Money can be one of the biggest strains in a marriage. It consistently ranks as one of the major causes for divorce. This is why it is so important to openingly dicuss money with your partner. Discussing current financial situations and planned future financial goals are equally important.
Here are 5 must-have conversations about money that you should have with your partner before tying the knot.
Debt
Debt is most likely the leading stressor when it comes to money. Nowadays, debt is a way of life for most and can range from being manageable to a huge burden depending on the amount owed. Since money is one of the biggest strains on a marriage and most people have some form of debt, it’s best to be transparent about any debt before marriage so it does not introduce a bigger issue down the road.
Money Habits
Is your partner a spender or a saver? Knowing each other’s habits with handling money can go a long way with keeping a healthy marriage. When you are aware of how your partner handles money, there are less surprises on how money is allocated during the marriage, which cuts down on stress.
Try an exercise with each other by asking the question, “What you would do with $10,000 right now?”. Write down your answers and share them with each other. It will shine some light on how you both think about money.
Financial Goals
Share your financial goals with each other. By doing this, it allows both of you to understand each other’s goals and helps to create an environment for meeting those goals. Marriage is about teamwork. It is such a positive thing to have someone in your corner helping you reach your financial goals.
Planning for Children
Before you and your partner tie the knot, there has to be a discussion about children. Do you want children? If so, how many?
Each child you have brings a major financial stress into the marriage. In the U.S., the average cost of raising a child is somewhere in the neighborhood of $230,000. That is a sizable expense to undertake and should be discussed and planned for to reduce the financial impact on a marital budget.
Retirement
No matter how far retirement is in your future, it is never too early to start planning and contributing. Discuss how much of a focal point you both want retirement to be in your savings plan so you both can be on the same page all throughout your marriage.
Want to initiate or continue the conversation? Check out our 10 Ways to Talk to Your Partner About Money.
