Final thought for the week: money, money, money

{Photo from Life123.com}

Yes, marriage is about love, but what's the number one reason for most strife in a marriage? It's no big surprise -- money.

Earlier this week, I had dinner with a good friend, who's also my personal financial advisor. I missed the Wells Fargo event he had invited me to that featured best-selling author, Jean Chatzky (Make Money, Not Excuses) and I'm kicking myself for it. Chatzky rules for living a prosperous life are common sense (see below), but why is it so hard for us to get?

Jean Chatzky's 4 Rules:

1. Make a decent living
2. Spend less than you make
3. Invest the money you don’t spend
4. Protect the financial world you build so that a disaster doesn’t take it all away from you

My friend asked me what my financial future looked like in 5, 10, and even 20 years out and I was caught off guard. Not because I don't have an idea, but I have yet to build that roadmap -- and obviously now with the input of my future husband!

Tomorrow, I'm going to attend the YWCA's Young Women and Money Conference in downtown Oakland. It's an all-day conference that includes meals, keynote speakers and two breakout sessions (all for $10 with the Young Women Social Entrepreneur 10 for $10 discount). The ones I'm looking forward to are What To Do Before You Say “I Do” and Power Over Plastic: Credit, Cash and Your Brilliant Financial Future. 

Question for all you brides: what are you doing to prepare yourself financially before getting married?