#household-finances

#household-finances

DEAR PAYING: That Gabe earns more than you do should have been taken into consideration at the time you began living with him and his grandsons. Financial counseling might help you to determine what such an adjustment would mean in terms of dollars. The National Foundation for Credit Counseling is a reliable resource. Because these monthly financial disagreements could erode your relationship, please consider couples counseling in order to work out a plan that is fair for all parties concerned.

According to BRC-Opinium data, consumer expectations over the next three months the state of the economy improved to -32 in January, up from -38 in December. Consumers personal financial situation improved to -8 in January, up from -10 in December and their personal spending on retail fell to -6 in January, down from +6 in December. Consumers personal spending overall fell to +5 in January, down from +17 in December,

A majority of those expecting a holiday bonus this year are planning to check out once the check clears. According to a recent survey of 2,000 American workers by AI job application assistant JobHire AI, 59% are "maybe" or "definitely" expecting a bonus this year. Among them, 48% are already job hunting or planning to quit after their bonus is paid, and another 20% are considering leaving in the new year.

By some surveys, public opinion on the economy is roughly as negative as at the height of Biden-era inflation or even the 2008 global financial crisis. It appears to reflect some underlying weakness in the economic forces that most directly affect Americans' well-being, which are not evident in big-picture economic data. Driving the news: The new Axios Vibes survey by the Harris Poll shows 65% of Americans see themselves as either sometimes or regularly financially squeezed each month, up from 58% in June 2024.

For Love & Money is a column from Business Insider answering your relationship and money questions. This week, a reader feels she's the only one working hard while her husband pursues his dream job. Our columnist spoke with personal finance author Ramit Sethi, who suggested having a series of conversations. Have a question for our columnist? Write to For Love & Money using this Google form.