before & after update

I’m like 35 pounds from my “ideal weight” but I think I want to reach 120 @_@

I’m 5’1

(Source: blog.myspacelyts.net)

my opinion on joint accounts & credit (finances) in relationships…

When it comes to money, I think its always better to be sure of what you have…

“A feather in the hand is better than a bird in the air” like my fortune cookie said :p

At some point youll marry someone & obviously you will start thinking about joint accounts. You might go crazy putting everything you own or things you had bought with your partner under his/her name as well. That doesnt have to be the case at all times. You have to proceed with caution. You can have one joint account and a few other things under both names but also each person should have a saving individually dont you think? 

If joint accounts and so on isnt something youll be doing then you might be saving yourself from a lot of trouble, heart break, a fck up credit, and a lot of debt…

I believe that if you are in a serious relationship or you think you found the one you want to be with for the rest of your life at some point you have to become serious: splitting up the bills in half is part of it or at least some but the 2 persons must help each other not only emotionally but financially as well; come on is part of a relationship: balance my friend, balance! A relationship needs balance and what better way to have balance than this?

I see all types of relationships its crazy! my family for instance I see the guys had always been the ones to pay for everything… and not even just in my family, I see it in others peoples familys too.

It must feel nice BUT I have no idea how that works out for them… I myself like to be independent and in control of my finances I like to be sure im paying everything at the right time and the right amount and I can’t wait around for someone to give me money or for them to give me the money to pay something thats crazy.

See? It is really hard especially if you and your partner are both independent and dont like splittings things up, but this are things you have to change and get use to; compromising, trusting each other and taking each other serious is whats going to help.

Splitting bills and everything else can be a pain on the ass why? because sometimes things just wont work out… for instance what if next month ur partner has no money.. then arguments might occur. One person is always going to be more cautious and analytical when it comes to money and everything else. Me for instance I’m really anal when it comes to money and I look at statements every month, I have a monthly budget, and always looking for what I can do to spend less and sav more! so I KNOW for a fact having a joined account with someone might cause problems because I will be just doing my job to look out for our money: what is it that we are spending it on? how often? what can we stop doing that is hurting our budget? do we need this or is it just for personal satisfaction? can it wait to buy it later on? and the list goes on. Some people might feel like there being controlled, or superviced, you see? it could be bittersweeet.

When it comes to finances its all numbers.. & numbers requires you to use your brain not your heart!

sooo whats the best option here? what do you think?

I think it all comes down to what the two of you decide but its a hard decision to make! You need to come up with something that will benefit each other and that will keep both happy!

Here’s something I was reading earlier that I can relate to; enjoy the reading

I’ve been happily married for over 20 years.  I am not a professional attorney or banker.  But, I have done a decent job of managing our collective finances since we’ve been married.

Over the years I have spoken with attorneys and others.  Many would counsel against joint ownership of some or all property.  That hasn’t stopped us from holding a few significant assets jointly. But, you should realize that marriage (it sounds like you are almost married, but not yet) doesn’t mean all assets have to be thrown into a common pool.  It may be advantageous for you individually and collectively for that not to happen.  You should also be sure you understand what a joint account means.  Don’t get fooled by the title.  If you and I open a joint account, and we each deposit $25,000 into it, then the joint account will have a $50,000 balance.  You and I know in our heads that the money is shared by us 50/50.  Nevertheless, each of us has full authority to access 100% of the money.  So, I am fully within my rights to empty the entire account and open up a new account entirely in my name. Now, most married couples don’t do stuff like that except on TV. What is more common is that we open up the joint account. Both of us write checks on that account. You may have more discipline than I.  You pay the rent and buy the food.  I can swing by the car dealership and buy a nice used Corvette ”for us” with our “joint” savings. OK, I think I have beat this to death.  Maybe you open a joint DDA/checking account with a small but comfortable balance to pay bills from; but, you retain individual savings under each of your respective names. The downside of joint checking accounts and new marriages is that the person in charge of finances needs to reconcile the accounts.  To do so, one needs to ask: “honey, what was that $120.32 check #1035 you wrote on January 13th?” Of course, the spouse understands you are balancing the account.  But, it sometime can be perceived as you watching over his shoulder 100% of the time, which was not your intent…been there…

If I were marrying someone with a bad credit history, I would try to do what you are doing—help them repair their “record”.  But, I would do so in a way that doesn’t risk my own record.  Moreover, it could be helpful having someone with a spotless record operating independently.  I would think off the top of my head that it would be more beneficial to have the person with the bad credit start out with a small credit line and use it over a couple years with new discipline. If things go well, your spouse has an improved credit rating and yours is still spotless.  If things don’t proceed as planned, your spouse still has a troubled rating; but, yours remains clean, giving you both a little more flexibility.

I hope this was helpful. Love is beautiful; money is money.  I like to keep them separate. I manage money with my brain (and a little heart); I leave my heart in charge of love (…with a little brain in there to keep me in check…).

PS-upon rereading the answer, I hope you do not think I am suggesting keeping $50k in a checking account.  That was just for illustration. Use a no-load mutual fund from a company like Vanguard; if you are planning on using it very soon as a downpayment, perhaps keep it in a more liquid investment which will not risk capital. 

(Source: blog.myspacelyts.net)

Obnoxious;

1. Very annoying or objectionable; offensive or odious