How to Afford a Husband or Any Other Live-In Lover:

ABC Books Publishing (2009)

Written By Justine Davies

Australia

Review 4 Stars – Excellent Book

How the blurb describes the book:

A guide to everything you need to know about living in financial harmony with the one you love.

Finding a soulmate is one thing – love, laughter, great times! – But getting joined at the hip pocket – stress, rows, resentment! – can be another. Linking yourself and your future to someone else can be one of the hardest issues for a couple to deal with. It’s why finances are one of the main reasons for relationship conflict, but in How to Afford a Husband or any other live-in lover, financial planner Justine Davies shows you how to avoid all the money traps.

How to Afford a Husband will not only help you to run your day-to-day finances more successfully but enable you to make “big picture” financial decisions with confidence. It includes – The importance of remembering that you are individuals working to common goals – How to set those goals – Budgeting – Paying off personal debt – Starting a joint savings plan to achieve your goals... and to act as a buffer if times get tough – The need for proper insurance – The delicate business of estate planning – How to invest and how to borrow to invest – Tax time – Making the most of your super – Buying a house – Setting up a business – The bigger picture – Starting a family – And what to do if it all doesn’t work out.

How to Afford a Husband or any other live-in lover is an engaging must-read for anyone considering joint finances. Following its clear and practical advice will leave you in great financial shape to enjoy the more exciting aspects of your relationship!

Justine Davies is a member of The Financial Planning Association of Australia with over a decade of experience as a financial planner. She is a freelance journalist who contributes to parenting publications and also has a finance blog on news.com.au. She is the author of How to Afford a Baby published by ABC books in 2007.

Mr Home Budget’s Review: Justine Davies is a financial planner and writer for some of the bigger newspapers in Australia. She brings this wealth of knowledge to her second book. This book is a guide to help couples get on the same page where money is involved. There could truly be a law which states “on all first dates couples must read this book together prior to going forward”. Just by doing this, couples would soon see if they are suited to each other moneywise.

Despite the title, the book is clearly aimed at both men and women. However, it clearly leans towards women over men. However this is not a total loss, and men reading this book can get a better understanding of their lady friend. 

Justine makes the point time and time again, that you are two individuals. As she says, “You have separate goals, values, convictions, assumptions, and attitudes towards money. You can’t expect to automatically manage money in the same way.” Generally, two people might have the same taste in music, films, work in similar jobs, but then be on two totally different pages when it comes to money. A relationship with two different tastes in music can be difficult, but a relationship with two different tastes in money can become impossible! The book’s prime goal is to get your thinking, if not on the same page about money, at least in the same chapter.

One of the great things this book does, which a lot of budgeting books don’t do is set up a system where you track every single dollar. By tracking every single dollar for each sale you can’t lose sight of where your money is going. In my mind, it is the cornerstone of a good budget. Good idea Justine!

Right throughout the book she has quotes from other famous money experts. Little titbits of information which she uses to make a point about a certain subject. These can be great for a different person’s point of view.

Not much is missed in this book including wills, insurance, power of attoney, quizes on your money attitudes, and how to start a business. Also she does tackle the slightly uncomfortable subject of divorce. (Weird in a book which is trying to get your relationship stronger). However, sometimes it feels as if she has given you the tip of the iceberg on the subject. Then she leaves it up to you to uncover the remainder. But she clearly gets you looking in the right direction on what to do next.

While the book is clearly aimed at females, couples can and should pick up a copy. An entertaining read which will not only save you money, but it might even save your relationship. However at times for a man, you might feel guilty just for being a man! Nevertheless, it’s a small price to pay for great information.

Pros: The book is funny right throughout.

Has a budgeting system which tracks every dollar.

Gets partners to work together and in a non-accusing way to go through their current money situation.

Cons: While it gives an overview of each subject, sometimes they could have been explored in more detail.

Sometimes it seems like you’re guilty just for being a “man”.