European Stars and Stripes (Newspaper) - March 25, 2007, Darmstadt, Hesse                                Sunday March 25 2007 stars and stripes 51 j Page 29 your Money wife debt is big Surprise dear Liz my wife and i have been married for 10 years until recently she has been a stayathome mom raising our two sons while i work a govern ment Job that pays about have been giving her a stipend of a month to cover food clothing and incidentals for the kids our Only debts Are our mortgage and a Home equity line of credit and Ive been working a second Job to build up a Rainy Day fund my wife decided to go Back to work part time last year she wanted to keep her Money and i did not see a real need for me to ask about her pay when i did our taxes this year however i found out she earned almost after i discovered How much she was making i told her the Sti Pend would cease March 1 she had a prob Lem with this but i said that i could not fathom Why she needed the extra and that i wanted to use the Money to pay Down the Home equity line my wife came to me today and told me she owes almost i credit card debt she has asked me to take Over her accounts since i have an excellent credit rating i transferred the debt using a 0 percent balance Transfer credit card offer i Hope to pay off this new debt in 15 months How should i handle this any advice would be greatly appreciated answer you both have some explaining to do lets Start with you you have every right to expect your wife to live within a reasonable budget but the key word is reasonable did you talk to your wife about How much she might want for food clothing and incidentals for the Money talk Liz Pulliam Weston thursdays Market 1 52week net Ltd 52wk High Low name last chg chg chg 1279593 1068332 Dow Jones industrials 1246114 02 521142 413472 Dow Jones transportation 489163 215 04 50199 38097 Dow Jones utilities 49731 946362 770811 nose composite 931382 391 04 217989 180065 amex Index 215601 849 39 253142 201278 Nash a composite 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Fidelity invest Grolnic 3152 01 Fidelity spartan  50 02 Putnam funds a Erlna p 2027 03 Amer Century inv Ultra 2757 06 Fidelity invest Amorso 1634 Fidelity invest Oversea 4626 09 Fidelity invest us i 1093 03 aim investments a const p 2684 03 Frnk a Sec Para 4039 aim investments a Char tap 1578 01 2219 03 j Fidelity advisor 3049 Fidelity advisor 3681 Putnam funds a Globe qty p 1140 6380 17 Fidelity advisor 2318 04 1792 1275 03 Putnam funds a gig apr 1223 08 did you work out a budget together and adjust it from time to time As circumstances warranted or As seems More Likely did you just unilaterally decide was enough end of discussion if youd talked to your wife chances Are the signs of Strain would have been evident before now after All would barely cover the food Bill for Many american families of four let alone clothing and incidentals families of four spent an average of on food on housekeeping supplies on personal care including haircuts and on clothing in 2005 according to the us Bureau of labor statistics not every family spends so much particularly those with below average incomes but these figures should give you some idea of whats typical it also Doest appear As if this sum has been adjusted for inflation Over the years even if was enough in 2000 your wife would need about to buy the same goods and services today clearly your wife was wrong for accumulating debt in secret she also May have a spending prob Lem but you two need to figure out a Way to talk Hon Estly about Money and reach some compromises perhaps its time to take some of that Rainy Day fund and invest in counselling Liz Pulliam Weston is the author of the books your credit score and Deal with your debt both published by Prentice Hall questions for possible inclusion in her column May be sent to 3940 Laurel Canyon blvd no 238 studio City Ca 91604 or via the Contact Liz form at  distributed by no More red inc Exchange rates military rates japanese yen March South korean won March euro costs March Dollar buys March British Pound March commercial rates Bahrain British Canada China Denmark Egypt Hong Kong Hungary Israel Japan yen 11756 Kuwait Norway Philippines Poland saudi Arabia Singapore South Korea Switzerland Thailand Turkey new military Exchange rates Are those available to customers at military Bank ing facilities in the country of issuance for Japan South Korea Germany the Netherlands and the United kingdom for no local currency Exchange rates in purchasing British pounds in Germa Check with your local military Bank ing facility commercial rates Are inter Bank rates provided for reference when buying currency All figures Are foreign currencies to one Dollar except for the British Pound which is represented in dollars Pound and the euro which is dollars euro Nav Ltd chg ret precious metals new York merc close Gold Silver interest rates prime rate825 discount rate625 Federal funds Market rate 525 3month bill506 30year bond478 sources the associated press Bank of America lending dream House turns into Nightmare lending from Page 28 for a few months anyway the Searys kept Pace with the costs but As 2004 ended Tims employer who had already Laid him off and called him Back sent him Home for Good with Little saved the family immediately fell behind by now their loan had been sold the new loan services homecomings financial told them they need to catch up and set up a payment plan the Searys monthly Bill jumped to if the Searys could make it through 2006 maybe they could refinance and dig out now though there was another problem they still owed nearly All of their loan but their Home was Worth much less in a real estate Market slowed by economic uncertainty and bloated by new construction the couple  re finance or sell the foreclosure notice came last october the Searys have not made a payment since in theory if they paid up they could keep the House but there is no Money or incentive on borrowed time officially its an auction but there is no machine gun sales chatter at Adams county weekly foreclosure Sale bargains Are doubtful so no bidders show up it ends minutes after it be gins the Lack of bids gives Tim and Angela 75 More Days to move out they Hope that will be enough to find a buyer Wholl satisfy their Lender and keep foreclosure from staining their record but even if that Doest happen the couple has reached an unexpected truce with failure after two years of fighting to keep the House theres soothing Relief in losing they can Stop shouting now the Searys say they can give time they spent working to their kids  find new jobs a place to rent and try to save the Searys have a Lon term plan too in a few years they Hope to buy again but the next time will be differ ent Tim and Angela say  stay within their Means  borrow More intelligently and they already know just where to find a Deal and sensibility Money tip of the Day help with teens tuition Market watch new York it seems like Only yesterday your rambunctious teenager was toddling around in diapers and Onesios but have you spent too Long thinking the kids will stay Young forever and not enough time Sav ing for higher education Many parents find themselves in that predicament Only to realize that their teen is just a few years away from College and the expenses that come with it a 14yearold today will need to attend a private fou year University according to the calculator at saving Forcelle Geom that a daunt ing figure for parents who Haven already stashed any thing in a College fund so is it too late to Start saving no says Rande Spiegelman vice presi Dent of financial planning for the Schwab Center for invest ment research even if you just have a few years every Little bit you save now will help Start by opening a 529 col lege savings plan which allows you to save tax deferred earn Ings that Are spent on qualifying educational expenses Are tax free you could open a custodial managed by a Par ent or guardian on behalf of the child and the Money belongs to your kid at 1821 or 25 depend ing on the but that May Hurt your Childs financial id package assets in a Childs name Are taken into account consider joining an Affinity program that offers College Sav Ings rewards such As Promise or baby mint Register your cred it card with the Affinity program and reap tuition benefits such As 529 plan credits when you shop at participating stores this is a Good Way to supplement your savings based on purchases you will make anyway do your research when it comes to unearthing free Money such As Grants and scholarships Register your child with fast Webcam a free scholar ship search service and do some creative brainstorming discover Why so Many people Are saying  sex