National Economy Hits Home

THE COUPLE'S GUIDE TO LOVE & MONEY, a new book by a clinical psychologist, helps couples to deal with stresses and conflict from increasing economic pressures.

Irvine, CA, 03/03/2003 - Since the start of the new millennium, the national economy has put increased pressure on couples and families. The stock market has been heading south while real estate prices have soared.

Its a one-two punch," noted California psychologist and author, Jonathan Rich. Falling stock prices have chipped away at family reserves, and have ravaged retirement funds. People are less secure about their future, start second guessing their own and their partners investment judgment, and couples start to blame each other. With rising real estate prices, new families are starting to feel locked out from owning real estate, and fear that people who bought homes just a few years ago are passing them by financially. "

Dr. Rich sees economic factors as having more and more impact on the clients he sees in his private practice and that is why he wrote The Couples Guide to Love and Money (New Harbinger Publications, February 2003). In his new book, Rich describes three personality dimensions that affect money decisions, and that play into couples arguments about money. People differ in the amount of financial risk they are willing to tolerate (the Gambler/Banker dimension), the type of lifestyle they want (the Monarch/Spartan dimension), and how willing they are to depend on others for money (the Homesteader/Pioneer dimension). Theres no financial personality style thats necessarily right or wrong," explains Rich. But certain personality combinations can really make sparks fly. For instance a Monarch personality makes luxury a priority, and a Spartan wants to save for a rainy day. Put them together in a relationship and you have an almost sure formula for disagreement." Rich has found that the first step to resolving such disagreements is to discover your own and your partners financial style, to understand how your past experiences created these styles, and to separate ghosts from the past from what is happening in your current relationship. In a Monarch/Spartan relationship, the Monarch thinks, 'That cheapskate. If he really loved me hed spend more money on me. The Spartan thinks, 'If she cared about me, shed watch our budget more closely. Both of them are coming up with false conclusions, misinterpreting their partners spending style as a statement about the relationship -- and until they both understand this, theyll keep arguing without getting to the core issues."

The Couples Guide to Love and Money guides couples toward greater prosperity, helps them to find a lifestyle that fits for them, and helps them to effectively negotiate money differences. This book is for readers who feel that their primary relationship is plagued with money disputes and for marriage and family therapists helping couples with such issues; however, even couples with minimal conflict over money can find advice that will help them to strengthen their relationship and increase their financial stability. A free self-test of money personality can be found at the authors website, www.MoneyWorkBook.com.

ABOUT Dr.Rich

Jonathan Rich, Ph.D. is a clinical psychologist in private practice in Irvine, CA where he specializes in psychological testing, including vocational assessment, fitting people's abilities and interests with their careers. He has helped hundreds of couples recognize how money affects their relationship dynamics. He was an instructor at California State University, Fullerton for seven years, where he taught counseling techniques to future marriage and family therapists. More information about the his new book, The Couples Guide to Love and Money, can be found at www.MoneyWorkBook.com. The book can be ordered on Amazon.com, or directly from the publisher at (800) 748-6273.

Title: The Couples Guide to Love and Money
Publisher: New Harbinger Publications, Oakland, CA.
Publication Date: February 2003.
ISBN: 1572243112
Format: 200 pp., 8½ x 11, Trade Paperback.
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