Before you walk down the aisle, having a conversation about finances and credit can help ensure a future of wedded bliss, with minimal disagreements over money. Transparency over finances builds trust in a relationship. It can also help you establish your mutual monetary goals, whether you want to buy your first house together, start a family or send one of you back to school.

Any pre-nuptial money talk should start out with credit and debt – specifically how much debt each of you has (student loans, car loan, credit card, etc.), how you plan to pay it off, what your credit scores and reports look like, and how you will use credit to achieve your goals in the future. Enrolling in a credit monitoring membership can be a good way to start the dialogue. Web sites like freecreditscore.com make it easy to review your credit scores and reports online. You’ll be able to share with each other a comprehensive overview of your current credit status and credit history.

While you’ll each have your own credit score and report throughout your marriage, your credit – just like your lives – will be linked for better or for worse. Your combined credit history will affect what kind of interest rate you can get on mortgages, car loans and virtually any other kind of credit you’ll need in the future.

Once you’ve talked about credit, cover these conversation points next:

* Saving and spending habits – Is one of you frugal to the point of being cheap? Is the other a habitual spender? Balance is important in any marriage, and hopefully your saving and spending habits can balance each other. While you should always save as much as possible, you also don’t want to overly restrict yourselves so that you feel deprived or pressured. Ideally, you should save enough to cover several months of expenses and spend enough to cover your essential needs with a little left over for some fun.

* Retirement plans – It’s never too early to start thinking about how you’ll fare financially during retirement. Discuss any retirement accounts each of you already has. If neither has any retirement plan set up, consider consulting a financial planner to find out what type of plan might be best for your needs and goals.

* Spending styles – How will you fund big purchases, like new furniture or your honeymoon trip? Will you save until you can pay cash for big-ticket items, or will you use credit? Consider and discuss how you’ll pay for bigger purchases.

* Taxes – Talk about when you’ll file your taxes and consult with your accountant to see what filing status – such as married filing jointly, married filing separately or head-of-household – will benefit you the most.

* Marrying your money – Will you establish a joint account and deposit both your incomes there? Will you maintain separate accounts? Or perhaps you’ll establish a household budget account and both contribute a portion of your monthly income.

* Budgeting – Create a household budget right away and decide how you’ll manage expenses. Who will write the monthly checks (or handle the monthly online bill pay chores) to cover household expenses? Will you each pay personal expenses like car payments and student loan payments from separate accounts?

By discussing potentially conflict-causing monetary issues like credit use, credit scores, credit reports, spending and saving before you exchange vows, you can help ensure you start your married life together with a clear vision of how you’ll use money to make your lives better.

And at the same time, no matter which aspect of the financial crisis you consider, it’s clear that most of the so-called "experts" who were behind it are men. So to all of the women who haven’t yet explored the world of investing, now is the time to get started, with some helpful tools that can be found online.

Here are a few recommended resources for investors at any level to get started:

Hedgeye.com – Many individuals are familiar with "stock picker" sites such as TheStreet.com or Fool.com, or trading platforms like Scottrade or E*Trade. Sites like Yahoo! Finance are also popular sources of investing ideas and market news.  Tradingfives.com is a technical analysis site that covers the exotic trading methods of W.D. Gann and J.M. Hurst

Money Girl – This podcast hosted by financial guru Laura Adams provides short and friendly business, personal finance and investing tips with the main goal of helping listeners live a richer life. It is designed for new and experienced investors as the podcast discuses an array of topics, such as common investing mistakes, shorting stocks and improving your credit score.

FINRA.org — The Financial Industry Regulatory Authority (FINRA) prides itself on being a trusted advocate for investors. Its Web site provides useful tools and calculators such as a Risk Meter, Savings Calculator, 401(k) and IRA Minimum Required Distribution Calculator and a glossary of investment and financial terms.

Whether planning for retirement or seeking a fruitful hobby, women have many reasons to consider investing. They tend to live longer, are more likely to require long-term care services as they age, and often take more time out of the workforce to care for family members. These financial realities have significant implications for how women plan for their financial futures, which is why it’s so important to identify trustworthy resources that provide accountable insights one can act upon.

photo credit: Paul Keleher

1. Home decorating in a snap. To make decorating easy, purchase decorations that are prelit, easy to hang and require little-to-no assembly. When the holidays are over, be sure to neatly organize all of the decorations in weather-proof storage containers. This will guarantee all of your decorations remain intact, orderly and accessible for next year.

2. Dress to impress. Instead of taking time out of your schedule to bring clothes to the dry cleaner, press clothes at home by using a quality product such as the Rowenta Pressure Iron and Steamer. Its versatility and simple-to-use design allows you to use stronger steam for heavy materials or a lighter touch for those delicate household items. The iron delivers professional steaming results so you can quickly press your holiday linens and formalwear just in time for the party.

“By using high-quality products, it’s easy for your clothes and linens to look like they’ve been professionally cleaned and pressed without having to take them to the cleaners,” says “The Queen of Steam,” Barbara Zagnoni. “When you need to save time and money, the best way to care for your linens is to take care of them at home.”

