, and stop saving! Save up an emergency fund, save for a house, save for that car you might have to buy, pay off your debt!