主婦心聲
【恆和】在教會愛心團契。分享為人母的苦與樂：
「孩子表現好，我就開心；
對我貼心，我就歡心；
他們生病或晚歸，我就擔心；
不聽話，我就傷心；
不了解我的苦心，我就痛心；
想到他們以後能不能自立自強，我就憂心；
反正，生了孩子做了母親後，我就多心。
他們小時候我就帶著他們一起來教會，
，求神教我安心。」想必人同此心。
她的「夫妻相處之道」心得：
「我們的衝突多來自於兩人的不同。
原生家庭的不同所造成的衝突還小，
最無可救藥的不同是，他是男的，我是女的。
所以，自從急驚風遇上慢郎中以後，
感性與理性相爭的戲碼不停地上演。
我說東，他偏說西；我愛談心，他沉默是金。
這時若還想追求完美的婚姻生活，
或是姻親進場來攪局，
那麼我們頭上的那片天，真會掉下來。
但是想到這麼多年來，他賺錢，我花錢；
他修車，我開車；我抱怨，他包容；
我出差錯，他收拾善後。
又聖經上一開始就說清楚講明白，
我是他的骨中骨，肉中肉。
你說我能不睜隻眼，閉隻眼，將就著點過日子嗎？」
看恆和寫的"主婦心聲"真中人心，
我這家庭"煮"婦 看了都要點頭稱是啦!
但是反觀美國女性---"女人當經濟獨立"
中國女性還是差一截!
今天上午看ABC電視叫女性朋友
清醒過來吧!
不要像老一代的想找白馬王子來救妳。
這年頭同居不娶妳的男人太多了。
就是結婚也半數以上變成離婚。
統計美國女人53%是單身到死。
聰明點吧!
不要立志只當家庭主婦，帶小孩，清掃，煮飯，洗衣。
浪費賺錢機會，少賺好幾十萬。
要受教育，找事情，工作賺錢自立。
文件要有規律收集好。
要有自己名下的信用卡和銀行戶頭。
最好有三個月的生活現金準備。
萬一婚姻生變或丈夫死亡才不會經濟受困。
儲蓄吧!
不要賺一百元，卻花掉一百二。
要強迫自己最少IRA和 401K的錢要存下來。
趁年輕要趕緊存款越多越好。
最少也要存下薪水的10% or 15%。
老了自己才有保障。
不能依靠任何人來幫忙你!
這拉回我25年前在夏威夷醫生年會時。
就聽到類似的好意提醒。
但是一般人言者諄諄，聽者邈邈。
加上繳幸心理， 大約我不會那麼衰吧?
所以至今也沒認真存下多少錢哩!
看來又要感緊儲蓄不能當斑馬族--- 黑白買歐!
http://abcnews.go.com/GMA/MellodyHobson/story?id=2850520&page=2Women: Wake Up, Wise Up, Save Up
How Women Can Take Control of Their Financial Futures
Money: Three Things Women Should Know
Checklist: Take Control of Your Financial Future
Feb. 5, 2007 — Women — wake up, wise up and save up:
A man is not a financial plan.
With almost half of first and second marriages ending in divorce, there is a high likelihood that women will be responsible for their own or their family's finances one day. Even the best marriages usually come to an end — women outlive men an average of seven years, and the average age of widowhood is 56.
Related: Checklist: Take Control of Your Financial Future
To help women take responsibility for their financial futures, Mellody Hobson, "Good Morning America's" financial contributor, recently shared advice that women of all ages can follow.
Wake Up, Wise Up
Every woman needs to know what and where her family's assets are.
"Even if you are not the primary organizer of your family's finances, you can't bury your head in the sand. Be aware of the big financial picture and get informed about your family's finances," Hobson said.
It's also important for a woman to maintain her own financial identity.
"Establish and maintain your own credit history with a credit card in only your name," Hobson said. "Do the same with a personal bank account."
The second part of "wise up" is work related. Many women opt out of the work force for some period of time to care for children. But they pay the price when they return: Taking time off to raise kids can affect seniority and earning potential.
The Center for Work-Life Policy study says that on average, women who "off-ramp" for 2.2 years lose 18 percent of their earning power. That figure rises to 37 percent when taking off for three or more years.
"If you do decide to leave your job, make sure you leave on good terms, giving adequate notice and getting references and letters of recommendation before you leave," Hobson advised. "Timing is key. If you are just a few months shy of vesting stock options or a retirement plan, stick it out."
While taking time off, maintain professional certifications and if possible, enroll in classes to stay sharp. Be sure to sustain professional relationships, because they will be invaluable when the time comes to return to work.
Save Up
So many women fall prey to what Hobson calls the white knight syndrome and assume their husband will take care of them in their old age.
Related: Checklist: Take Control of Your Financial Future
The sad reality is that couples divorce and spouses die. Women must be responsible for their own financial future and must invest for retirement. Set up a spousal IRA account and maximize your contributions as much as possible. The limit for IRAs in 2007 is $4,000, or $5,000 for those age 50 and older.
Women who are working should be enrolled in a 401(k) plan. In 2007, employees can contribute up to $15,500 to their 401(k), and if you are over 50 years old, you can contribute an additional $5,000 in catch-up contributions for a total of $20,500. Employers will be able to provide information about when and how to change the level of contribution.
Hobson advises working women to take full advantage of company matching programs, because it translates into free money for retirement.
"Many people need more of their income for current bills and expenses, but at the very least you need to maximize your contributions to the point where you receive all the company matching," she said. "For example, an employer might match 50 cents on the dollar up to 6 percent. In this case, you should contribute at least 6 percent of your salary to take advantage of the extra 3 percent your company is willing to contribute."
