Financial issues arise in nearly every marriage. Even the rare couple that is independently wealthy is bound to suffer disagreements occasionally concerning how money is handled (spending, investments, etc.). For most people these types of problems arise from a failure to communicate, but the truth is that we all have different ideas about the role money plays in our lives and how it should be managed. And most people never receive any kind of education in this area beyond the basics (you have a job to earn money, which then pays for your living expenses). So we’re all just kind of winging it. It’s no wonder we disagree once
we begin to blend our finances. However, there are ways that you can get a productive conversation going on the topic in order to make discussing your finances easier. Here are a few tips to ensure financial (and marital) success.
1. Be honest. If you and your spouse face frequent financial difficulties, the worst thing you can do is
sweep them under the rug and hope they go away (or hide transactions that you think will spark an
argument). A policy of open and honest discourse is the key to resolving any financial issues you
may face as a couple. The only way to fix these problems is to decide on a solution together.
2. Form a budget. Often, couples fail to communicate about money. You might write a check or
swipe your bank card and forget to enter the transaction in the ledger, so that your spouse goes to
pay the mortgage without realizing that money first needs to be transferred [Read more…]
