Who keeps the ring in a break-up?

Luckily when my husband asked me to marry him, I said yes and we made it down the alter. However I know several friends that were engaged, but broke-up before they were actually married. You hear a lot about well if the couple breaks up Who gets the ring? Is it considered a gift or a contract?

This became an issue recently in the Tennessee Court of Appeals, where a judge ordered a man’s former fiancée to give back the engagement ring. According to court records, Jason Crippen placed an engagement ring on Catharyn Campbell’s finger on Christmas Day 2005 and proposed. When the relationship ended and no wedding took place, Campbell kept the ring and refused to return it. A trial court ruled that engagement rings are gifts, meaning Campbell did not have to give the ring back.

Kanas has a different approach on the law: Kansas considers an engagement ring to be a "conditional gift." If there winds up being no wedding, by law it goes back to him. Several other states agree with Kansas as well.

However many states don't have any "laws or rules" on engagement rings? What do you think?

No magic answer to paying off your mortgage early

One of the American dreams is to live in a home with no mortgage. Unfortunately, a lot of scammers (and some banks) are coming up with some creative ideas to get folks to pay them money for the secret. I first heard of this on the Dave Ramsey radio show a few weeks back on the latest Early Mortgage payoff gimmick Money Merge Account.

Here is a news program that shows the Money Merge Account



You PAY $3500 for a special calculator that will show you how to pay off your mortgage must faster. Your putting your paycheck into a home equity line of credit vs a checking account. This news report sounded more like an advertisement than a news report.

My thoughts take the $3500 and apply it to your mortgage as a mortgage principal payment. You can pay off your mortgage early if you live below your means, have control of your finance and be aggressive on paying extra.

Check out any of the FREE mortgage calculators that are available on the Internet and see what you need to do is pay off your mortgage early.

Weekend reading first time home buyers

I remember buying my first home 11 years ago. The whole process from making the offer to getting approved for the mortgage was scary as well as did a job on my nerves!

So get a cup of joe and enjoy your weekend reading for tips on buying your first home.

It's a good time for home buyers Houses are now much more affordable than they were a year ago.

My problem is that the housing prices where I live are just way too expensive for me to be able to buy anything .Finding an affordable first home

Today’s housing market is moving really fast, so for many first time buyers, getting a foot on the property ladder can seem like an impossible task. Yet it’s not all doom and gloom for those trying to clamber onto the bottom rung, the trick is to know what your options are and to do your homework. How to get on the property ladder

So you want to buy your first home, but no matter what you do you can't manage to scrape together the cash to make a significant down payment. Or maybe you finally saved enough to buy your starter home, only to realize you don't have any money left over for repairs. Using your IRA to buy a first home

How to find money to buy your first money

Suze Orman on Women and Money

Suze Orman was recently on The View and shared some money advice for women bases on her newest book Women & Money: Owning the Power to Control Your Destiny

1. Stop Co-signing loans -women often get in trouble when cosigning a loan for family members or friends.

2. Get your own seperate saving account from your spouse-you never know what might happen.

3. Make sure you have an emergency fund of 8 months of living expenses.

4. Make sure you are contributing to your 401k at least to the company match. If you don't have a 401k; contribute to a Roth!

See her in action:

I think I got a case of the I want I want

My family room couches are not in great shape. They are 13 years old now.

We spent a lot of time down in the family room. Hanging out, watching movies. They get jumped on by the boys and the dog.


We just did some nice improvements to downstairs-repainted it and added barnboard to the bottom.

Now I really want new couches. I find myself on computer looking at couches. I considered craigslist but hubby thinks buying a couch used is gross.

I don't have the cash right now so it would need to be credit.


Decisions, decision....

It's my cariversary

Two years ago this week. I bought a new to use, but used Chysler Mini-van . I don't believe in buying brand new cars. It is just not a good financial decision long term. We still have 12 more months on the loan. While I am not crazy about debt, a car loan of $200 or so is reasonable in my opinion for 3 years.
During our car shopping experience we even heard about ballon loan for a car. Yikes!


I don't do a lot of driving me a work at home mom- mostly local. I have put on 15k miles in these past two years-only about 42k on it. It also go stolen for a joy ride, but luckily we found it in good condition back. It is a 2001 and I hope to have it atleast 7-8 more years on it.

Once this our mini-van is paid off early next year, we are hoping to replace our 1996 Dodge caravan that we have had since 1999. And it will be probably with a 3 year loan.

Money habits and my mom

I was reflecting on my mom and money this morning because of Mother's Day I written a post almost 2 years ago as I sat in their vacation home. Did I learn my money habits from my mom

I honestly do not know if I got my money habits from my mom. My mom looks at me crazy when I talk about online banking. She just started using an ATM this year-she always paid cash for everything. Paying cash and not pulling out a credit card is one thing I do remember. That is one thing I get from her

Two years later my mom is still rarely using an ATM and forget about online banking or online shopping. The more I think about it, cash was king in their household is and still is. Their dream car was a black cadillac (I think more my Dad's, but my mom drives it every day) they paid cash for it.

Mom has been at a job for the last 18 years (the one she got when I started college) and her division is closing. She found out that her last day will be in June. Is she scared? At 60 years old, she really doesn't want to retire nor will she. She said she is going to enjoy the summer and then find a part time job in the fall. Luckily, my mother has been planning for the rainey day since she got married.


Happy Mother's Day Mom! And to all the mom's out there.