Loosen Up! How Not to Be a Financial Tightwad And Still Stay In Your Relationship

There comes a time in every man's financial life where he has to make tough choices. You can either follow the financial planning advice of Dave Ramsey and other pundits to the letter, or you can have a happy marriage. While being frugal is typically seen as a noble a trait, being a financial tightwad is not. You know the type - won't go out to eat without a restaurant coupon, won't order anything online for her anniversary without a coupon code, etc. Applying this much scrutiny to your personal finances gets old fast with the other members of your family. It's time to live a little.

Lose the Coupons
Nothing kills a romantic dinner for two faster than whipping out a restaurant coupon at your favorite dining spot. In fact, when considering the restaurant to take your significant other it might be a good idea to avoid a place that accepts coupons altogether! If your options are limited at least pay full prices just this once. And don't forget to leave a good tip. Nothing says cheapskate faster than rewarding good service with a lousy tip.

The Vacationing Tightwad
Vacations are a time for rest and relaxation for the entire family. Family vacations create memories that will last a lifetime, so don't ruin the moment by using it as an opportunity to show off your deal-making prowess. Your family is impressed enough that you can talk the guy at the Express Lube down from $29 to $25 for a basic oil change. When on vacation the best advice is to live a little. That doesn't mean to leave a trail of Visa receipts up and down the coast. It simply means to indulge in a few things you wouldn't normally do back home. Pay for a guided tour to find out more about the history of the area. Rent a boat and hire a captain to sail around the bay, or rent a couple jet skis and do some exploring of your own. The point is to enjoy the time with your family instead of worrying over the cost of every expenditure. There's plenty of time for that when you are back home and reunited with your trusty adding machine.

Impractical Gifts
Let's face it, men like to buy practical things and most women enjoy being a little frivolous. Women buy clothes; men buy tools. Women have a closet full of shoes; men have a brown pair, a black pair and running shoes. Women have lots of jewelry; men have a watch, a wedding ring and maybe a class ring to remind them of the college days. It stands to reason that men would rather buy a long-lasting, practical gift for the love of their life. However, every now and then you should consider splurging on something totally impractical. Flowers, jewelry, tickets to the play all fit the bill. After all, if you can't spend a little to delight your significant other they may start to believe you care for your money more than them. And the only thing worse than being a tightwad is being a lonely tightwad.