Many couples fight over money. It’s no secret that money is one of the leading causes of divorce.
One way to prevent this is to make sure you and your partner are on the same page financially.
Even if divorce or a break up isn’t an option of you, being on the same page is a great way to reduce stress and arguments in your marriage or relationship.
How do you get on the same page?
1. Communication
No matter how much time you invest into talking about money with your spouse, it will go nowhere if you do not have a solid foundation of communication.
Life can become busy on it’s own, then throw financial stress on top of that and it is very easy to forget the simple courtesies we need to give each other in our marriage. Especially when it comes to developing effective communication.
When our finances reinforce existing negative feelings about ourselves, it’s hard to see money as a tool for good.
If you have these feelings, there’s a good chance your partner does, too.
The best way to get your partner or spouse to open about these feelings is for you to share yours. The more open and honest you are, the more permission they’ll feel they have to be honest with you.
2. Listen in Order to Understand
This is a very important step. Your partner has put maybe some of their deepest desires down on a piece of paper. They’ve opened up. Be careful how you respond.
Actually, at first, don’t respond at all. Ask them to talk to you about their goals. Listen to them. Hear them. Understand why the goals they’ve listed are important to them. Find value in learning that information.
How many of their financial bucket list goals involve you? Probably almost all of them. They want to live in that house with you. They want to finally take that trip to Europe with you. Right now, they have it in their heart to be with you until one of you “kicks the bucket.” Think about that a little while. Let that gushiness sink in. Their long-term life goals include you.
3. Don’t keep money secrets
According to different studies, one-third of people who argue with their spouse about money have hidden a purchase from their partner. When that happens, your spouse feels like they can’t trust you. And you can’t build a strong marriage without trust.
4. Do a budget together
You need to do a monthly budget, of course, but you also need to talk about your long-term goals, like vacation and retirement. When you’re working together toward common money goals, you have a shared vision and shared dreams. In the study, 94% of those who said they have “great” marriages also said they discuss their money dreams together.(3) Dreaming about the future with the one you want to share it with can deepen your relationship.
5. Create Your Family Budget Together
If you haven’t been following a spending plan, sit down together and create a budget. This is one of the most important things that you can do to ensure that you are working together in the best way possible to reach your financial goals. Fill out the information below to have a simple budget sent to you today so you can start really making progress!
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