Being Financially Strapped Can Be Good for a Marriage

by Dale Harcombe | More from this Blogger

Tough economic times don't have to be bad for your marriage. It can actually be a positive experience. Not being flush with money we often ended up doing a lot of things we wouldn't have thought of and things we wouldn't have known we could do unless we tried.

By the time we bought our first little house and even by the time we bought our second house after we outgrew the first, we didn't have anything much left over for furniture and decorating, so it was a case of make do and do what we could.

We scoured auctions and garage sales for items of furniture, some of which we got for almost next to nothing. Then we brought home and repainted them. We never quite mastered the art of sanding and stripped them back to be able to re-varnish. But I know friends who have successfully done this. We also designed and made planter stands, bookcases and other simple furniture projects.

We learned how to prepare and paint walls, how to hang wallpaper, to tiles floors and walls, to lay vinyl and create murals. Yes, sometimes it was hard work and it took time but it we also had a lot of fun in the process as we tackled these things together.

In a lot of ways being strapped for cash forces you back on your own resources. You can appreciate each other and skills you acquire in hard times. And really we didn't care what we did, so long as we do id it together. Come to think of it, that aspect hasn't changed. We still enjoy spending time together doing things that don't cost a lot of money.

We spent a lot of time playing games, talking and walking and basically amusing ourselves, and inviting friends over. No matter how tight finances were we could always put a meal for a couple of extra people on the table. There are a lot of meals you can make with cheaper cuts of meat and mince. It's just a matter of being creative. Being creative is something we always should have in marriage. It keeps a marriage fun.

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Learn more about Dale Harcombe

Dale has a passion for books and writing. She writes in various forms, from articles to poetry to fiction for children and adults.

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