Money and Relationships
Have you ever sat and thought how money is part of your relationships, is it something you actively thought about when getting with your partner, or is it something you really didn’t think about till later in the relationship when you had been together for some time?
Shepherds Friendly have been talking to people about how they see money as part of their relationships and how it can impact the different stages of their involvement, from getting together to what happens when debt becomes a large part of one partner’s life.
With everything, they found out they put together this clever infographic as well as extra information about how money impacts relationships. Which perhaps can help you feel a little less alone when you are struggling with money issues.
For Ash and I since quite early in our relationship, we decided that we would share everything, this meant the good and the bad when it came to finances. There have been times when my health has been bad and Ash has had to hold us up and times when it has been the other way around. For us it works, it allows us to deal with our health issues when we need to and not feel like we are taking advantage of the other as we look after each other at bad times.
It hasn’t always been easy sailing though, I started this blog because I was at a point in my life where I couldn’t cope anymore and Ash was doing everything. I don’t think either of us could have guessed where it would have led me. Sometimes today I still pinch myself and wonder if it is all real.
I guess the advice both us would offer is, to be honest. If one of you feels like you are sinking for one reason or another then tell the other. Be open, work together to help better your situation and even in the darkest of moments you may find your way to the light.
How do you approach finances in your relationship, does any of the information on the infographic ring true to you?
This is a collaborative post.
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Great post! I must say my husband and I both have separate accounts and we manage them both really well. We do however come to the table to make sure we both are on the same page about our Finances. I have seen so many couples fight about money to the point it really hurt their marriage.
That’s good – I think it is such a shame when people fight about things like money. Being honest from the word go can make a big difference.
For us managing separate accounts worked well. We have a high trust factor with each other’s spending habits. We still talk about the bigger purchases together, though.
That can be a great way to do things, I think everyone has there different ways of working things and as long as it works for you it’s all good.
What an eyeopening set of stats. Money definitely played no part in my falling for my husband. And we split the bill on our first date!
No it was the same with Ash and I – thought we work well together with it now in our own way.
In the beginning of our relationship my husband and I fought about money. Then we combined our accounts and realized we needed to share everything.
Sharing works for Ash and I as well, though we also have our own accounts for those spends we don’t want the other to know about it (presents) lol. x
This is such good information! Being on the same page as your partner about money and where to spend it is so important. Money is such a stressor, it’s such a great feeling to have someone on your side.
Most definitely it makes things so much easier to understand and get through as well.
I would want to get a good idea about a person’s financial situation before I’d ever have even one date, not later in a relationship. I also have seen how some people can make a good salary and continually blow through it and have nothing to show for having a good job, etc., that is folks with multiple degrees. I wouldn’t want to be close to people like that whereby they could negatively impact the modest security I have. It is one thing if some unusual circumstance happened, but a pattern is a big no-no.
I think it’s not about what is earnt but how it is used.
Thank you for sharing an I remember reading an article once about marriage and money. I think it’s important to be open to keep both parties happy.
Most definitely honesty is the best thing to do in every way.
I think a lot of couples argue about money, especially if they have very different approaches to finances. Luckily my husband and I both agree on the same principals when it comes to money.
It is hard isn’t it when you have conflicting ways of looking at money or really any important issue.
I am the one making the money and he spends and budgets with it. it works ok but I have the ultimate say on bigger buys
It seems like you have put together a way for it to work for you both and that’s awesome.
I do think money play an important part in the relationship. The important is to open up and talk about it if there is any issue.
Most definitely I think the talking about it is the important part rather than the money itself.
Now, this is a great post and very informative too. Loved this kind of article to make us think twice about how to manage our money. Thank you for sharing this to us.
I hope it has helped you a little way – glad to have shared it.
Money is something that needs to be openly discussed in all relationships. My husband and I are very open about our finances and always have been. Something different will work for everyone, but we like to have 3 accounts, mine his and ours.
It really does, me and Ash pretty much have the same, with our own having money that can be frittered or used for gifts.
I agree that no matter what you must have full honesty in a relationship. You can make it through anything as long as you are open and honest with each other.
Honestly is such a huge thing – you can lose everything if you don’t have that one simple thing going on.
It’s such a sensitive topic but I really don’t think it’s something that couples should fight about. Yet it remains to be one of the reasons people separate. It definitely makes a huge impact in a relationship but it’s worth it if you work through it together!
Yeah it is such a shame that couples do still fight about it and that it isn’t openly and honestly spoken about.
The level of self-disclosure gauges the strength of a couple’s relationship as indicated in your information. So, not disclosing enough vital information means a red flag.
Most definitely that is such a vital bit of information everyone should know.
The last thing a couple needs to have is money troubles. This is a great way to bring about communication!
Most definitely I think everyone goes through hard times but you need to talk about them.
This is a really great article. Finances are a thing that couples really need to make sure and take seriously!
It really is – I think its something you need to be honest about since the start.
Great tips I will be using as well as sharing with my daughter and her husband.
I hope it helps you all in some way 🙂
Women and men rarely “really” agree on much of anything. 🙂 We are just wired differently however, this post is interesting! When it comes to money, I was surprised at how close your poll actually was.
That is very true – we do think things through in different ways.
My husband has always been a lot cheaper than me and it’s kind of ridiculous as we are living well below our means.
I’m probably the cheaper out of Ash and I, I am awful at spending money I’m like but I could do without it all the time.
Great article. My hubby and I have always been pretty frugal in our married life. We do splurge on an item or two, but always do research on the best deal.
I think that’s clever, you always want to make the most of the pennies you have and have things that last well.
Very interesting facts. Fortunately money has never been an issue for us (in terms of the relationship, not saying that we have always had enough!).
I think if you get through those times when money is short – you are well on the right track in many ways.
Finances are one of the top reasons why most relationships don’t last, which is unfortunate but so true. I loved reading through these facts, and I will keep them close when my next relationship comes along!
It is sad in many ways but I can see how it can easily end up being something that brings around the end of a marriage.
Good to keep in mind. I’m glad my husband and I were always responsible with money. Granted, he would spend his more freely at first, and I’d remind him about the importance of saving.
My other half is the same, he’s great with other peoples money, but his own nah. We’ve come up with a way that works for us though thankfully.
It was very interesting reading all the different percentages of what men thought and what women thought. So glad I haven’t been in the dating scene in over 40 years.
It is interesting isn’t it – I don’t think I could deal with dating again I have to admit.