Believe it or not, I’ve always said I wanted the option of a health savings account tied to a high deductible health care plan. Fortunately, my family has spent little on health care in recent years with the exception of delivering a couple of babies.

I’ve thought in the years where there weren’t new family additions, that we would actually save money with a high deductible plan (hdhp) with lower premiums tied to a health savings plan, which allows you to put money away pre-tax for health care costs. Many employers even contribute money to the account for you.

But a story I read in the Washington Post years ago featuring Felix Meschke, a father and University of Minnesota business professor who has patiently explained stock market statistics to me on more than one occasion, makes me worry that an HSA would actually end up costing us a lot of money. (more…)

Growing up in a family of seven on welfare, former Vikings All-Pro wide receiver Cris Carter didn’t know much about money as a tyke. “My experience financially was to be frugal because there was never going to be very much.” Today, with kids starting their “adult life so far behind” because of education debt, he said it’s more important than ever to “live within your means.” He has a son who started college this fall.

This is one reason why he said he signed up to promote Visa’s financial education game “Financial Football.” Read all about it in my column from yesterday.

And play the game and share what you think.

As a kid I learned that I should never charge more on my credit card than I could afford to pay off. But I wish I’d been required to make more of a financial contribution to big purchases so I could have learned the meaning of sacrifice, choice, and the value of a dollar. And I still struggle with the desire for instant gratification, since I was fortunate enough to grow up not wanting for anything.

How about you? What did you learn about money at home and what bad habits from home did you carry into adulthood?

The helpful folks over at the Minnesota Extension Service have compiled 17 fact sheets chock full of tips for getting through times when money is tight.

From deciding which bills to pay first to communicating under pressure, you’ll get some unbiased, reasonable advice from these pages.

But I especially like the section for helping kids get through tough times. How do you talk to a teen about working to help pay the bills or moving because of a foreclosure? I think kids often get left out of the discussion. On the flip side, people tend to use credit to extend an unsustainable lifestyle because they don’t want to disappoint their children or are clueless about discussing their financial reality with their kids.

Another Extension resource worthy of linking to in these times is adjusting to suddenly reduced income. 

So….I am working on our taxes and requested the total amount we spent on childcare for our son in 2007. It’s worth every penny considering how great the place is and how much he loves it. But, the sum takes your breath away.

(drumroll)

The McGuires spent $11,775.00 in child care expenses for their child, Teddy from January of 2007 to December 2007.

Remember, we have two children. But Charlotte’s care amounted to ONLY $7,900.

Hey, it’s slightly less than the $20,000 I estimated!

Valentine’s Day is around the corner, which means that I’m getting loads of love and money-related pitches.

I’ve written about my marriage and money in the past. And while we’re pretty compatible, one of these exchanges will inevitably creep into our life from time to time:

Scene: The McGuire’s household on Saturday.

Starring: The McGuires

Him: “I got the car washed.”

Me: “Good. You used the coupon?”

Him: “Yeah, but it was still $28 bucks.”

Me: [I can’t print my reaction on this blog. That led into a rant about coupons and using them only if they save money and use your brain and other rudeness on my part.]

Him: “I know how you get when I don’t use the coupons.” (there is some truth to that)

Me: [digging furiously through the pile of receipts he left on the counter to see proof of the $28 car wash.]

Him: [Slamming the door as he went to return the cheap movies before noon so we don’t spend an extra $2.00.]

Me: [finding the coupon and noticing that he only spent $18 on the car wash, which is still a lot, but oddly I am not nearly as upset by that sum– it was a thorough car wash, after all]. “It was only $18 dollars. Hurry back. Pizza’s in the oven,” I yelled.

Yes, living with a cheapskate is that annoying. But I try my hardest to repress this urge to nickel and dime our finances. I think because we speak openly about money and because our money values are aligned, we don’t fight much about money.

How about you? What annoying financial behaviors do you possess (come on, be honest!)? What drives you nutty about your partner?

Then tomorrow, I’ll share the results of several love and loot surveys that have been peppering my in-box.