Money, Sex, and Kids: Stop Fighting about the Three Things That Can Ruin Your Marriage [Bargain Price] [Paperback]

Tina Tessina (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: January 1, 2008

Unhappy couples may be unhappy each in their own way - but they're all fighting about the same things: money, sex and kids. These three topics often cause conflict that can erode even the strongest marriages. In this prescriptive, practical guide, popular author and therapist Dr. Tina B. Tessina shows couples how to deal with their differences in these critical areas, and resolve them before they take their toll on their relationship. They learn the proper etiquette for marital debate, as well as creative approaches to solving the problems that confront them in their life together.Given today's high divorce rate statistics and the so-called age of the 'serial marriage' - "Money, Sex and Kids" helps couples avoid the divorce court by addressing the divisive issues most likely to tear their unions apart.

Editorial Reviews

From the Author

Tina B. Tessina, Ph.D. has been a licensed psychotherapist in private practice in California since 1978. She is the author of eleven books and is known on the Internet as "Dr. Romance." Her practice includes individual and couple counseling. And she's been happily married for more than twenty years.

About the Author

Tina B. Tessina, Ph.D. (Long beach, CA) has been a freelance licensed psychotherapist in private practice in California since 1978. She is the author of 11 books, her practice includes individual and couple counselling. She has been happily married for more than 20 years.

Product Details

• Paperback: 256 pages
• Publisher: Adams Media (January 1, 2008)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 1598693255
• ASIN: B001QCX4M2
• Product Dimensions: 8.4 x 5.5 x 0.7 inches
• Shipping Weight: 11.2 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.6 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (8 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #466,044 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

More About the Author

Tina B. Tessina, Ph.D. http://www.tinatessina.com is a licensed psychotherapist in S. California, with over 30 years experience in counseling individuals and couples and author of 13 books, including It Ends With You: Grow Up and Out of Dysfunction (New Page); How to Be a Couple and Still Be Free (New Page); The Unofficial Guide to Dating Again (Wiley) and The Real 13th Step: Discovering Self-Confidence, Self-Reliance and Independence Beyond the Twelve Step Programs (New Page.) Her newest books, out from Adams Press in 2008: Money, S*x and Kids: Stop Fighting About the Three Things That Can Ruin Your Marriage and Commuter Marriage. She publishes Happiness Tips from Tina, an e-mail newsletter, and the 'Dr. Romance Blog' http://drromance.typepad.com/dr_romance_blog/

She is an online expert, answering relationship questions at Divorce360.com and Yahoo!Personals, as well as a Redbook Love Network expert and 'Psychology Smarts' columnist for First for Women.Dr. Tessina guests frequently on radio, and on such TV shows as 'Oprah', 'Larry King Live' and ABC news. Follow her at twitter.com/tinatessina. Facebook: www.facebook.com/tinatessina

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

2 of 2 people found the following review helpful

5.0 out of 5 stars She knows the problems we all have October 17, 2008

By Kathy Seal

Format:Paperback

Tessina, who has counseled couples for more than 30 years, seems to know what problems people have when it comes to the biggies - money, sex, and kids. Her book by that name lays out in detail very practical solutions. Do you two have different ideas and feelings about money? Put those different attitudes on the table- discuss them-- then keep separate checkbooks and credit or debit cards, but a common checkbook or credit card for major shared bills. Hmm, never thought of that! Don't shy away from manipulation, says Tessina -just so it's positive manipulation, thought through so you get a good response: like, "How about if we take out a home equity loan, and use it to renovate the kitchen (like you want) and buy the new car (like I want)?" Though you probably won't try this one till today's frozen credit thaws.

Money, Sex, and Kids is really a manual. First you find your problem - termed Struggle - in boldface-- then the Situation or background, and then the Solution. You wouldn't read Money, Sex, and Kids like a novel. It's more like a cookbook that you keep around and dip into when you need a recipe. I wish I'd had it earlier in my marriage, when I'd had all these problems she writes about that I recognize only too well!

2 of 2 people found the following review helpful

5.0 out of 5 stars A Book for ALL Married Couples Who Want to Stay That Way December 10, 2007

By Elaine Shimberg

Format:Paperback

Prolific non-fiction writer, Tina Tessina, Ph.D., has written many books on women and relationships. But she really hits the bullseye with MONEY,SEX, and KIDS: Stop Fighting About the Three Things That Can Ruin Your Marriage.

