Woman kills herself before foreclosure: money secrets in marriage not healthy
Posted by: in Money General TalkFiled under: Borrowing, Debt, Real Estate, Relationships, Bankruptcy
A tragic case in Taunton, Mass., where a 53-year-old wife and mom fatally shot herself after faxing a letter to her mortgage company, demonstrates a common issue in many marriages; secrets about money. According to police, Carlene Balderrama fax read, in part, “By the time you foreclose on my home, I’ll be dead.”
“I had no clue,” stated spouse John Balderrama. He further explained that his wife had handled all the couple’s finances and he no idea that she hadn’t paid the mortgage in 42 months. But, in fact, there were clues. According to court records, Mr. Balderrama had filed for Chapter 13 bankruptcy three times from 2004 to 2006. Obviously there were long-standing financial issues that this couple were not facing together.
This is not uncommon. Spouses more often lie to each other about money than any other issue. From hiding purchases and bills to opening single accounts, spouses often minimize their own spending. And in many households, only one spouse is actively involved in handling the family finances.
Continue reading Woman kills herself before foreclosure: money secrets in marriage not healthy
Entries (RSS)