DEAR HARRIETTE: I have been married for five years, and my husband and I just had a baby. We are so excited, especially since it took us a few years to have this child. Our daughter is beautiful, and we could not be happier. The challenge is that my husband only wants to think about the "right now." I think we need to get life insurance so that if anything happens to us, our baby would be provided for. It has become a sore spot for us. It feels like we have argued until the cows come home. He just doesn't believe in insurance. I could see if we had a bunch of money socked away, but we don't have that, either. I don't want to disrespect my husband, but I do want to provide for my daughter. I have a job. Do you think it would be defiant to buy insurance anyway? -- Protecting My Child, Jackson, Mississippi
DEAR PROTECTING MY CHILD: Too bad you didn't discuss this aspect of family planning and values before you got married. Some people don't believe in insurance, but as you pointed out, if you don't have a contingency plan -- meaning growing money in the bank, aka investments, you put your family in a precarious position should the unthinkable happen.
You should continue the conversation with your husband about family planning -- not just insurance, but how many children you intend to have, what type of education you want to provide for them, where you want to live, how you will pay for any upgrades in your lifestyle, etc. As for insurance, you have the absolute right to purchase it on your own. You can even buy a policy for your husband. You simply pay for them and keep them in a safe place, should you ever need to use them.