Financial

FINANCIAL COMPATIBILITY

Discussion Starter Questionnaire © Rev. Ray Cross http://wp.brideschoiceofficiant.com 

PREPARING FOR UNITY IN FINANCIAL MATTERS. To plan to fail – just  fail to plan. How we view and manage money says a lot about our values and determines not only our present but also our future lifestyle. A lifetime of earning is like walking over a hill — the amount you earn rises, peaks and declines with age. Failure to plan in preparation for the inevitable is a route to restriction in later years, when your body is least able to manage the stress. For marriages and families, disagreements about money and its use are a major source of disunity. Discussing these values before your wedding is wise. Please respond on a separate piece of paper apart from your mate, then compare your answers and discuss them. Issues disclosed by your answers should prompt discussion and research on your part. You may benefit from counsel from a financially knowledgeable counselor.

  1. What is money? ………a coin      …..a bus ticket …..a paper bill   …..gold  …..a skill   …..a coupon
  2. If you were given $1000, what would you put it towards?
  3. Should the wife to earn her own personal spending money.
  4. Should the husband to be the chief breadwinner.
  5. Should the wife accept gracefully whatever money the husband gives her?
  6. Should the husband provide the wife with an adequate personal allowance? Who decides what this is and on what basis?
  7. Who should budget the family in come?
  8. Describe your method of budgeting.
  9. Describe your approach to food shopping.
  10. Describe your approach to clothes shopping.
  11. What is your plan for car ownership and operation costs?
  12. Describe your use of credit cards. Do you ever pay interest on your credit card balance? Why?
  13. The amount of your debts? In what institutions? At what interest rates? Strategies to pay down  your debts?
  14. What savings do you have and for what purposes?
  15. Is saving important or is it more important to spend money for nice things?
  16. What types and amount of insurance is needed? Car? Life? Home? Mortgage?
  17. Expected housing costs: rent or own, down payment, monthly expense – rent / mortgage /  maintenance, plan to maximize investment?
  18. How important is a will?
  19. How important is a power of attorney – for property / for personal care?
  20. What are your preferred recreations? How will these relate to your mate / your family?
  21. What plans do you have for your children’s education?
  22. How important are RRSP contributions?  In name of husband or wife?
  23. Plans for small business development?
  24. How much per month should be spent on alcohol or smoking?
  25. Should the husband / wife be free to gamble? Within what bounds?
  26. Expected income from pension plans?
  27. If you would like to tune up your financial principles, in your own words, state the financial teaching in these Bible passages.

1. Psalm 39:6                                2. Psalm 127:2                             3. Proverbs 8:1, 18-21

4. Proverbs 10:22                        5. Proverbs 13:7-8                       6. Proverbs 13:11

7. Proverbs 20:17                        8. Proverbs 21:25-26                   9. Proverbs 23:4-5

10. Proverbs 24:3-4                      11.Ecclesiastes 2:26                   12. Ecclesiastes 4:6-8

13. Ecclesiastes 5:10-12               14. Isaiah 58:13-14                  15. Malachi 3:6-12

16. Matthew 6:19-21                    17. Matthew 13:22                    18. Matthew 19:23-24

19. Luke 12:15                                20. Romans 13:8                        21. Philippians 4:10

22. Colossians 3:23                         23. I Timothy 6:6-19                24. Titus 1:9-10

If a counselor is involved, information disclosed to be used in strictest confidence only to improve your financial management.