For immaculate ironing down to the smallest detail, there is the Rowenta Steamium, which features a new Piezo pump system that forces steam into fabrics with a focused steam burst. The result is professional-looking results with minimal effort, every time.

3. Shop with ease. There are often many gifts to purchase and little time to shop. This year, take your holiday shopping online and have the gifts delivered right to your door. For the hard-to-buy-for person on your list, eliminate time spent wrapping and opt for gift cards you can customize with friendly and seasonal gift card holders available at your local convenience store.

4. Meal preparation. For a spin on the traditional dinner, ask guests to bring one food item – preferably something they are known for making really well. Then, invest in some easy-to-prepare appetizers or desserts at the grocery store. Spend an hour the night before the party prepping your dish and you’ll find yourself with more time to put the finishing touches on your family and home.

The holidays should be about quality time with friends and family and less about your to-do list. By following these simple tips, you can get the most out of your holiday season.

If family will be traveling to your house from out of town you can put them up in comfort with an air mattress. Your bedding will fit. If you’re not sure here’s a table of full size mattress dimensions.

However, if you find yourself planning an upcoming bridal shower on a budget, have no fear: It’s entirely possible to plan a tasteful, fun and sentimental gathering without breaking the bank. Here are five time-saving and cost-cutting ways to throw a beautiful bridal shower:

Invitations
It can be tempting to blow your entire budget for the party on the invitations, but consider saving money (and time) by sending them electronically. Web sites like Pingg.com make sending invitations and tracking responses electronically a breeze. And with an enormous online image database, it’s almost guaranteed that even the pickiest planner will find the perfect invitation design.

Food
Skip hours of baking and frosting and provide your guests with a creative and low-fat ice cream cake. Ice cream sandwiches from The Skinny Cow look sweet when stacked in a pyramid and topped with creative garnishes. Your guests will be thankful for a low-fat snack option, and you will have time to actually enjoy the party. Sandwiches come in strawberry shortcake, chocolate, vanilla, vanilla/chocolate, chocolate peanut butter, mint and cookies n’ cream flavors. Use one flavor for a consistent look or mix and match flavors for extra guest options.

Drink
Sangria is an unexpected and delicious drink to serve at your shower. Added bonus: the ingredients are inexpensive and easy to find. You can even substitute grape juice and seltzer water for wine for a tasty non-alcoholic version. The only other ingredients required are slices of fresh fruits such as oranges, pears and peaches, and about 1/4 cup of sugar. For variations on the classic recipe, check out Cooks.com or AllRecipes.com

Games
Rework an old classic by playing a game of Bridal Shower Bingo. First, create copies of a blank grid resembling a bingo card. As the guests arrive, have them fill out the grid with gifts that they think the bride will receive. (The free space is in the middle and players can write their own gift in this space.) As the bride opens a gift, players cross it off their bingo card. Award a prize to the first person to fill five spaces in a row, across or diagonally.

Favors
Pamper your guests with homemade body scrubs in simple, elegant glass mason jars. You can even customize the recipe below to include your favorite scents and colors.

Homemade Body Scrub

You will need:
3 cups Epsom salt (or coarse sea salt)
1 cup oil (almond, canola or olive oil usually works best)
Essential oils for fragrance
Mason jars

Instructions:
First, measure out your salt and pour into a large container. Measure out the oil and slowly pour into the salt while stirring. Finally, add the essential oil to the desired strength. Attach any desired ribbons, hang tags or other decorations to the outside of the jar.

The backyard can seem barren and bleak when the leaves fall off the trees and the last blooming plant retires until spring. But there’s an easy way to brighten your backyard and fill it with color and song this winter – charm songbirds looking for an easy, reliable food source.

Birds are the most accessible and abundant of wild creatures that live among us, and every home – apartment to estate – can offer them a safe way station to refuel. To attract the greatest number of birds, choose feeders and foods that suit a variety of wild bird species.

Don’t wait until the snow flies to get feeders in place. Fall is a good time to choose a location visible from your favorite window, to secure feeders with sturdy brackets, poles or hangers and to arrange convenient storage for your seed and supplies. Rubbermaid outdoor storage sheds come in a variety of sizes and can store all your lawn and garden equipment and supplies.

New birdwatchers may be bewildered by the huge assortment of feeders available today. A good place to start shopping is a Web site like www.SongbirdEssentials.com, which can direct you to a nearby retailer or online source.

Feeders come in many sizes and styles, and fall into a few broad categories. The three feeders every backyard bird lover should have include a tube feeder to hold sunflower or nut meats, a hopper feeder for mixed seed and a suet holder to attract woodpeckers and other tree trunk “clingers.”

Tube feeders can be made of clear plastic or wire mesh. They’re sized to hold peanut kernels, sunflower or nyger seed for finches. Experts recommend filling tubes with just one type of seed so birds don’t rummage through the contents in search of their favorite treats. Songbird Essential’s Seed Hoop is a unique and useful accessory to keep feeding areas tidy. The mesh tray attaches below feeders and catches 90 percent of spilled seed, keeping it off the ground and away from rodents. The hoop also serves as a platform feeder for cardinals, buntings and juncos.

