3 Ways to Avoid Money-Related Arguments With Your Spouse

Money is such a magical power that can make and break relationships. This is especially true for couples as there are tons of situations where each of them will have conflicting opinions, which turns into huge arguments. 

One person may be passionate about something, and the other person thinks it is just a waste of money. They may be right in their ways, but not yielding to the other person’s desires can make things serious. 

It is not just those couples who have scarcity of money; even those with good savings end up fighting over money. The reason for this can be anything from invalidating the spouse’s preferences and priorities to lack of communication and understanding.

But we think it is not good to let money come between a couple. Here we suggest how you can talk to your spouse about money matters and align your financial goals and preferences well.

1. Talk about your financial responsibilities

Each of us grows up in different ways under different circumstances. Having financial issues in the family is not a crime. Instead of being ashamed of it or having prejudice about your spouse’s financial responsibilities, it is better to put things straight and clear.

If you are paying your family debt or have aged and dependent parents to take care of, share it with your partner and tell them that you are using up whatever sum of money every month for this sake. Don’t hide such things and let your spouse assume things about you.

2. Prepare a budget

Though writing is old-school, we insist that you write down all your income and expenses. It is better to decide beforehand as to who bears what expenses. This could be about rent, grocery, electricity bill, gas bill, maid’s pay, fuel cost, and anything else you can think of.

If there are any additional expenses for a month, you can decide who will handle them. Meanwhile, both of you can pitch in for common expenses. This will give both of you a sense of belonging there.

3. Plan for individual and combined financial goals

Discuss your goals and dreams so that you and your spouse are on the same page. Keep the related details transparent and clear. These goals can be anything from buying a house or car to family planning and a child’s education.

Things like what kind of school you would like to choose for your kids, what kind of places you would like to visit for vacations, who is contributing how much towards all these goals, how you are going to save/invest, who will take the responsibility of covering the inflation costs, anything and everything!

Even if your spouse is not earning, communicating your financial goals, strategies, and responsibilities are equally important.