Although she states that "raising kids is the most complicated, puzzling, and hopefully rewarding job a couple can have," she goes on to honestly admit that "the fights about children can be the most intense and complex." Fortunately, she then describes ways that couples can work together to compromise in solving those issues.

She also lists skills that are necessary to learn in order to create a "truly loving partnership." As a licensed psychotherapist since 1978, Dr. Tessina carefully presents the struggle and the situation first, and then offers the solution to money, sex, and kids squabbles.

If this book were among the gifts given at engagement parties and appeared on book shelves of married folks, perhaps our sad statistics of divorce among first, second, and even third marriages could be reduced.

Reviewed by Elaine Fantle Shimberg, author of BLENDING FAMILIES and co-author of THE COMPLETE SINGLE FATHER.

1 of 1 people found the following review helpful

5.0 out of 5 stars Bravo, Dr. Romance! January 31, 2009

By Abby Aronowitz

Format:Paperback

"Money Sex and Kids" is an incredibly useful resource! This book helps couples to understand and resolve the three primary issues responsible for marital discontent. First Dr. Tessina broadens awareness about why people may act in a certain manner. Then she moves beyond insight, enlightenment and understanding, towards a constructive plan of action. These practical tools offer a great opportunity to improve and repair difficult relationships. "Money Sex and Kids" offers hope for couples to maximize bliss and minimize angst. Bravo, Dr. Romance! - Dr. Abby Aronowitz, Psychologist. Author of "Your Final Diet" [..]

1 of 1 people found the following review helpful

4.0 out of 5 stars Practical advice February 18, 2008

By CKL

Format:Paperback

Money, sex and kids are, indeed, the three issues virtually all couples fight about. Author Tina Tessina, a practicing therapist and relationship columnist, gives practical, commonsense advice for dealing with all.

I tried one of the discussion exercises with my "fella," with good results. Some four weeks later, we still use it.
Lots of good tips here for dealing with the issues that can strengthen or strain a relationship.

1 of 1 people found the following review helpful

5.0 out of 5 stars The Top Three from the Top One February 5, 2008

By RadioProf

Format:Paperback

"I love the entire book. Dr. Tessina is one of those gifted people who write like she is peering straight into people's souls. I like very much how she shares personal asides, and tips that work in her own marriage. I like her focus on using humor and even silliness too. I've noticed how that can work with most people most of the time. I also like the weekly family meeting ideas.

I love the comments, the guidelines, the therapist's statement of ethics and the guidelines for selecting a therapist. This is soooo valuable for my students who seek counseling.

I've always taught that the three biggest reasons couples seek help are Money, Sex and Communication. A more accurate statement would be that it is a thread of communication that runs through the topics- which are; money, sex and kids that determines a relationship's success. HOW you communicate determines your success. This book is an excellent manual/training guide!

Dr. Tessina's emphasis on humor reflects a lot of what's right about the world. Charlie Chaplin said: "Life may be a tragedy in the close up, but it is a comedy in the long shot." He would have liked this book."

3 of 4 people found the following review helpful

5.0 out of 5 stars Tina does it again! More great advice from Dr. Romance. January 31, 2008

By Aostara Kaye

Format:Paperback

I am a never-married, childless, only child. My fiancé is a divorced middle-child with custody of his young son. We have different opinions on and experiences with, well, just about everything. MONEY, SEX AND KIDS has taught us how to use this diversity to our mutual benefit.

The techniques, skills and mindsets laid out in this book (and in Tina's earlier book How to Be a Couple and Still Be Free, Third Edition) have enabled us to negotiate cooperative solutions to our problems rather than focusing on who is "right." Tina's combinations of specific real-life examples and general tips and tools have given us the ability to greatly reduce the potential for arguments, needless struggle and heartache in our relationship.

I'm particularly happy with how the "Struggle-Situation-Solution" continuum trains couples to get past the immediate "sound and fury" and discover what the argument is REAALLY about, which is the only place true cooperative problem solving can take place.

Thanks to Tina (and my fiancé's cooperation, of course), I've gone from thinking that our differences could quite possibly be insurmountable to planning for a moving day later this year.