My husband won't agree to remodel our home, do I just live with it?

I can understand that. Are you working at all? Is it a concern of money? Perhaps if it's really important you could get a part-time job and contribute a portion of the cost. Maybe then he will see how important it is to you. In any good marriage, we may not agree, but we have to be willing to make comprimises. See if you can start with something simple like painting a room to ease him in. Find out why he is so adverse to making changes to the house. Is it just cost? See if you can agree to cut back on something to make this happen. It's all about compromise!

We both have a decent income, actually I earn more. His problem is that he feels that we should have enough money saved for our daughters college first and live in our house like it is.

That is a tough spot to be in.

yes, college costs are rising, and if you wait until you have enough in savings for her to go to college on, you may never remodel your house.

she is 8 years old, so why not set up a savings account, or some higher yield stuff like cds, that are still secure, and put in x amount into and let the compound interest pay for her college education.

with the rest of it, you can remodel your home.

also, you can make the argument that when you remodel the home and when the housing market turns around, it will be a good investment in the house. if you were to sell it right now, you wouldn't be able to get as much for it, because everything is so out of date.

I agree with Sid. I think, knowing more that there should be some sort of compromise. Can you save a portion in high yield CDs or mutual funds and then spend a portion of money to fix up the house. Consider this too. It's not like you are buying a Lamborghini. Most improvements you make on the house will give you a higher return in the end. It is an investment.

If you can't make up your mind and come to an agreement, then maybe you should hire a financial planner (NON-COMMISSION - can't stress that enough) who will help you figure out a way to have both. Maybe if he sees a plan to make sure her college is taken care of, you can enjoy some of your money now as well.

Have you sat down and talked to him about why he feels the way he does. I would start there and maybe he can explain it to you. If he had the house four years before you got married there maybe something that happened that makes him want to keep it the way it is. Tell him if he can explain it maybe you would understand. You must love him alot if you have lived like that for 16 years. But that is really unusal for a man. They usally love a womans touch in a home.