Spiral Feeders offer three worthwhile innovations: a continuous spiral perch that allows more birds to feed at once, a locking lid to foil squirrels and a twist-off bottom for easy cleaning. A squirrel-proof wire mesh model is ideal for shelled sunflower or peanut hearts. Another Songbird Essentials feeder innovation is their “Clingers Only” feeder to primarily serve smaller avian guests like chickadees, small woodpeckers, titmice, nuthatches, goldfinches and others.

Suet is a high-energy fuel that helps birds survive cold winters. Tail Prop Suet Feeders attract the larger red-bellied and red-headed woodpeckers with support for their stiff tails, as well as the smaller and more common downy woodpeckers and nuthatches. Pre-formed suet cakes sized to fit feeders can include seeds, fruit or nuts for extra energy and appeal.

Position feeders near the protective cover of trees and shrubs to offer feathered friends shelter from predators. A small metal trash can with a tight lid is handy for storing seed nearby and a scoop makes refills quick and easy.

Once feeders are up, the wait for the first bird can make even patient people antsy. Experts suggest sprinkling some seed in a shiny pie plate set under feeders. When curious birds come to investigate, they’ll find your feeders, too.

As fall harvest season begins, many gardeners find themselves with bushels of tomatoes, baskets of cucumbers and armfuls of lettuce. So when your garden is overflowing with produce, how do you make the most of your harvest?

Gardeners know that the best way to experience fruit and vegetables at their prime is to grow them in their own backyards or in community gardens. Some of the most popular veggies grown in the United States include tomatoes, peppers, cucumbers, onions, beans, lettuce, corn and carrots, while the most popular homegrown fruits include apples, blueberries, strawberries and raspberries.

The experts at ScottsMiracle-Gro offer some top tips to help you take advantage of your fresh produce:

* Harvest your food the same day you plan on using it. This ensures it will stay fresh and won’t dry out or wilt.
* Do your picking in the morning when fruit and vegetables are most fresh.
* Once you’ve picked your produce, store in a cool place and don’t wash until you’re ready to use it.

How do you know when your produce is ready to be pulled from the ground or plucked from the plant or tree?

* Tomatoes are ready to pick when they’re smooth, heavy, glossy and red or orange.
* When sweet peppers are between 3 and 4 inches wide and are firm, they’re ready to pick. The longer you leave them on the vine; they’ll turn red, yellow or orange and become sweeter.
* When your cucumbers are ready to come out of the garden, they’ll be firm and the spikes will easily rub off.
* When lettuce leaves are young and tender they’re ready for a tasty salad.
* Tasting apples is often the best way to know if they’re ready to pick, but you can also grab one and lightly tug. If it easily comes off the branch, there’s a good chance it would make a great snack.

One of the biggest challenges for gardeners this time of the year is having too much produce at the same time. In many cases, it’s simply too much to eat on your own. So this harvest season, ScottsMiracle-Gro is asking Americans to donate their extra produce to a local Feeding America food bank for their neighbors in need. One in eight people is at risk for hunger and, with record numbers of people turning to food banks, it’s more important than ever to contribute fresh, delicious and healthy produce.

To make sure your extra harvest doesn’t go to waste, visit GroGood.com to find and donate to your local Feeding America food bank.

“I believe that everyone should have access to fresh produce and the GroGood campaign allows Americans to enjoy the fruits (and vegetables) of their gardens and share their extra harvest with others,” says celebrity cookbook author Katie Lee Joel. Inspired by her mom’s vegetable soup, Joel created this recipe for GroGood Garden Vegetable Soup to use produce fresh from the garden.

GroGood Garden Vegetable Soup

Makes eight servings.
Prep time: 10 minutes
Cook time: 1 hour 40 minutes

Ingredients:

2 tablespoons olive oil
1 large yellow onion, chopped
2 celery stalks, chopped
1 bay leaf
3 medium carrots, chopped
2 parsnips, peeled and chopped
1 medium turnip, peeled and chopped
1 pint Brussels sprouts, trimmed and quartered
1 3/4 pounds fresh tomatoes, chopped (can substitute a 28-ounce can of whole tomatoes with juice, chopped)
2 quarts chicken broth or vegetable broth
1 cup baby lima beans
One 15-ounce can great Northern or cannellini beans, drained and rinsed
1 teaspoon kosher salt
1/2 teaspoon freshly ground black pepper

Instructions:

Heat the oil in a stock pot over medium heat. Add the onions, celery, and bay leaf and cook until the onions are tender, about 5 minutes. Add the carrots, parsnips, turnip, and Brussels sprouts and continue cooking until the vegetables are just tender, about 5 more minutes. Add the tomatoes and their juices and the stock. Bring the mixture to a boil, reduce the heat, cover, and simmer for 1 hour. Add the beans, salt, and pepper, and simmer for another 30 minutes.

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NASCAR style safety harness.

Lightweight and easy to transport – even on a bus.

Collapsible into a compact unit.

Back wheel brakes.

Shock absorbing front wheels – probably not sufficient for rough trails, however.

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