It's no secret that money woes and marriage don't mix.  Financial stress is the number one cause of divorce, usually because the partners can't see eye-to-eye on spending and debt gets out of control for the husband or wife.

But in the current economic climate, conventional wisdom is out the door and we're seeing all manner of strange things happen.  To wit, one couple has chosen divorce as a last-ditch effort to save their relationship.

Like many Americans, Mary McCurnin and husband Ron Bednar were forced to file for bankruptcy after medical bills made them insolvent.  After repeatedly refinancing their house to pay hospital bills and living expenses, they're tapped out. To help get out from under their debt, they've filed for divorce. 

Mary is looking to get access to her first husband's Social Security payments. Her first husband, to whom she'd been married 20 years, died in 1989.  When she turns 60 later this year, Mary will be eligible for $1,200 in monthly survivor's benefits from the previous marriage but only if she is not married to Ron.

Mary and Ron say they need this money to stay afloat financially and continue to live as a couple.

It's clear that our financial system is clearly broken when two seniors can't live together legally as husband and wife and still make end meet.