This is an article “Marrying Into Financial Bliss” by Marc Primo
Getting married not only means you and your significant other will get to spend more time together. It also means you’ll get to spend more money for the many expenses that married life entails. Not being able to foreshadow what you’re getting into financially before getting married is one mistake most people make. And when the going gets tough or when things steer into the ‘for poorer’ part of the relationship, it might be a situation that can be difficult to get out of.
Talking about money prior to exchanging vows is important among couples to protect investments and future money. The other important part to settle is sharing a mutual viewpoint on how finances would be handled during married life.
If you are about to tie the knot, these tips can surely help you prepare for your financial challenges ahead as a couple.
Don’t be afraid to talk about money
For some couples, it might be hard to start a conversation about money matters but it’s one you’re going to have to take at some point in your relationship. The sooner you realize that marriages have more to do with reality than fairy tales, the easier you can address financial challenges together.
Talk about the immediate issues first like wedding expenses and cash gifts from loved ones. If you are already married, start with how you can handle regular monthly bills and stash some cash for your savings. Schedule your money talks at a time when both of you are not stressed out or busy and allow each other to say thoughts out loud.
Having financial conversations is not all about setting up rules and putting up restrictions more than it’s about getting a clear picture of how much money you have and how you should spend it. The keyword here is respect, and the sooner you see things eye-to-eye, the easier it will be to compromise on how you should handle money as a couple.
Gain proper perspective of each other’s financial background
Getting to know your partner better is always a good thing, especially when it’s about spending or saving habits. Some couples are quick to fight over money matters because they don’t know how the other behaves when money is involved. It’s important to note that individuals have their own ways in approaching finances, so it’s best you include financial backgrounds into your discussions.
Some things you need to learn about each other is how money was introduced during your respective childhoods, and how your families dealt with challenges. Is debt a common thing or was it difficult to save up growing up? All of these things can give both of you a fair idea on how your significant other handles money which leads us to the next tip—setting up financial goals.
Set financial goals as one
Once you’ve both been enlightened about your financial backgrounds, it will now be easier to reconcile financial differences and set goals together. Remember, you are both on the same team living in one household, so you should always work hard to achieve your targets.
It won’t matter who makes more than whom. Simply start with a regular collective income per month and set aside payments for regular monthly bills. After that, see if you can cut a portion of your income for your savings or if one or both of you need to find more ways to earn.
While you’re at it, review potential investments together and shoot for both short and long-term goals. The more you’re both open and specific about your money goals, the less stress you’ll have to get over while working for it.
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