I’ve added some articles here on student loans and others that caught my eye throughout the week.  Let me know in the comments if you’re planning to go back to school.  If so, are you taking out loans or paying your way through?  My total cost would have been an extra $90,000.  Call me gun shy but in this economy, I don’t know that it is worth it.

Check out this infographic from Mint.com:

Student Loan Debt Highlights

• Should College Students Be Borrowing More?
• Debt collectors an option to recover student loans The Government is investigating whether to use overseas debt collectors to chase student loan repayments.  They are serious about their money.
• Scapegoating For-Profit Colleges
• What’s Worse Than Credit Card Debt? Student Loans | MintLife Blog

This Week’s Highlights

• The Spending Habits of Wealthy Women vs. Wealthy Men (shhh: women are spending more) http://bit.ly/9ZZdlx
• Is taking time off before your due date acceptable? How much time is too much. http://fb.me/EvJK7P2v
• Would YOU move to one of the 10 Best Cities to Find a Job? –> http://bit.ly/bbdg9v
• Common knowledge that “pretty girls” have a workplace advantage EXCEPT when it comes to manly jobs and jealous… http://fb.me/E4pLSeAI

How likely are you to leave a bad marriage if you have no education or poor career prospects? I realize there may be other factors such as children, years put into the marriage and each party’s willingness to work things out.

But let’s put that aside for the moment.

I have always always said that I wouldn’t want a lack of education or financial viability without my husband to stop me from leaving should things go sour.  While I value the sanctity of marriage, my sanity comes above all else and if it’s bad, I have to go.  God forbid I ever get to a point where I want out, I don’t want my future to be dependent on a random divorce settlement arbitrarily determined by a judge.

If you’ve been keeping up with me on Twitter, then you know I watched the movie This Christmas at least 3 times this weekend LOL  I had no idea it was that good!  But a few scenes caught my eye and I immediately thought of this post because this is a message I want to drive home to women.  Do not let your lack of career prospects or financial viability without your husband stop you from leaving a bad situation.  If this is the case then get in a position where you have options.  This also happens to be the central message of this blog, teaching women how to take charge of their finances so they are able to make decisions not bound by  financial limitations.

Please dont stay in a bad situation because you feel that you can’t make it on your own.

But I realize there are women who feel this way and I’d like to hear from you.  If you are or were in this situation, what drives your decision outside of love and children to stay?  We are having a discussion about this on Twitter so feel free to jump in:

How likely are you to leave a bad marriage if you have no education or poor career prospects? (Read from the bottom up)

	sundaycosmetics @gingerlatte@adonyaWong I have 0 tolerance for anyone who “assumes” I won’t make it. Oh NO The devil is a liar. Feel a sermon comin’ 13 minutes ago from web in reply to Gingerlatte
	sundaycosmetics @Gingerlatte @AdonyaWong That’s right! I learned to pray and STEP real quick. As an entrepreneur/person – I BLOCK the negativity 16 minutes ago from web in reply to Gingerlatte

AdonyaWong @gingerlatte I have friends who stay in unhealthy spots because they think they can’t do any better. Me? Scared or not, I wouldn’t stay. 25 minutes ago from TweetDeck in reply to Gingerlatte

	tjonsek @gingerlatte i think it does make a diff. espec if they haven’t had a job in awhile. could be terrifying. 32 minutes ago from TweetDeck in reply to Gingerlatte
	glennette @Gingerlatte Chances r slim 2 none, unless spouse is physical. 33 minutes ago from TweetDeck in reply to Gingerlatte

	tjonsek @gingerlatte yep. i remember at 1st before education & good job I was married & 2 scared 2 leave. thought i couldn’t take care of myself. 35 minutes ago from TweetDeck in reply to Gingerlatte
	AdonyaWong @Gingerlatte I’ll take the leap of faith for a thousand, Alex! Staying in a crappy marriage/relationship is not an option. 35 minutes ago from web in reply to Gingerlatte

Question?  What advice do you have for women in this predicament?

Check the video. Disclaimer: By the way I do not advocate violence or destruction of property. But it is rather funny! LOL This is for all the Jazmine Sullivans out there:

I am DONE!!!!   Just a ball of emotions right now, most of all relieved but sad that this 3 year journey has finally come to an end.  I’ve had my fair share of ups and downs in the program but over the last few months I realized that I made the right decision in picking this path. There have been times when I’ve wanted to leave and drop it all because the growing pains hurt so much it was almost unbearable, but I made it through.  A Counseling program can do that to you.  The level of insight and awareness you gain about yourself is incredible and I am a better person for it.

I now hold two Masters degrees in Forensic Psychology and Counseling Psychology and I already have a job!  LOL  Hence why it’s been so slow around here, my boss yanked me up right around Thanksgiving.  I will be working as a Therapist with at risk youth/adolescents here in the DC Metro area after being with the company for two years on and off but it’s really everything I want for my career right now.  Flexibility to see clients on my schedule, work from home, supervision towards LPC licensure and a truly awesome boss.  I have more free time than of I were stuck behind a desk so this totally works for me.

This morning as I was driving in to hand in the portfolio, I thought about how incredibly blessed I am to be where I am right now.  Ive always said that I am where I’m supposed to be in my life right now.  There are no mistakes in life.  There are times when I’ve thought that I was “behind schedule” because I floundered around in a few grad programs until I settled on this one.  Y’all I had a SCHEDULE!  LOL  Be married with two children, a house and graduate degree by 30.  No kids yet

So it’s time for a new chapter in my life as a career woman with kids on the horizon.

photo credit: alessandro pucci

Miranda Marquit is an editor for debt consolidation for DestroyDebt.com. 
A couple of years ago, I knew a woman whose husband died. When it happened, she was completely lost. She had no college education, no marketable skills and no money sense (her husband handled all the money). I have thought about the important of education since then, especially as it relates to women. In order to be financially prepared for life, it is vital that you have an education.

Formal schooling

You don’t have to get a college education, but you should have some sort of formal schooling. Whether you get a degree or if you decide to go to a technical college and learn a marketable skill, it is important to have some sort of formal education beyond high school. It increases your earning power (something that is beneficial for gals with out life partners), and makes you more marketable. You can land a better job, and enjoy better pay when you have some sort of formally recognized skill or degree.

It is also important to continue your education. Even if you are not working right now, keep up with certifications. You never know when it might become necessary to enter the workforce. Additionally, if your work provides incentives for your further your skills and education, you should take advantage of the opportunity.

Financial education

I am constantly surprised by the number of women who do not have a solid financial education and foundation. Single (and married) women who do not understand finances can be taken advantage of by the unscrupulous givers of bad advice. Married women can find themselves divorced or widowed with no way of handling the money and a severe need to be brought up to speed. Additionally, women with life partners should be aware of how the other person is spending money, and included in decisions. In order to provide helpful and useful input when managing family finances, women should have at least a basic understanding of money and finances.

Not only can a good financial education help you when tragedy strikes, it can also help you live a better life in general. If you learn how investing works, you can make choices that let you grow your money. Women should take the time to learn about different financial vehicles, and become educated about various aspects of financial planning and management.

There are still segments of our society that believe that education is not important for women.  Fortunately, they couldn’t be farther from the truth.  Education is more important for women than ever. It is the only way we can compete, succeed and thrive in today’s world.