Surprise Kiss

Posts Tagged ‘savings’

In my last blog I ask you if you and your sweetheart are in control of your money or is your money in control of you.  How did you answer my question? Did you say what money? There is never any funds leftover and we are struggling every month to pay the bills. We don’t understand where it all goes!

One way I try to stay within my budget and still find money to have a little fun is to separate out my monies. I have 2 banking accounts at the bank I do business with.

• One bank account is for our monthly bills, i.e., house payment, gas, electric, water, trash, gas card, credit cards, car payment, doctor bills, savings, etc.  I call this one our Household Account.

• The other bank account is for the things we can control in how we spend our money each month. This is used for groceries, clothing, gifts, going out to dinner, etc. I consider these expenses things we can control and change as needed. If we run out of money before the next payday then we make due with what we have on hand. This one is called Personal Account.

• Most importantly, the last thing I do and this is something I realize most couples don’t do is balance both bank accounts every week. If you are depending on the bank to do it for you then you are letting your money control you. You will never have a complete overview of your budget and you will never be able to figure out how to live within your means.

I know you are asking “Which account do I pull my $5 a week from for our romantic weekend away”.  Well it is taken from your personal account.

What Larry and I do is to have one paycheck deposited into the Household Account and the other paycheck is deposited into our Personal Account for the things we can control and change as needed every week.
 
Something as simple as getting 2 bank accounts at your bank/credit union can get you on the road to being in control of your money and your life.

Keep those sparks flying!
JoJo

© 2012, Surprise Kiss. All rights reserved.

Over the weekend I was at a specialty store buying something I needed when a couple with 3 small kids walked in and you could tell the husband was not happy about being there.  The wife went down the aisles and quickly grabbed the items she needed and then stood in line to pay for everything.

I was in front of her and her husband grumbled something to her and she told him “It is only money, don’t worry the money always comes.”  It wasn’t that I was trying to listen to them she was just close enough and said it loud enough for me to hear.

For some reason it didn’t settle well with me. I began to think “Is it only money and does it always come?” Money doesn’t grow on trees and it doesn’t miraculously appear.

As we know money is and will always be an issue with most couples. We all have different spending habits and values on how we should spend and save. How do you and your husband handle your money?

Are you always running out of money before your next pay check comes in or do you budget and keep track of your spending so you don’t run out of those hard earn dollars. Is money controlling you or are you controlling your money. I got the sense the wife was letting the money control her.

Then there are the couples who save and budget to the point of ridiculous. Their budget doesn’t allow for a little fun and frivolous spending. You could say they are also letting money control them.

Larry and I do a little of both. We save but we also enjoy life and spend a little too. We enjoy going out to dinner once a week and most of the time it is at a nice restaurant not a fast food or coffee shop, someplace where we feel like we are going out on a date. We get dressed up in a nice pair of jeans and fancy top; enjoy a drink or two during our leisurely dinner while enjoying the atmosphere of our surroundings.

I have taught you how to save for a romantic weekend away with just $5 a week. My next blog will be about how we budget and manage our money. It will help you to get on track in living a life where you are in control of your money not your money in control of you.

Keep those sparks flying!
JoJo

© 2012, Surprise Kiss. All rights reserved.

Last year I wrote this post and thought you might like to have a picnic like this again.

It is hot outside and you want to go on a date with your sweetheart. You want your date to be outdoors but you want to stay cool. Are you tired of being stuck inside your air-conditioned home? Then plan a “Down by the River Date”.

Pack a picnic lunch, grab a blanket and head toward the cool running water of a river near by. Find a special spot that is very quite, private and with lots of shade trees.

Romantic River Picnic for 2

• Ice Cold Lemonade or Wine – A bottle of iced Chardonnay would be nice
• Feta & Grilled Chicken Sandwich – See recipe below
• Pasta Salad – Your favorite
• Brownies – Homemade or purchased

Lay out your picnic under a tree near the river and sit back and enjoy your feast listening to the water rushing by. After lunch, kick off your sandals and play in the water until you are soaked. Better yet, if you are in a very private area, take off your clothes and enjoy the feeling of the cool water against your nude bodies and each other.

