MONEY & ENTERTAINMENT

When you and your partner are trying to figure out the best ways to save money and invest smartly, it’s important to know all about each other’s spending and saving habits. Without having a common goal and common method of achieving that goal, it can be difficult to manage your finances with your partner, and without a good plan, you will just end up fighting about money. Plus, you won’t have a good money management plan which will cost you in the long run.

Common money problems for couples
There are a few basic financial problems that couples may experience as they try to combine their financial resources:

One partner spends too much money: This is a very common problem among many individuals. Most Americans live well beyond their means, relying on credit to pay for everything. When you only have your own credit and bills to worry about, spending every dime you make may not cause too many problems. However, when you are part of a couple, you have to spend money collaboratively so that each person knows where their money is going.

One partner is too cheap: Another common couple money problem occurs when one partner doesn’t want to spend money on anything, from entertainment to household goods to vacations. This money-saving plan may backfire. One partner may begin to resent the other partner’s cheap ways, and then that partner may begin to spend money secretly, a surefire way to create spending habits that will cost you money down the road.

One partner wants to control all of the money: In many relationships, one partner will control all of the finances. From paying all the bills to deciding what kind of investments to make, having one partner in control of all the finances may mean trouble. If you and your partner want to develop a thorough financial plan that will help you invest your money effectively and save for retirement and other needs, both partners need to know what’s going on.

One partner doesn’t know how to balance a checkbook: This is the opposite problem. Here, one partner doesn’t know anything about money management and isn’t interested in learning about it either. This is another bad recipe for poor financial management.

Getting Professional Help
Before couples get married, they are often told that they should see marriage counseling to ensure that all of their couple issues get resolved before they get married. Well, money issues are often a cause of strife, so why don’t couples seek financial advice before getting married? If you and your partner are on the same page, financially speaking, then you will find that you will experience less financial strife while you are together. Seeking professional financial help is the best way to secure your financial future as a couple. So, while you are planning the wedding and figuring out who’s going to cook the meals, you should sit down and talk about financial planning as well. Perhaps one of you is very financially organized and already has the help of a financial planner. Then bring your partner along to your next meeting so that your financial planner can meet you as a couple, and you can all sit down and talk about all of your financial needs.

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Plus, meeting with a professional financial advisor is a good idea for couples that haven’t talked about their finances yet. This way, the financial advisor can broach delicate subjects with you as a couple, rather than leaving the two of you to figure it out on your own, which may result in disagreements and resentment.

Go To Financial Workshops
Another great way for couples to get financial advice is to sign up for financial management workshops. These workshops can teach you and your partner how to budget your finances, how to save for short and long term goals, and how to plan for a future that might include regular vacations, vacation properties, children, and early retirement plans.

Financial workshops are great ways for couples to learn more about mortgages too, and even if you are just renting at this stage, investing in real estate at some point in your future is quite likely. Whether you’ve just purchased a house or are saving up for one, financial workshops can teach you and your partner about the benefits of shorter term mortgages that can save you thousands of dollars in the long run.

Plus, financial workshops will help you and your partner get on the same page. For couples with different financial goals and spending habits, this is the first step to a secure financial future.

Should you merge your finances?
Merging your finances with your partner is a lot more difficult than it seems. In fact, a large percentage of couples keep their finances separate because it’s just easier. For couples that don’t agree on how to spend or save their money, deciding whether you should merge your bank accounts is a big decision. Before you take the leap, discuss your financial commitments and your income in order to create a budget. Each of you may have individual financial commitments, such as student or car loans, that you are bringing to the relationship. If one of you is more burdened with debt than the other, the other partner may feel cheated and think that their money is going toward your debt rather than their own desires.

In some cases, keeping your finances separate is a better idea than combining them. But if you do this, you need to discuss who will pay for long and short term expenses. For example, if you want to go on a winter vacation, will each of you be expected to pay their own way?

Don’t get frustrated when you discover that you and your partner aren’t financial soul mates because it’s not too late to get on the right track. Effective communication and financial assistance will help you get on track so that you aren’t left bickering about money.

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