Financial Stress in Your Relationship?

Of all the stressors that can affect a relationship, financial stress is one of the most common and most detrimental.  Everyone has a relationship to money – you can’t avoid it!  Having a negative, toxic relationship with money is avoidable. There are some things you will want to do, however:

1. If necessary, get professional help to help you let go of your fear and dysfunction around money.
2. Share your “money memories” with your mate.  At least this will help him/her understand how your financial viewpoints and habits were formed.
3. Get used to 100% financial transparency in your relationship.  Have a financial meeting at least once a quarter (for some it’s more often) to put everything on the table – debts, assets, investments, budget, etc. – no secrets!
4. Be a good money mentor and money learner.  The person in the relationship who handles the money needs to be willing to share, teach, and inform the other person.  The other person, although possibly averse to handling money, needs to be open to hearing the financial information.  This provides an amazing opportunity for teamwork in your marriage or relationship!

To learn more on how to reduce financial stress in your relationship, click here.