Feta & Grilled Chicken

• Grill a piece of Chicken
• Feta Cheese
• 2 Slice Tomato
• 2 Slices Red Onion
• Italian Dressing
• 2 Focaccia Bread Sliced in Half

Thinly slice the grilled chicken. Sprinkle Italian dressing on the bottom and top half of the Focaccia bread, layer the sliced chicken, sprinkle feta cheese, add the sliced tomato and sliced red onion all on the bottom of half of your bread and then cover with the top slice. YUM!

Enjoy your private time together, eating, drinking and playing in the river together. This should bring out the kid in each of you. Just one more romantic memory to add to your list….this is what a good marriage is made of.

Keep those sparks flying!
JoJo

© 2012, Surprise Kiss. All rights reserved.

Are you finding you and your sweetheart arguing about money more than you used to? With the sagging economy couples are finding it is adding to the stress in their marriage.

Sound familiar? Then listen to the short video from the Today Show with Financial Editor, Jean Chalzky and Psychologist, Betsy Schur. They have good suggestions on how to bring your money woes into perspective.

Visit NBCNews.com for breaking news, world news, and news about the economy

The only thing I didn’t agree with in the video was to go out on a money date to discuss your financial situation. As we all know couples don’t always agree on how to save and spend money. It is so easy to point a finger at the other person and blame them. Now that doesn’t even sound like a relaxing night out!

My recommendation is to get together at least once a month to talk about your financial goals but do it at home when the kids aren’t running under foot trying to get your attention. Wait until they are at friend’s house or they are asleep. Then sit down and go over the bills and determine where you can cut back and how you can pay off your bills even faster.

What do you think about the video?

Have you and your sweetheart figured out a way to live within your means?

What are you doing to pay off all those bills?

Your recommendations could help other couples.

Don’t let this be the number one problem with your marriage. Sit down and decide together how you are going to handle the bills and then stick to the plan.

Keep those sparks flying!
JoJo

© 2012, Surprise Kiss. All rights reserved.

Each new day comes with small joys in your marriage just waiting to be noticed. Keep saving your $5 a week for a romantic weekend away.

Keep those sparks flying!
JoJo

© 2012, Surprise Kiss. All rights reserved.

Here is something fun and a little different to do while you are out with your sweetheart. The cost is minimal and you will be capturing a moment in time.

Grab your sweetheart and your camera as you walk out the door and head to a picturesque place in your area. It could be downtown, a park, lake, beach or maybe all of the areas. Ask people to take your picture together and when the camera clicks give each other a kiss.

Not only will you make each other laugh but I am sure you will have people laughing and smiling too. Tell them you wanted the pictures for your wedding/anniversary album. You will both feel giddy and silly which maybe is just what the doctor order to bring back the spark in your relationship.

When you are almost done stop at your local coffee house and have a special coffee drink together and scan all the pictures that were taken for the day. Don’t forget to have someone take a picture of you sitting with your coffee and stealing another kiss.

All the smoothing and laughing together should get you both in the mood for more kisses when you get home.

Keep those sparks flying!
JoJo

© 2012, Surprise Kiss. All rights reserved.

Saving $5 a week for a whole year will give you what it takes for a romantic weekend away with your sweetheart.

Keep those sparks flying!
JoJo

© 2012, Surprise Kiss. All rights reserved.

If you save $5 a week you will be igniting your sense of romance in your relationship when you go on a romantic weekend away with your sweetheart.

Keep those sparks flying!
JoJo

© 2012, Surprise Kiss. All rights reserved.

Your smile is your best accessory to your marriage. Saving $5 a week is the best savings you can do for your marriage.

Keep those sparks flying!
JoJo

© 2012, Surprise Kiss. All rights reserved.

It is time to show how special your marriage is by celebrating your anniversary and saving $5 a  week for a romantic weekend.

Keep those sparks flying!
JoJo

© 2012, Surprise Kiss. All rights reserved.