Drew Thomas Sounds Off – Money Affects Your Marriage, And Marriage Affects Your Health

Get ready for some pros and cons of marriage and also a story about a con who is terrible at planning.

KNUCKLEHEADS IN THE NEWS

If you’re going to escape from prison, you might want to have a better plan than this.

BEING OVERWEIGHT AFFECTS YOUR FINANCES

According to a new study, being overweight not only hurts your physical health, it also hurts your financial health.

That's right. Being overweight makes you poor.

Canadian researchers found that overweight people spend an average of $2,600 on weight loss help throughout the year, forking over hundreds of dollars for commercial weight loss programs, gym memberships, prescription diet pills and special diets.

That's over $200 per month down the drain...

READ MORE HERE

HOW YOUR MARRIAGE CAN AFFECT YOUR HEALTH

While tons of research through the years has shown that marriage is good for your health, a new study from Ohio State University contradicts that. Sort of.

Researchers have found that stressful marriages may actually be detrimental to the health of both husbands and wives.

For the study, married couples were actually given blisters on their forearms using a small vacuum device.

The blisters were then checked after 12 days. The couples who had healthy marriages enjoyed faster healing than those who were fighting all the time.

The scientists believe the difference may be related to the hormone oxytocin, which was higher in the blood of those with the healthier marriages.

READ MORE HERE

COUPLES AND MONEY

Q: What's the number one thing couples fight about?
A: Money

Money is such a big source of arguments, in fact, than many couples avoid the topic altogether. According to an American Express survey of more than 2,000 U.S. adults, 91% of people avoid talking about finances, household expenses and debt with their partner.

And here's a shocker: Couples are more likely to know their partner's weight than their salary.

More Numbers:

Money causes more stress in a relationship than intimacy (11%), children (9%) and in-laws (4%).
12% of couples say they've never talked about money with their spouse.
While only 43% of the general population talked money before marriage, 81% of young professionals do.
Younger professional couples (48%) separate monthly expenses than the general population (34%).
$249 is the average point at which young couples need to consult with their partner before making a purchase.
27% of respondents have misrepresented the amount of a purchase to their partner.
30% have hidden purchases from their partner.
56% of couples feel they've made a financial mistake in their relationship -- from spending too much on their wedding to buying a house at the top of the market.
If they could go back in time, 32% would put more into savings and investments, 27% would spend more responsibly, and 17% would discuss financial goals and expectations earlier.

READ MORE HERE

ONLINE DATING RULES

1. Always meet in public. The first few meets should be on your turf; pick a spot with plenty of people.

2. Take your own transportation. Should a problem arise, you can get yourself out!

3. Talk on the phone several times before meeting. Guess what? Talking is different from e-mailing, texting or IMing. I know, it seems obvious ... but don't we all forget that??

4. Tell someone where you are going and who you are going with. A no-brainer.

5. Make your first meeting casual. Meeting anyone for the first time is nerve-wracking, so take some of the pressure off. Coffee mid-day is cheap, casual and safe.

6. This doesn't count as a first date. You have never met this person before. So, this is meeting one, not date one. Now it's easier to be chill, be casual, and keep your radar working.

7. It's not a date but it is a first impression. Mind your manners and "casual" doesn't mean sloppy. Put a smidge of effort into your look and be ready to be on "pretty good" behavior.

8. Listen to your gut. You have instincts for a reason. If something doesn't feel right walk away. If your gut says "no," then don't go through with it.

9. Skip travel. You shouldn't really have to travel more than across town to meet someone. Yeah, it's possible it'll go great, but if you're doing the long-distance thing, your first meet should be because you "happen" to be in town for work -- or you and your pals are vacationing there anyway. There's nothing worse than being stuck and away from home.

10. Have fun! Oh yeah! This is supposed to be FUN! There are loads of great guys and gals out there -- so as long as you're smart about it, make the most of it!