Deborah Knuckey 
Conscious Spending for Couples 
Seven Skills for Financial Harmony

Praise for CONSCIOUS SPENDING FOR COUPLES

‘Deborah Knuckey’s book should be included in every couple’swedding registry. Conscious Spending for Couples will helpnewlyweds, couples, and families to understand what is needed to beon top of their financial game plan, and gives easy, creative, andhands-on advice on how to work as a team to achieve financialsuccess. She does an excellent job of showing why money is such apoint of contention for many couples, yet provides plenty ofanecdotes and solutions to help every couple find their financialbliss.’
-Don M. Blandin, President, American Savings Education Council(www.ASEC.org),
creators of the Choose to Save program (www.Choose To Save.org)

‘Deborah Knuckey’s book helps couples deal with money in anemotionally intelligent way. She links critical communicationskills with good money management in an inspiring, easy-to-readguide.’
-John Gray, Ph D
Author of Men Are from Mars, Women Are from Venus

‘Conscious Spending for Couples is a must-read for couples who wantto make their money work for them. This book shows readers how touse simple money management concepts to improve their financialwell-being. In addition to financial advice, Conscious Spending for Couples addresses the emotional money issues that often keepcouples from reaching their financial goals and enjoying theirrelationship.’
-Kelvin Boston, host of PBS’s Moneywise and author of Smart Money Moves for African Americans

‘Conscious Spending for Couples is a must-read for those ponderingmarriage, newlyweds who’ve already taken the plunge, and old fogiesalready sitting on the porch in rocking chairs. A powerfulunderlying message of Deborah Knuckey’s book is that respectbetween two people is necessary to have a functional relationshiparound money. She leaves no stone unturned, covering everythingfrom why it’s important for couples to stay debt-free to how NOT toargue about money.’
-Juliette Fairley, author of Cash in the City: Affording Manolos, Martinis, and Manicures on a Working Girl’s Salary

Table of Content

Introduction.

PART ONE: LOVE AND MONEY.

Chapter 1. Conscious Couples and Financial Harmony.

Chapter 2. Understanding Each Other’s Point of View.

Chapter 3. Managing Your Money Styles.

Chapter 4. Creating Financial Harmony.

PART TWO: THREE RULES FOR FINANCIAL HARMONY.

Rule 1. If You Don’t Got It, You Can’t Spend It.

Rule 2. Follow the 80:20 Rule.

Rule 3. Even Big Kids Get to Play.

PART THREE: SEVEN SKILLS FOR FINANCIAL HARMONY.

Skill 1. Planning Together.

Skill 2. Creating a Simple Structure.

Skill 3. Getting into Good Habits.

Skill 4. Communicating Through Conflict.

Skill 5. Investing for Strong Returns.

Skill 6. Creating a Safety Net for Two.

Skill 7. Getting Help When You Need It.

PART FOUR: FOUR LIFESTYLE DECISIONS THAT MAKE OR BREAK YOURFINANCES.

Decision 1. Where You Live.

Decision 2. What You Drive.

Decision 3. Whether You Have Children.

Decision 4. When You Retire.

Epilogue.

Bibliography.

Other Resources.

Index.

About the author

DEBORAH KNUCKEY is a writer, money coach, and speaker. Her’Conscious Spending’ approach, highlighted in her first personalfinance book The Ms. Spent Money Guide (Wiley), has been featuredon Oprah and in USA Today. Knuckey has an MBA from UCLA and hasworked as a consultant at Mc Kinsey & Co., and as a financialreporter at News Corporation. She writes regularly for Washingtonian magazine and lives in Washington, D.C. Her Web siteis www.deborahknuckey.com.