Overspending...
Debt...
Bad Credit...

Are money issues and financial problems straining your relationship? Different money styles don't need to threaten your happy home. We found help from financial planner Diane McCurdy -- author of How Much Is Enough? Balancing Today's Needs with Tomorrow's Retirement Goals (Wiley, 2005, ISBN: 0-471-73871-9, $14.95).

The Spender/Saver Marriage...

To you, money in the bank equals peace of mind. You happily make do with your old, paid-for car, last season's fashions, and frequent leftovers so that you can shore up your nest egg. Your spouse, however, lives on a different planet. He's cruising dealership parking lots before the “new car smell” wears off his current ride. His closet bulges with jackets he never wears. He nonchalantly drops $100 on dinner in the middle of the week. Meanwhile-to your dismay, anxiety, and snowballing resentment-he hasn't saved a cent toward retirement. 

Can you relate? If you're like many married folks, you can. Whether you're the scrooge or the spendthrift in the above scenario, you've almost certainly felt some “finance friction” in your marriage.

Your don't have to end up in divorce court. All it takes is a touch of soul-searching, a dash of compromise . . . and a budget that allows for fun and retirement. Take this quiz to help you determine which one you are!

Diane McCurdy's Attitude Quiz

1.  A.  Shopping is my favorite sport.
B.  I shop when I need something.
C.  Shopping can be fun sometimes, especially if I'm shopping for other people.
D.  Shopping is torture.

2.  A.  Credit cards allow me to have what I want without worrying if I can afford it.
B.  If I can't afford something but it's an investment, why not use credit cards?
C.  I give my kids credit cards to teach them the value of money. 
D.  Credit cards are a good way to build up a credit rating and a handy alternative to carrying      cash.

3.  When I go out for dinner with friends,
A.  We check out the latest hot restaurant, and we split the bill evenly.
B.  Sometimes I pay, sometimes they pay--it all works out eventually.
C.  I usually fight for the check. 
D.  We ask for separate checks.

4.  If I see something I like, I
A.  Buy it.
B.  Buy it if it fits into my game plan.
C.  Get one for me and one for somebody else if it's a good deal.
D.  Usually talk myself out of buying it.

5.  If I won a big lottery, I would
A.  Never have to think about money again.
B.  Use it to create something important.
C.  Spend a lot of it on friends, family, and charities, and keep enough to live on.
D.  Make sure my family was taken care of, pay off the mortgage, then live on the interest.

6.  If I don't have any money in the bank, I
A.  Use my credit cards and line of credit--isn't that why they're there?
B.  Use credit to leverage opportunities.
C.  Worry that I won't be able to fulfill people's expectations of me.
D.  Get anxiety attacks (or I would if it ever happened).

7.  A.  I don't know where all my money goes.
B.  I always have a pretty good idea of how much money I have available, but never let that stand in the way of a good idea. 
C.  Most of my money is allocated to family, charity, or trying to make a difference.
D.  I keep close track of all my bank accounts and investments. 

8. I love to use my money to
A.  Enjoy life to the fullest.
B.  Follow my interests and stretch myself. 
C.  Make other people happy.
D.  Build up a nest egg.

9.  When I go shopping for something I need, I
A.  Usually come home with a few extras.
B.  Find it, buy it, and go home. 
C.  Look around to see if there's anything I can pick up for anyone else while I'm out. 
D.  Shop around to make sure I'm getting it for the best price.