I have a hard time talking to my wife about money. She says it makes her nervous - that she can't handle it. I believe her. We relate to money so differently. Growing up, money was always there for me, my family had plenty. Hers was always in debt. Owing money scares her but it doesn't bother me at all. I'm confident I'll pay it off eventually

My own father was a quiet man. He owned a small business in a small town. He rose early every morning to open his liquor store in time to catch the first customers on the small main street that was the center of town. This was in the era before the mall took over the retail world and owning a store was the ticket to middle class stability. He'd get home about 8 or 9 at night, watch TV until 11 o'clock and go to sleep. About the only time I saw him was when I'd walk over to the "store." He'd give me a dime out of the cash register for some candy or hand me a Royal Crown cola from the icebox in the back of the store.