Are you and your spouse worried about what’s happening with your savings, your pension, your children’s college funds, or just staying employed? The Dow Jones is under 10,000 and European banks sound as shaky as the US banks. Do you find yourself fearful of your futures together? Do you find yourselves disagreeing with your partner about how to weather this financial meltdown? Do you find yourselves arguing because one of you makes more money and feels like they have more control over how money is spent? When money gets tight as a result of reduced income or increased mortgage payments and is combined with financial fears of the future, those old money arguments (my money vs. your money) may be causing you problems again. It is time for the two of you to have discussions again about money.

In his book Love & Money, Jeff Opdyke says: “It’s not really about the money. It’s about creating another level of intimacy in your relationship and bestowing trust on each other.” He further recommends joint accounts for couples which explicitly demonstrates the trust you have with your spouse.

When we keep secrets from our spouse about how much we make, how we spend money, or even how much money we have, this indicates a measure of distrust in the other person. When times are tough like now, you need to trust and have faith in your legal and romantic partner. All your money and all your debts are consider joint by the state. If you are not considering them joint, you are losing out. You lose resources that your partner brings to solving financial problems. You lose a feeling of honesty about yourself. And you lose some ability to manage your family finances in the best way possible.

If the two of you are not quite ready to combine your accounts, at least try to agree on and be committed to the following:

1. Agree to live within your means, so that expenses do not exceed your income.

2. Agree to open, honest communication about money.

3. Promise not to blame one another, judge each other, or keep secrets about money.

4. Be prepared to listen to your partner and understand their perspective.

You both need to be fully aware of the family gross and net income, to know where household (and individual) money goes each month and to know how much debt you have and the interest costs you are paying.

If you are unable to have a frank and open discussion about your money with your spouse, you may benefit from seeing a marriage counselor. The National Registry of Marriage Friendly Therapists (www.marriagefriendlytherapist.com) is a good resource for finding a therapist who is invested in helping you save your marriage. If you are unable to curb your spending, you might consider Debtors Anonymous, an organization for people trying to reduce debt and regain solvency. If you need a housing counselor or help with your mortgage, go to the web site of the US Department of Housing and Urban Development (www.hud.gov) and click on the Hope for Homeowners link.

It’s important to realize you are not alone. Many couples and families are struggling. Don’t let your marriage be a casualty of the worst financial disaster most of us have ever seen. You and your spouse are in this together. Get the help you need to keep your marriage stable and safe.

If you decide that you might need marriage counseling, check out my website, http://www.PamLipe.com My specialty is marriage and relationship counseling. For 20 years, I have been helping couples find the love and support they want in their marriages. My therapy practice serves the metropolitan area of Minneapolis/St.Paul, MN.

Summer is here and full-figured gals are ready for all those fun-filled warm weather events! You’ve put together a hot, sexy plus size wardrobe full of clingy tanks and tees, plunging halter top dresses, and sheer, chiffon blouses.

Now, you’re going to need the right plus size bra to perfect the look of those eye-catching outfits.

Here are five essential sexy plus size bras that every full figure woman needs for summer:

Plus Size Sports Bra

Active plus gals who are amply blessed on top need to wear a good plus size sports bra! No matter what physical activity you’re participating in, you can find just the right style sports bra that will give you the comfort and support that you need.

You can find plus sports bras with support ranging from high impact support with padded, shaped, underwire cups to an over-the-head, lightweight, microfiber crop top for those less endowed plus ladies!

Plus size sports bras are available in styles that feature zipper front closures, soft cup stretch, racer back, seamless shelf, and even molded sport nursing bras for you plus size expectant mothers!

Plus Size Strapless Bra

No full figure woman’s summer wardrobe would be complete without a sexy, plus size strapless bra. Today’s plus strapless bras are comfortable, supportive, seamless, and constructed to stay in place.

Strapless bras usually feature wider sides then normal bras, underwire support and a triple-hook back closure. Strapless bras should generally be worn a bit tighter than a normal bra, in order to stay in place.

You can find plus size strapless bras in styles ranging from push-up, hidden wire bustier, and lace seamless convertible. For those truly daring, sexy plus dresses or tops, you’ll want to try the multi-use, self-adhesive, strapless, backless bra.

Plus Size T-shirt Bra

Plus size t-shirt bras should be a the top of every full figured lady’s list this summer. With their smooth and seamless shaping, t-shirt bras are just the thing to wear underneath those clingy little cotton shirts.

