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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This is an interesting article, and to see the divide in various ways. It isn’t just money in the abstract, but how you will be financially secure, and how much you perceive it could be jeopardized, a spender type vs a saver. And then who pays on a date, it can be more complicated if one of them has much less funds, say a student, but then also someone who hasn’t tried very hard to be financially responsible.
I think money can potentially cause problems within a relationship. It’s important that couples communicate with one another about finances.
It definitely can be something that really can cause issues isn’t it.
I think money can have a huge impact on relationships on how you trust each other, the effect it has on ones self worth etc
Me and my boyfriend share everything and we find that it works best for us because we’re both so open and honest about everything xxx
It is great you have the perfect way for it to work for you both.
Yes to all of this! I am married to someone who works in finance, so we have always lived below our means and saved our $$. But it is also important to be on the same page!
That sounds great – it is good to have someone who knows a lot on your side!
Really interesting read
Really thought provoking post Sarah (as always!)xxx
Thank you so much 🙂 x
This is such a wonderful post. I agree with all the things you’ve said, I think when you start dating you should share your finances and if they are in or have debt. Thanks for sharing!
Most definitely, it’s not a bad thing not having much money it’s about being honest about it.
I think money and talking about it is really important when you’re in a relationship especially if you’re spending the rest of your lives together. Although it shouldn’t be a reason for couples to break up or get separated. If only people were more open and honest about it.
No most definitely not – I think it’s something you need to be together on and I think it’s probably the lies that cause issues. rather than having not enough pennies.
This is a great post! Money is not an issue to us but we don’t really talk about it that much. This post enlightened me! Thank you!
I guess if you have no issues there’s not much to talk about as long as you know it is all going OK.
Finances can be such a touchy subject for couples. As those statistics showed, it takes time and a lot of conversation to figure out where the other person stands. It was cool to see the breakdown of how men and women each responded.
Most definitely it is something that everyone needs to make sure they are having honest conversations about.
Your post brings up a bunch of good points. Finances and relationships are always hard. Women especially need to have a good handle on their finances and make sure they have their own credit and their own money. I have known several women who let their husbands handle the finances completely and when the marriage ended, they did not end up in a good place.
Most definitely – I think learning about it starts in childhood as well. We learn a lot from our parents.
That’s a great post. Can straighten out so many relationship aspects. Thanks for sharing.
No problem at all – I am glad people are finding it useful.
I love infographics! This was a good read.
They are great aren’t they – they always put things well.
This is a great subject, and one that not many think about when they start dating. It’s so important to have a money talk before getting married.
Most definitely I think people need to find a way for it to work in their relationship even if they look at things slightly differently.
I think it’s very important to be honest about finances with going into a relationship or even if something changes while during a relationship. Glad to know we are not responsible for their debt. I wondered about that.
Most definitely I think everyone needs to try and be as open and honest as possible.
This is so true, relationships are directly influenced by money as much as we’d like to think they weren’t.
Yeah I think sometimes its easier to think it’s nothing but sadly money is everything in this world.
What an interesting topic! Just like you and Ash, my husband and I have decided to be open about everything, including finances, since the early stage. We’ve been quite transparent about how much we make and how we would want to manage it, where to invest and all that. This is such an interesting post, and I found that the infographic was very clever indeed!
It is the best way to be I think, I think Ash would probably tell you I am an open book for him as well – can’t keep anything from him lol.
Yes to Honesty. Relationship without it will not last long. This is such a helpful post. Looking forward for more ❤
Most definitely honesty is everything in a relationship and you need it to keep it together.
Money is such a hot-button topic! It is definitely something you need to discuss before you get serious with someone though. It is the cause of soooooo many arguments.
Most definitely – I think it can set a lot of people off which is a shame in some ways.
Money is such a big issue in relationships. I’m very careful with money, but my partner is the opposite, many years ago I stupidly let him have my credit cards so that he could buy food and presents for his children ‘in emergencies’ when he was short. I ended up £30,000 in debt and have just managed to get it all cleared. Needless to say he doesn’t get a penny from me these days, and I make him give me money for his half of the bills, which I also used to cover. He thinks I’m being stingy, but I don’t care anymore, what’s mine is mine now!
Oh no! That is awful 🙁 you definitely aren’t being stingy when you have been through all of that!
I think every couple has its way to work through and come to common ground on the financial bit, its very tricky, but you have the trust factor it will work. I think both of them should support each other, then only the relationship works…! its all situation based ! never one thing is right !
Most definitely I don’t think it’s a straight path of this is how it should be. Things are different for everyone.
I’m surprised by the percentage of people who don’t tell their partner their salary! My partner and I share everything, this morning we sat down to go through our budget again and look at how much we’d been spending on holiday and to juggle the money.
I have to admit Ash helps me with my tax returns so he knows everything haha!
I am blessed that although we struggle sometimes, money is never an issue that would make us argue or anything like that.
That is good – making sure you can talk to about anything is good.
It’s so important to have open and honest conversations with your partner about finances. It can be such a stressful thing, and it’s vital that you are both on the same page.
Most definitely I think communication is one of the most important parts of a relationship.