Til Debt Do Us Part...

URB - Social 

The new conversation line may go a little something like this, "So How Much Debt Do You Have?".  This might follow: (1) Are You Married, (2) Do You Have Kids, and (3) What Do You Do?

All are common conversation starters when chatting up the future Mr. or Mrs. Right.  I have always been called 'mechanical' but I always held onto the need to ask or discuss the financial health of your significant other just like we discuss other serious topics: such as health, kids, and marriage.  I held onto to this useful tip when a alum came back to campus and oddly enough ended with that as one of his life lessons.  Its a touchy subject but consider talking to your significant other about debt just like you bring up conversations on kids and marriage. So I found it shocking to listen to a radio segment that was reporting on this very subject of debt and relationships.

Here is an excerpt from NPR's segment and call, "Call Me Maybe When Your School Loan is Paid In Full:

"The increasing debt load of college graduates has affected young people's lives in untold ways, from career choices to living arrangements. Now add another impact on a key part of young adult life: dating and marriage.

Rachel Bingham, an art teacher in Portland, Maine, learned this a few years back, when a guy broke it off after four months of a budding relationship. Among other reasons, he cited her $80,000 in student loan debt.

"He said it scared him," she recalls, "that it really made him anxious. And he just did not want to take on my responsibility."

Included is a link to the full article: Debt Caused My Break Up

Next time, I'll share the lesson learned from a Toyota's executive on the beginnings of the Lexus concept. 

You've Got Mail: Trade a Recall

I used to have a phrase that I would use when I felt like I was getting a good deal. I would say “Who Could Ask for Anything More……. Toyota”. This was the old tag line from old commercials that won me and millions of Americans over for this Japanese automaker. But my point for this simple post was to give an example of keeping your ear to the streets. After following the reports, this trade was easy to sniff out. I placed a NEGATIVE rating on Toyota Motors (TM) shares when the rumors came out that they were going to be halting production. Not only have they halted production but more rumors are coming out recalls and problems with their different models and car lines.

Stay tuned I have a post that I have been sitting on for awhile. Oddly enough it started with me thinking about the situation of interestingly large group of Americans who still have a job, can easily pay their bills, but happen to be underwater on their mortgages. Should you stay, should you go and what to do if you are in this situation…some say the moral thing, but I was wondering if there is another option. Stay tuned for Urbanomics 101 and my interesting take of how you should calculate your next move.