Studies have shown that a common reason for marriage divorce was caused by financial incompatibility, which leads to money disagreements and conflicts over family responsibilities. This article aims to give tips on how to talk about money with your partner — having money conversations enable intending couples or partners to have an honest and open discussion about a common issue like finance that is important to both parties.
Some couples make it work, even when they don’t agree on everything. But some get into financial arguments over money, like a couple in court-mandated counselling. There are various approaches to talking about money with your partner, and some are as follows:
Work on Your Own Financial Issues First
The first step to helping your partner is to work on your own financial issues. If you are not financially independent, you can’t help your partner much if they want to discuss money with you. This means that before discussing how much money a specific purchase will cost or if it’s worth saving for, it’s essential that both of you understand how these things affect one another and what each person’s needs and wants are regarding finances.
Be Comfortable with being Emotional About Money
To have a healthy and productive relationship, you need to be able to talk about money. Money is a big deal for most people, but it can also be a source of stress, conflict and pleasure in your life. It can provide security or freedom if handled correctly.
Talking about money is hard because it’s such an emotional topic for many people — especially if they don’t have enough of it or feel like their partner has too much power over them when it comes down the line (or vice versa). However: getting emotional isn’t bad! It just means that we’re human beings with emotions just like everyone else around us who have different opinions on what makes sense financially depending on where each person stands within their own personal values system (whether these be religious beliefs/philosophy or otherwise).
Approach It as a Conversation, Not an Argument
The most important thing to remember when approaching money is that it’s not about you. It’s about your partner and how you can work together as a team. When you approach the issue of money, remember that this is an opportunity for growth and change — so be prepared for compromise!
It may feel like an argument when one person says “No” while another says “Yes”, but this isn’t necessarily true. Instead of arguing over how much money each partner should make or save (and who gets what), try talking about how both people can contribute equally towards household expenses without either feeling left out or taken advantage of by the other party.
Suppose one person feels like they’re contributing more than their fair share while another person feels like their contribution doesn’t meet expectations set by society at large (or even just within the relationship). In that case, it might be worth exploring ways in which both parties could make adjustments so everyone feels satisfied with their situation financially.
Share Your Money Stories from Childhood
When it comes to money, it’s important to share your stories from childhood. The first time you realized that your parents weren’t as rich as you thought they were was when you saw them struggle with money. What did that make you feel? How did that change how you handled money in future relationships and friendships?
Create a Mindful Budget
Make sure you have a plan for all your expenses. Also, ensure that the plan includes things that are important to you, which is the mindful part of the budget. You and your partner need to know exactly how much money you will spend each month on each category (food, clothing, etc.). It’s also important to consider the cost of things outside these categories, such as entertainment or travel, and things you like.
Create a mindful budget that works for both of you — not just one person in the relationship! If one partner is used to living more frugally than the other, it can cause friction when trying to set up shared goals regarding money matters later down the road!
Discuss Debt
The topic of debt can be a source of stress and conflict in relationships, but it’s essential to be honest about your own debt. It’s also important to discuss how you will handle your debts together as a couple.
Talk About Financial Goals
As a couple, you need to talk about financial goals. You can do this in a number of ways:
- You can set short-term and long-term goals for the family or each individual in your household.
- Some people might want to save up money for something specific and then use it later on down the line (like buying a car). In contrast, others will be more interested in saving up to invest their earnings into something they’re passionate about (like starting an online business).
- What are your plans for retirement? Will you be living off savings or relying on Social Security checks? How much income do you expect from each source over time? Do any members of the household have special needs that could impact how much money they need every year — such as children with disabilities who require expensive medical equipment; older adults who need help paying for groceries every day; someone who has trouble managing his/her own finances due to mental health issues such as depression/anxiety disorder etcetera.
- Decide Now Whether You’ll Separate or Merge Finances
The first step to talking money with your partner is deciding whether you’ll separate or merge finances. If you choose to merge your finances, then the process will be much easier and less stressful than if you had to file for bankruptcy.
But even if this option sounds appealing, there are still some important things to consider before making this decision.
In the end, it’s important to remember that your partner is not out to get you, and they may be unable to control how they feel. Talking about money with them is okay, but only if you can keep yourself calm and respectful. Only some people can do this, but if you can manage it, then there’s no reason why talking about money shouldn’t help improve your relationship. BizVest is committed to every individual’s financial growth, which is why we have different products to suit your needs. Check out our website to find out more!
