Anyone who has been in a settled relationship will know that money and love can be a potent combination – both good and bad. If you and your partner share the same attitude to money then obviously you’ll be able to build a secure future for yourselves faster, more efficiently and more enjoyably than if you are in conflict.

However, it would be ridiculous not to acknowledge that many relationships are blighted by arguments about money and that reaching a compromise is not always easy. John Lowe of MoneyDoctors.ie looks at how couples – and families – can work together to reach their financial goals while also looking at how some of these issues can arise.

Problem? What problem?

All relationship money problems tend to boil down to one or more of the following issues:

  • How the money is earned and who is earning it.
  • How the money is spent and who is spending it.
  • How the money is being managed and who is managing it.
  • How the money is being saved (if it is being saved at all) and who is doing the saving.
  • How the money is being invested (if it is being invested at all) and who is handling the investment decisions.
  • What debts you have – both individually and jointly – and why they were incurred.

Of all the subjects which couples argue about – from the choice of holiday destination to who should do the washing up – money arguments are the hardest to resolve. This is because our money beliefs tend to be a) firmly held, b) unconscious and c) non-negotiable.

Couples who are serious about building a financially secure future for themselves need to keep an open mind regarding their partner’s viewpoint. One of you may be a saver, the other a spender, but that doesn’t mean a compromise isn’t possible.

Are you and your partner financially compatible?

When a couple disagree about money it is almost always because they each hold different money beliefs. Which of the following categories best describes you and your partner:

Worry warts.

  • People who worry so much that they never really enjoy money – even when they have plenty.

Big spenders.

  • People who spend money whether or not they have it. They don’t mind going into debt to fund their lifestyle.

Careful savers.

  • People who are committed to saving. Sometimes they can be obsessive about it to the point of miserliness, however.

Optimistic dreamers.

  • People who believe that through some miracle – perhaps an unexpected legacy or a lottery win – all their financial worries will be solved overnight.

Outright fools.

  • People – sorry to be harsh – whose spending and borrowing is reckless.

Clever planners.

  • People who plan for a secure financial future but still manage to enjoy a good lifestyle now. Where a couple consists of two ‘clever planners’ you tend to get minimum friction. Otherwise, sooner or later, disagreements are bound to arise.

In an ideal world

In an ideal world one would discuss money with a future partner before making any sort of commitment as this would allow you to check that you are financially compatible. However, we don’t live in an ideal world and so most couples will find themselves tackling financial issues after they have been together for some time. Looking on the bright side, maybe this is preferable. After all, you now know and understand each other better.

Opening a dialogue

The first and most important step for anyone in a relationship is to open a dialogue with their partner. If you don’t communicate you won’t know what they are thinking, and they won’t know what you are thinking. My advice is to have a gentle discussion in which you discuss some or all of the following topics:

  • Your individual values in relation to money. What do each of you think is important?
  • Any assumptions either of you may have. One of you may assume that finances should always be joint, the other may have fixed ideas about keeping them separate.
  • Your dreams and desires and your partner’s dreams and desires. How do you both envisage the future?
  • Your fears and your partner’s fears. What are you both most worried about.

Both of you will have inherited traits and you need to recognise what they are before any sort of agreement can be reached between you. Once you declare these traits to each other, then you can live happy ever after at least until the next disagreement ! Stay together.

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