Money is a sticky thing when you are dealing with it by yourself let alone when you add another person into the picture. Money is one of the leading reasons that people site when they are thinking of divorce. He’s too tight with the money. She spends too much. We can’t come up with a budget. I just found out my spouse has been hiding money. He keeps giving money to take care of his family? Whatever your thoughts are about marriage, the value you place on money or the lack of value you place on money will impact your marriage. There are several things you need to help the two of you get on the same page about money.
- Discuss a plan to handle your debt.
- Discuss what the two of you think about debt. Some people believe you will always have debt and others believe and are striving to get rid of debt by any means necessary. If you are the one trying to eliminate debt and you spouse doesn’t see debt as a problem, what will you do?
- Discuss what your financial goals are for the next year, five years, ten years.
- Create a budget.
- Discuss how you will handle and plan for unexpected costs; car break down, a child, an illness, loss of a job.
Money can create a breaking point in any couple. Make sure you and your spouse are on the same page about money or at least have similar ideas about where your money should go so you can avoid major issues surrounding money. Now we are not saying that if you discuss finances you will never have issues around money, but if you learn how to communicate about money you are light years ahead of many couples.
A great resource to help with a plan to reduce and eliminate debt The Total Money Makeover by Dave Ramsey
