With 2009 forecast to be a pretty rough time economically, we hopefully will be featuring more than a few segments on thrifty dating.

Reuters:

U.S. pop star Madonna and ex-husband Guy Ritchie said on Wednesday that a statement released on the singer’s behalf detailing terms of their divorce was “misleading and inaccurate.”

Liz Rosenberg, Madonna’s spokeswoman in New York, said on Monday the singer had given British film director Ritchie between 50 and 60 million pounds ($76-92 million) as part of their divorce.

Both Associated Press (AP) and Reuters reported the figures, but now the couple are distancing themselves from the accuracy of the details.

I can understand wanting to keep the money numbers private but Madonna is trying to distance herself from her OWN spokeswoman? Unless of course Rosenberg spoke out of turn.

(more Madonna, Ritchie say divorce sums “wrongly issued”…)

Whether you are living paycheck to paycheck or are pretty well off, arguing over money seems to come with the territory. And the more the economy goes in the tank the more strained the discussion.

Raoul Felder @ The Wall Street Journal

When the economy starts taking a dive, mice leave sinking ships, and there are lots of divorces triggered. When the economy starts getting better, there are also lots of divorces since people detect upward trends, become hopeful, and plunge ahead.

Yep it ranks right up there with bailing out automotive executives who takes their own private planes to Congress. Besides I think the divorce lawyers who handled this case should help with bailing all of us out.

(more Divorce Lawyers Could Use Subsidies Too…)

The BBC:

Christine Northam, of Relate, said: “The problems are to do with the recession - to do with job insecurity, to do with interest rates changing and also the escalating costs of running the family.

“I think if you’re dealing with these anxieties all on your own it can be very isolating, and can lead to depression and anxiety. “It can impact on the relationship and then that will impact on your children.”

That last paragraph is why we have trying to talk a little bit more about the economy in general. When the money ain’t right it affects everything.

(more Downturn ‘puts strain on couples’…)

by Eric Jilson 

Money is without question the number one topic couples argue over, and also a topic most people stress over throughout most of their lives. Money is also a common reason for couples separating. The trouble usually stems from the fact that one of the partner’s controls the majority of the finances and financial decisions, disrupting the middle road balance that couples try to maintain in most aspects of their relationships. What often happens is that the main money earner becomes overly protective of their money, feeling the weight of the work they put into earning it more keenly, while the other partner simply views it as excess money that can and should be spent.

(more A Solid Relationship…)

Money can put a strain on a relationship anytime anyplace and right now with the current state of the economy it has really ratcheted up the stress level for many couples. Dr. Michael Seamon gives some tips on how to get through it together and come out stronger as a couple.

Money. Whether too much or too little at some point it is going to rear it’s ugly head.

by Daryl Campbell

It’s been a good evening. You and your date met at one of those trendy restaurants. Yes it’s an upscale kind of place but it has a good down to earth vibe. The conversation between the two of you was nothing short of dazzling. Both of you came prepared with plenty of material to talk about. Turns out you didn’t really need it. The natural connection that the two of you share just took over and before you knew it a couple of hours passed by.

Dinner was the bomb. Everything was well prepared and delicious. You and your date both agree that this place should become a regular spot. That is until you get the check.

(read more Going Dutch?…)