Preparing for well...preparation.

[WhenFinallySetFree777]

I notice there are a lot of threads on here about whether or not so-and-so is ready to be married. I have a question for those of you older and wiser than I: is there anything I can do at my age, especially financially (though any suggestions are great), that could benefit me down the road for whenever I'm engaged? I know I'm a young 'un, but I figure the sooner I know important things, the better.

 

[Linnis]

I agree with Blue, school and learning to take care of money is very important. Having a good high school education will help you get a good post secondary education which will open doors to careers, not jobs.

Also, I think having a part-time job is good life experience. Not only having real world experince but learning how to manage your money.

Beofre I had rent and bills, I used to put back half for just incase and then had a budget how much would be needed for bus fair, school lunches etc. After everything I had to spend whatever was left over was "free money" which I spent on cloths, CDs etc

I still do my accounting the same way. I buy a cheap notebook and I record all the withdrawls and deposits on the right hand side. if I remove cash, say $20 from an ATM, I write on the left what it went to. Then when I update my book(They had machines for it in Canada, here we get monthly statements) and I check my records against the banks.

It takes abut 5 minutes a day to do and you really see where the money is going and how you can save yourself more money on bills and such to have more free money to do fun things. It also helps you budget things like Christmas presents, going out, getting my wisdom teeth pulled.

^^^ That money mangement I learned has kept me on when I had to pay rent and bills as a single adult and was easily adapted for my married life. The greatest knowledge I took from school and the most useful. It's also help us see we can do without needing credit cards....and for me t realise, if I want something big a $30 pair of shoes really isn't needed and neither are coffees at Starbucks for $3 a peice when you got the machine at home which makes them for about 35 cents.

 

[Solitaire]

In addition to the wonderful suggestions above ...

1) Spend time in prayer and ask God to help you grow spiritually. Pray that you he may ready you for your future husband (if that is His intention for your life) and that you may develop the grace and maturity needed for a serious relationship.

2) Watch other couples who are happily married (for me, it was my parents, who have a great marriage). Watch how they interact, how they fight and make up (every couple does fight, only some get nasty and petty), how they talk about each other. Watching the happily married couples around us has really influenced how dh and I relate to each other.

That's all I've got, but it's a great thread topic. I really like that you are thinking about how you may ready yourself now.

 

[Sascha Fitzpatrick]

Short and sweet...

1) Get yourself a couple you look up to (maybe at church - your minister even) who would be willing to mentor you.

2) Move out of home and live on your own before getting married - even if only for a short period. There is so much you learn about yourself through doing that, that you don't when you stay at home until 'wedding day'...

Sasch

 

[chocolateloverjen]

Im only a year older than you, but i really need the money i should have been saving a while back. I say save your money and dont dip into your savings account. It could help you in the future. Like i need more now. Saving up for my future wedding at the moment, but its hard when you have to pay for phone bills and train tickets to see your boyfriend (in a long distant relationship).

 

[LiberatedChick]

Learn and save, save and learn.

- Do your best at school...you'll need it later on.

- Get a part time job (if you haven't already) and save as much as you can.

- When I was your age, my husband (then future husband of course) and I bought essential items for moving out (i.e. cutlery, plates, glasses, baking trays etc etc). Maybe you could do something like this yourself, or at least put money aside.

- When you hit 18 or an age when you feel ready to stand on your own two feet...move out. I moved out at 18 and it was fantastic experience to have...plus I think I would have gone insane if I stayed home until I got married at 21.