The 5 financial tips for the first week of February 2012 are given below:

Tip no 1 - Before getting married, open your communications regarding money.

Marriage is a life turning event. It changes your life dramatically. If you want to lead a happy martial life, then discuss about the financial matters before walking down the aisle. Explain your income, expenses, debt obligations, financial goals and mistakes to your spouse. This will help your spouse to know you better. Both of you can work to achieve individual financial goals. Another advantage of having an open discussion about money matters is that it can help you avoid financial disputes.

Tip no 2 - Settle your debts on your own and avoid being scammed.

When you're drowning in credit card debts, contact your creditors to settle your debts on your own. Negotiate with the creditors to cut back the principal amount. Don't rush to a settlement company to settle your credit card debts. This is because a lot of settlement companies don't abide by the FTC rules. Some charge upfront fees from the consumers while others don't bother to contact the creditors only. They are only interested in making money out of the cash-strapped consumers.

Tip no 3 - If a payday loan company is making unauthorized withdrawals, then close your bank account.

Have you taken out a payday loan in your state? Is the payday loan company debiting money from your bank account without your prior permission? If yes, then talk with your bank branch manager and close down your bank account. Fill out the required forms and close the account. You can open another account in the same bank. This way the payday loan lender will not be able to debit money from your account. If the bank refuses to close the account, then you can ask the manager to put the account into the 'deposit only' status.

Tip no 4 – Find part-time jobs after retiring.

If you're a retired person and facing difficulty to pay the regular bills, then a part-time job can be a good option for you. A part-time job can help to boost your income. You can earn some extra dollars without doing strenuous jobs. You can use the money for health related expenses. Every one knows that the medical costs are increasing day by day. Your insurance policy may not cover the entire cost. So, you can use the extra bucks to pay off the doctor fees.

Another advantage of part-time jobs is that they help you to utilize your free time. You won’t feel bored. Rather, you’ll be physically and mentally active.

Tip no 5 – If you like watching movies at the theater, go before 6:00 pm.

Do you love to watch the latest Hollywood movies at the nearest theatre every week? Do you love to watch your favorite heroes jumping from one building to other on the big screen? If yes, then you can watch the movies before 6:00 pm and save $10 on the tickets. This means that you can watch your favorite movies by paying less on the tickets. If your budget is limited and you're taking your girl friend for a movie, then visit the theater after lunch. Your girl friend won't ask you to purchase pop corns or snacks.