Over the Thanksgiving weekend, I ate a lot of pie and watched a lot of TV. In fact, I'm now down to 47% capacity on my DVR (anytime I get below 50% is a big accomplishment for me). I got caught up on most of my favorite shows, including the fantastic How I Met Your Mother . But the series' "Dowisetrepla"  episode — though hilarious — left me worried about some of my beloved television characters.

Here's why: Lily (played by the terrific Alyson Hannigan ) is over her head in credit card debt and refuses to tell her new husband Marshall. Together the two of them make a terrible decision to purchase an overpriced apartment down wind of the sewage treatment plant. With Lily's financial baggage, they qualify for a mortgage — but at 18% interest, gasp — and decide to buy!

C'mon, Lily! You were Willow on Buffy the Vampire Slayer , for heaven's sake! You're stronger than that! I expect more from you!

Sorry about that. Sometimes I have a tough time separating television from reality.

See, in television, a series of poor financial decisions like Lily and Marshall's are funny. In reality, not so much. So take note: If you're married and have a lot of credit card debt, tell your spouse. If you're considering buying an expensive piece of real estate near a sewage treatment plant, think again. And if someone offers you an 18% interest mortgage, run.

But if someone offers you pie and time in front of the DVR, by all means, settle in and enjoy.

Posted by Staci at 10:00 AM |  Contact Staci |  Permalink  |  Comments (2)
Found in Budgeting, Credit cards, Debt, Financial education, Food, Money management, Newlyweds, Paying, Wells Fargo Bank

It's official: I'm a married woman. And big changes are happening, starting with my name. I opted to take my husband's last name. My husband. I'm still getting used to that word and also introducing myself as Rachel Curran.

Speaking of big changes—I have a hot tip for those of you who are preparing to leave home and move to college soon. Contact your friends and family members who are getting married this summer and let them know your plans to move. More than likely, they will welcome you to their endless supply of boxes, packing material, and a slew of used household goods (especially kitchen supplies).

Like many couples, we decided to register for some new household items and upgraded from plastic to stainless, glass to crystal and dull to Wüsthof . Most of our wedding guests shipped gifts directly to our home, which were expertly wrapped with yards and yards of paper and bubble wrap.

As we opened these wonderful gifts, I began a new phase of married life—"nesting." This involves me running around our house for two straight days having a Feng shui  attack. I now have a solid Goodwill  pile going (which my brother has already raided), a garage full of boxes, and a heart full of gratitude.

Now, one can only be entertained by cardboard forts with bubble wrap driveways for so long. (Who says marriage has to equal maturity?) Eventually, the materials will need to be taken to the curb or recycled through a friend. Save some money on your moving supplies and ask the newlyweds if you can help them recycle their packing material. Your friends, the environment, and your budget will thank you for it.

What budget-friendly moving tips do you have?

Editor's note: The former Rachel Statham married Jim Curran on June 24, 2007. Congrats to the newlyweds!

Posted by Rachel at 09:28 AM |  Contact Rachel |  Permalink  |  Comments (1)
Found in Budgeting, Financial education, Housing, Marriage, Moving, Newlyweds, Post-college, Preparing, Student loans, Wells Fargo Bank