Keep an Eye on Your Money

Did your parents teach you about money? Did you grow up understanding the importance of saving and investing?

For most of us, the answer is no. The good thing is that it's never too late to start understanding your financial situation.

Former supermodel Paulina Porizkova grew up in the dark about money and after she married "The Cars" front man, Rick Ocasek, admitted that she began using her famous husband's business manager and accountant, thinking that letting someone else worry with her money was a good idea.

And, it was, until it wasn't. Paulina spent 57 years "not knowing shit" about money and trusting others to figure out what she should do with her money.

Celebrity-level money problems are sometimes hard to relate to, but many women can relate to trusting their husbands to manage all of the marital finances.

It's common for one spouse to take the budget and finances on while the other is responsible for other things: children, household chores, etc. However, turning a blind eye to the money in your relationship is often a mistake that can come back to haunt you.

Simply talking with your spouse about the money and having a working knowledge of the finances is so important. Your roles don't have to change. So, he still pays the bills and manages the investments. Great, but knowing what money is coming in and where it's going is a great place to start learning more about your financial situation.

No one expects to divorce, and of course you trust your spouse with the money. Trusting is one thing, blindly trusting is another.

Start the conversation now. Maybe agreeing to have a "touch-base" on money every month or so to review the budget, the accounts, etc. works for you. Maybe you both pay the bills together. Whatever you work out with your spouse moving forward is a step in the right direction to understanding your finances and securing your financial future.