How to survive your marriage: Money matters
Money might make the world go ’round, but it stops some marriages cold. If you get a handle on how to deal with it, your marriage will be that much happier. And someday, you and your spouse might finally have that house you always dreamed about. Some couples believe in putting everything together; others prefer to keep some money separate. Either way, here are some tips on how to balance your checkbook – and your marriage.
In 38 years of marriage, my husband and I have never once fought about money. How is this possible? We simply haven’t made getting ahead financially our top priority. – Janis Hackett, Centennial, Colo., married 38 years
Never have an important discussion when you’re both hungry. – Mariana, San Francisco, Calif., married 13 years
Can’t we just win the lottery already? – Ember Nevill, Ft. Worth, Texas, married 2 years
Ah, money. Having it is always better than not having it, but your life shouldn’t be all about making more of it.
When we were first married, we had two careers, two incomes, and made a decision to save one income and live on only one. Four years after we were married, we were able to put a down payment on our first house, and ultimately I was able to choose to stay home when we had children, since we had already learned to live on one salary.
That is not always possible in today’s economic times, but it’s really important to decide together how you want to live your life. Clarify what your priorities are going to be, whether it’s a trip every year, or saving for your children’s education, or buying a bigger house. Whatever your goals are, you need to discuss them and make sure you agree on how to achieve them. – Janice, Cincinnati, Ohio, married 35 years
Nothing can ruin a marriage faster than a mortgage, and money matters on the mind can mess up the marriage bed. Don’t mortgage your marriage; live within your means. – E.N., New York, N.Y., married 48 years
Do the bills together. Work on the budget together and make decisions about money together. Figure out how each of you is programmed to spend money and then find a middle ground. Find a money management tool that works for you. – James, Frankfurt, Germany, married 5 years
You will celebrate the day that the mortgage is paid like you will celebrate no other day in your married life. Live it up on that day. You’ve earned it. – Megan Tanner, Wheeling, W.Va., married 19 years
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