Steps to Financial Bliss in Marriage
However, with careful planning and thoughtful consideration by both of you, your relationship can avoid any nasty pitfalls or potential problems caused by poor money management.
Here are some tips to help you on your path to financial security! oDiscuss your issues and goals.
Honesty is a key factor in any relationship, and without it your relationship may not fare very will.
You need to work with your partner to come up with some goals and possibly a budget.
Discuss what is important to both of you; how much should you save? How much should you put back for retirement? Are you going to invest your money? There are a lot of possibilities, and you should think about each one carefully.
oSet a budget! This will help keep you from spending money you shouldn't.
With modern technology, you can devise a budget and keep track of all your expenses, usually with one program.
Most banks allow you to automatically deposit money from your check into your savings account; take advantage of this, and resist the urge to spend your savings! One of the reasons many budgets fail is that they limit people too much; make sure to leave some room for "miscellaneous" expenses, if you can.
This allows you a little leeway to make those purchases that you may not need, but you'll end up buying nonetheless.
oInvest what you can.
If you have money left over after your expenses and budget have been satisfied, consider what you should do with it.
Sure, you could buy a new TV or a pair of shoes, but do you need either? Instead of spending it, consider investing it; this is, in essence, using your money to make money.
It's passive income; it requires some work and thought to make smart investments, but once you invest it you only have to wait and reap the rewards.
Now if you bought a car with it, as soon as you drive off the lot you have lost money! Managing your money and finances is a great way to ensure the success of your marriage; if you are living comfortably, all other potential issues will be easier to deal with.
If, however, your marriage is crumbling and you can't pay the bills, you may not be married for much longer! So do what is best for your marriage; follow my advice and you may just live happily ever after.