How Discussing Finances Can Help Avoid Conflict In Marriage

We’ve all heard that finances can be the main reason why couples argue or get divorced.

In marriages where there is massive debt or great financial strain, couples report lower levels of satisfaction.

Money can feel like an all-encompassing thing and it can be overwhelming when you don’t feel in control of your finances. When there is financial incompatibility, couples fighting over money and money problems in marriage become recurrent. 

Taking two separate people and expecting them to handle their finances together once they get married is a recipe for, well arguments. Not to worry, finances and budgets don’t have to be scary things.

So, how to avoid arguments and conflict in marriage when money issues in marriage are rampant?

When you put together couples and money, or sharing expenses in a relationship, it can lead to some serious discord.

Listed below are a few tips to follow to put a stop to fighting over money, ace the skill of maintaining a couple’s finances, reach financial bliss in your marriage.

Put everything on the table

Starting a marriage with complete honesty is always the best policy.

A tip on how to avoid conflicts – Openly discuss financial matters with your spouse. 

Maintaining financial transparency goes a long way in dealing with financial stress in a marriage. Discussing finances in marriage should be a high priority in a relationship if you want to avoid conflict in marriage. 

According to Forbes, sitting down and having a frank discussion about your personal finances with your partner can save your marriage from arguments down the road.

This doesn’t mean that you won’t argue about money, financial arguments are almost a rite of passage for any marriage; you just won’t go into your marriage with any financial secrets.

Not only is it smart to talk about your current financial situation, but it is also a good idea to talk to your spouse about how they were raised. Doing this can diffuse a lot of situations where a conflict in marriage is inevitable. 

This can give you a good idea of how they see and value money.

Knowing your partner’s attitude towards money can guide you in making decisions regarding money in your marriage.

This could mean that you handle your financials together or maybe one person takes over paying bills and balancing the checkbook. There is no “right way” to handle finances in a marriage.

Putting everything on the table at the beginning and then finding a system that works for both of you is a great place to start!

Create a budget

How to deal with money issues in a relationship?  Take away this money and relationships advice.

Creating a budget with your spouse can help you both get on the same page and hold each of you accountable. It is a smart way to circumvent marriage and money problems, and incessant arguing about money. 

To avoid conflict in marriage, try to create a realistic budget that both of you can live within. There are a ton of budget apps out there that can track your spending and show you at the end of the month how well you did.

Crucial financial advice for couples is to set a spending limit; this means that you have an amount that you don’t exceed without talking to your partner. This is a guaranteed way to make sure you and your spouse communicate about finances.

If you agree to never spend more than $20 without talking to each other first, both of you will always feel in control of what is happening with your money and cut down the recurrence of conflict of marriage.

This article has more ideas and tips on creating a budget and keeping the conflict in marriage at bay. 

Also watch:

Plan for the future

After you are communicating and you have a working budget, it is smart to plan for the future.

Create a savings account and decide how much money you want to put away each month. Start to pay off any debt you might have. Getting out of debt is one of the best things you can do for your relationship. You won’t have the crushing weight on your shoulders and you will be able to save more money or potentially invest.

If you find that you need to save more money for a goal or to get out of debt there are always opportunities to save or make extra money if you are creative!

You can even get great services from companies like ACN to help you lower your bills while still being able to afford entertainment. It may seem impossible, but where there is a will, there is a way. Planning for the future will keep you and your partner focused on common goals.

Finances can be very daunting to a new couple. Relationships arguments over financial problems in marriage, or arguing with spouse over money issues in relationships is not uncommon. 

Don’t keep wishing that you made more money, start making your money work for you.

Sit down and communicate about your financial situation with your partner.

From there, create a budget that will work for both of you. Don’t get discouraged if your budget doesn’t work the first time, it can take months to attain a working budget.

After you figure out a budget, look for opportunities to save.

Have goals that you want to reach to consistently motivate you. If you can find a way to implement these simple tips on money and relationships, you will have a happier marriage without conflict in marriage eating away at your marital bliss.”

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Rachael Pace Author

Rachael Pace is a noted relationship writer associated with Marriage.com. She provides inspiration, support, and empowerment in the form of motivational articles and essays. Rachael enjoys studying the evolution of loving partnerships... Read more and is passionate about writing on them. She believes that everyone should make room for love in their lives and encourages couples to work on overcoming their challenges together. Read less