Designed with hidden underwire, their smooth, sleek bra practically vanishes beneath even the sheerest fabrics. T-shirt bras usually have contoured, molded cups that are lined and lightly padded to prevent show-through.

Plus size t-shirt bras are available in a broad range of styles, from pushup, plunge, underwire, wire-free, microfiber stretch and Chantilly lace.

Plus Size Racerback Bra

Plus size gals won’t have to worry about visible bra straps under sleeveless shirts and tanks when wearing a plus size racerback bra.

The racerback bra was named after those racing-type bathing suits that competitive swimmers wear. The straps on a racerback bra meet in a V type shape on the back, between the shoulder blades.

Also known as a t-back bra, plus size racerback bras are designed with front closure, adjustable straps and underwire support.

Plus Size Minimizer Bra

Plus size minimizer bras are just the thing for large-size ladies who want to streamline their shape just a bit, to look great in those clingy little summer tees.

Minimizer bras are designed to distribute the breast away from the front of the body, to give the appearance of a smaller bust. By doing so, the the well-endowed plus lady can now easily wear button-front blouses without fear of gapping.

A minimizer bra works by designing a cup that distributes the breast flesh more towards the underarm and the center front. A minimizer only shifts the mass in areas other than directly into reduce the bust by one cup size.

Plus size minimizer bras can be purchased with or without underwire, with sexy sheer, stretch lace embellishment and deep plunge silhouette.

With these five plus size sexy bras in her wardrobe, the full figure woman will be ready for any warm-weather event.

But, before purchasing any plus size bra, please be sure to take a bra fit test!

Choosing the right plus bra size is just as important as selecting the right sexy plus size bra style for any summer wardrobe!

How long has it been since you’ve checked your bra size? Learn how to measure yourself for a bra using the bra fit measurement guide at: Sexy Plus Size Lingerie Shopping Guide

Some women choose to work up until the day they deliver their baby, while others stop working a month to a couple of weeks before. Regardless of which one you are, you need to have maternity work clothes after you pass the three and a half to four month point in your pregnancy. As soon as your regular clothes begin to become uncomfortable, it is time for you to purchase maternity clothes.

You would be wise to purchase clothing that is proper for the season. Clothing that can be layered is always a good option. You can add or take off layers with the changing weather. This is a good way to stretch your budget and moderate your own changing body temperature.

It’s key to mix and match clothes for work. Fashion mavens want to look as good while they’re pregnant as they did before, and why shouldn’t they? Purchase several pairs of pants in neutral shades, such as tan, black, gray, navy and brown. A nice skirt, such as an A-line style in a neutral color, coupled with a jacket that goes with several different outfits, as well as a dress and an array of tops are really all that you need. Ensure that your bottoms are made from soft, stretchy fabrics that are breathable. Be creative if possible. Choose something with just a hint of color for summer months, but make sure it will match with as many of your separates as possible.

When it is cold outside, you may wish to consider several sweaters layered. The inner layer is often a V-neck or crew neck item, with an outer layer consisting of a long sleeved cardigan of the same color. Stylish enough for work, casual enough for an evening out. Add some attractive dark pants and new accessories, and people will certainly look twice!

Ever imagined how much better and amazing you can look even in a simple nice dress with just the right kind of accessories. No matter what your size is, it doesn’t matter if you are wearing right earrings, necklaces, bracelets etc. These accessories in general are meant to add value to your appearance but they do wonder when they are appropriately matched to your outfit.

During pregnancy, shoes can really make a difference. Even in the early stages of pregnancy, your feet can ache painfully, so when you go shopping for shoes, try to remember this and choose wisely. Black is a great choice of color as it goes great with dresses, shirts and pants. You can choose either a closed pump or a sling-back. Other shoes that are acceptable to wear to work are ballerina flats. Remember that as your pregnancy progresses, your feet might swell, so make sure that the shoes you buy are wider than you usually wear.

Always buy work clothes that are made of soft material that can breath. Make sure you avoid clothes with complicated fasteners or any irritating zippers, buttons or inseams. Aim for fashionable clothes that do not look too girlish or childish.

Andrea writes about Plus Size Clothing. Visit us for plus size deals on a Plus Size Prom Dresses at http://plus-size.discountsonline.com