Photography: Thinkstock Photos
Once we overheard a married couple talking about an application on their phone. The more we listen to them the more their conversation turned into a heated up debate. (We didn't mean to eavesdrop, but it was kind of hard not to hear them.) After a while, as it turns out, they weren't really talking about the application anymore. We weren't being nosy or anything, but what they were fighting about made us want to know more. Apparently, the wife purchased something within the application and the husband didn't like how she was such an impulsive buyer. Without realizing it, they began to dig up the past and ended up talking about a bunch of other impulsive purchases that she made. It was so awkward for us to have heard that, but it happened.
There is one problem that happens all the time in a marriage: money! It is such a terrible thing for a husband and wife to keep fighting over financial problem because it could lead to so many other issues within the marriage. The problem with money inside of a marriage is quite tricky to tackle. It's not impossible, but it's tricky.
Remember how our parents gives us warning about problems that we may encounter in our marriage? Most of the time, the first issue they would bring up is about money. It's something we have come to understand: get married, have money problems. It's as if financial problems in the family is inevitable. And it might very well be, however, it can be prevented and resolved.
That's why it is important for us to understand each other's financial situations before we enter the threshold of marriage because without a good understanding, marriage can have quite a disastrous start. To have money is necessary, yes, because we do basically everything with money. However, here are some truths about money, especially within a marriage:
1. Money is not everything that we need in a marriage.
2. Money needs to be spent together as a couple.
3. Money spent needs to be accompanied by transparency and honesty.
4. Money needs to be diverted into a unified goal between the spouses.
5. Money can kill the marriage if not carefully managed.
Money issues can be a big problem in a marriage. But can we do something to prevent it from killing our marriage? We most certainly can. And that is to have good financial planning. It is never too early for a couple to start planning their financials, even before getting married. The more organised the financial plan the better. Financial planning is like a training ground for both of the man and woman to exercise the way to spend and save. Money management also brings forth a person's true character, especially with their spending habits. When there is a disagreement about money, learn how to talk it out properly. It's almost like managing the financials of a corporation, only now it's between two individuals in love.
So don't be afraid of a financial problem that we might face when we get married. Instead, just plan ahead to make sure the future of the marriage will be a good one. Remember the key to a successful marriage is good communication and really good knowledge of each other.
