Learn how to overcome the issues that drive you to spend way too much.

On that sunny afternoon, as my husband and I took a fitness walk along a row of car dealerships, I never dreamed that we would be cruising home in a brand-new, red, SAAB convertible. The car just seemed to fit the day. After all, this was Southern California, where sunshine and fancy cars abound.

It is also a place where many judge you by what you drive. Of course, we already owned a prestigious foreign convertible, but it had become a real headache with its never-ending, expensive repair bills.

If you are frustrated by the way your husband manages money, maybe it's time to take another look.

In a marriage, finances are often seen as a place where you can win or lose. Many women spend a great deal of time trying to wield the upper hand in this area because they don't understand their husband's financial philosophy and don't appreciate the way he manages money.

Whether you see your husband as a cheapskate or a spendthrift, you may think it seems logical to counter his approach in order to balance him out. If you decide to beat the cheapskate by talking him into buying something or to conquer the spendthrift by nagging him into saving, your celebration is likely to be both lonely and brief.