Being on the same page financially
a guest post by The Frugal Husband
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My wife and I recently celebrated our first anniversary! Knowing that finances can be a major problem in marriages, we decided that we would talk a lot about our finances before we got married. It was helpful to sit down and talk openly and honestly about where we were financially. At first we were very concerned about how to handle our finances (I had debt, she had none). Through many trials (disagreements, unexpected expenses, and job issues) we have come to a neat intersection on frugal living. Although we came from different financial backgrounds, we believe that it is possible to get on the same page financially and that it is essential for a firm foundation in marriage. We have a theme verse from the Bible (Gal 5:13 "but through love serve one another") that defines our marriage and has become the key on our journey:Communication is fundamental. This is common sense. If you cannot talk about money, you will never get on the same page. It takes clear communication to set up a budget together and to decide on financial decisions that affect you both. The quicker you do this, the easier things will be. Also, the goal is not to be in total agreement on everything or to get your way, but to respect one another and be able to compromise for the best of both of you.
Trust one another. I believe you have to trust your spouse with money. We have laid a foundation that we trust each other with small purchases and we talk about any big purchases. The money we make individually is ours corporately and we trust one another that we will not misuse it. Since we are united in money, any decision we make is going to affect both of us. I'm not there to control how my wife spends money, I trust her that she will be wise.
Setting goals together. My wife and I have set goals to become completely debt free and to save for a home. That means that we are making big sacrifices today for greater satisfaction tomorrow. If you have the same goals, then you both will seek ways to be frugal.
Seeking each other's knowledge. There are some areas that my wife has expertise in that I have no clue about, and likewise with my knowledge. We seek each other on those areas and it becomes an opportunity for us to both share our thoughts.
I honestly feel that in my marriage money should not become a huge issue. Money will come and go, but a relationship cannot. Whether we have a lot or a little, our relationship is always more valuable than money. By practicing our service of love to one another, money becomes less of an issue in our lives.
Roger is the Frugal Husband who authors Ourfrugallife. He and his wife explore the art of spending money wisely for the glory of God.
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2 Responses to “Being on the same page financially”
September 22nd, 2008 at 3:53 pm
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September 30th, 2008 at 11:07 pm
[...] each other and I wish I had stepped up to the plate to initiate it. It is so vitally important to communicate with your spouse about your finances. If I had it to do over again, I would keep the lines of communication open, [...]
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