A key ingredient of improving  couples' marriages might just be gratitude, according to new University of Georgia research. "We found that feeling appreciated and believing that your spouse values you directly influences how you feel about your marriage, how committed you are to it, and your belief that it will last," said study researchers. The study asked 468 married individuals questions about their financial well-being, communication, and expressions of spousal gratitude. The results…

Using denial to cope with money troubles is a common roadblock to help. Denial is about hoping that a solution will appear even without a plan to make it happen. If this sounds like you, avoid drifting where this torrent of stress may lead. Your first step may not be financial counseling, but rather short-term mental health counseling to deal with fear of change, fear of living on a no-frills budget, and fear of conflict as you petition your spouse to join the cause. After this prep work,…