Why do nearly half of all marriages end in divorce? I can’t provide the answer with absolute certainty, but we do know that one of the leading factors contributing to divorce is money.
We’ve all probably had a money-related fight at one time and point. Can you remember what led to the money fight? It most likely boiled to the both of you not being on the same page.
It’s not a good feeling when you can’t get on the same page financially. Managing money and meeting goals becomes that much harder. On the flip side, you can turn things around if you are both willing and determined. Check out these 4 tips to help couples get on the same page financially.
Set Joint Goals
You and your partner can’t get on the same page financially if you don’t have the same goal or don’t know what your goals are.
What do you want to do with the money? What are your short-term and long-term goals? Sit down and discuss these goals regularly and try to compromise if you can.
For example, if you want to buy a home in 3 years but your partner says they won’t be ready for another 5-7 years, try to meet somewhere in the middle and develop a plan that helps you stay on track.
Create an Open and Honest Atmosphere
Financial infidelity is the worst because it creates problems in your relationship as well as your finances. If you don’t know what your partner is doing, their mistakes can come back to bite you in the future.
It’s important to keep lines of communication open by creating an open an honest atmosphere in your household. That way you and your partner both feel comfortable with each other when it comes to talking about money.
Focus on listening and showing empathy rather than being judgmental when your partner comes to you with money mistakes they’ve made. Work together to develop a plan and set up safeguards so the same issues don’t come up again.
Determine Your Financial Language
Did you know that you and your partner have a financial language? It’s just like a love language, but your financial language relates to how you view money and handle it.
Tarra Jackson, a personal finance writer and author, recently published 4 Financial Languages: The Secrets to Communicating About Money which is a guidebook to help couples understand each other better when it comes to managing money.
In this book, Tarra explains the 4 languages along with how to communicate with people who have them. This book has been super insightful for my husband and I who often teeter back and forth between being a spender and a saver.
Have Regular Finance Dates
Finance dates or money meetings are crucial in helping couples get on the same page financially. They allow you to put an actual date on the calendar for when you and your partner will sit down to discuss your financial situation.
My husband and I do this once a week and we go over our budget, upcoming expenses, current goals, and the progress made so far. It’s a great way to keep each other accountable and make sure we get on the same page financially if we aren’t already.
Summary – Get on the Same Page Financially ASAP
When you’re not on the same page with your partner it can create a lot of trouble in your marriage. Having the same goals and working together to manage money is an experience all couples should have.
Have you done any of these things to get on the same page financially with your partner?
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