Till death us do part?

Apparently not, as more and more people are citing retirement and inheritance issues as a good reason to get divorced.

We’ve all heard of the couples who were happily married for many years until they retired and then spent every day together - sometimes too much togetherness is just, well, too much togetherness.  What might have appeared endearing little foibles suddenly begin to grate and resentments fester…

Or how about inheritance issues?  Suppose you have a partner with a previous marriage and children from that relationship - just how are you going to split your millions when you die?  What if you leave everything to your partner and hope they will then see your own children right when they die?  What’s to stop them changing their will after you’ve gone?  It all comes down to trust, and often just thinking about who to leave things to brings it all to a head.

However, this also makes me think about wills in general - I am constantly amazed by the number of people who don’t have them.  At the risk of sounding bossy, I would urge all of you to make a will (it’s messy for those you leave behind if you don’t) and it’s the only way to guarantee that those you love and care for are looked after you’ve gone.  If you’re in your twenties or thirties you might think you’re too young - but you’re not!  Anyone who owns anything (whether it’s a car or a house) should make a will.

Facebook: Is it good for you?

OK, so we all use Facebook - some more than others.  But it is increasingly being considered to be a factor in more and more divorces and break-ups.

Why?

Well, think about it - before social media was around, you might have occasionally thought about your first love, now you’re just a click away from finding him/her on social media.  Then you’re just a click away from ‘friending’, and then it’s a coffee…

And all that time you’re spending staring at the screen you’re not interacting with your partner who may well be sitting beside you doing exactly the same thing.  It’s not exactly sociable…

Even if it doesn’t lead to a break-up, does Facebook make you happy?
 
Constantly viewing the lovely holidays, meals out and happy smiling children of others may lead to feelings of inadequacy, resentment and low self-esteem.

Don’t forget, however, that these photos are (literally) just a snap-shot in time and that the person posting is almost always putting ‘the best spin’ on things.  And if they’re not?  Then they’re depressed, fed up and cranky and that’s depressing too!

Perhaps the best idea is to use Facebook less, live life more!