Marriage Tips: Problems with Money?

by Heather Long | More from this Blogger

23 Aug 2006 05:33 AM

Finances and financial disputes with your spouse are problematic at best. No one likes arguing about money and let's be honest, while money does not make the world go round - it does make it easier. So here are a few tips for you and your spouse to get better control of your finances and to help the two of you feel better without getting into a huge fight.

• Make a List and Check it Twice - Is something about the finances annoying? Are you putting out too much money to cover expenses you can't keep track of? Take some time to make a list of all the things about your finances that are bugging you
• Set a Worry Appointment - I read this in a magazine, you set aside a time for that week where you will have an hour to actively sit and worry - this helps you put your concerns off for a short amount of time and to take a mental break
• Eliminate surprises from your finances - We all know that the summer time electric bill is going to be high and we know when birthdays and Christmas fall - do your best to trim back on those types of surprises by planning for them
• Schedule Bill Pay based on your paychecks - this allows you to set your budget accordingly and you can also set aside money in each paycheck for other frivolous expenses
• Cut back on regular expenses - Do price comparison shopping, replace all the light bulbs in the house with lower wattage - you'd be amazed by how much money you can save on that
• Extract Cash to Keep on hand for the little things - When you give yourself a $20 or $40 petty cash fund, you will know for certain what you are spending whereas you can nickel and dime yourself down on your credit card
• Put $10 to $20 per paycheck in your savings account - this will give you a small emergency fund for when you need it

What other solutions can you think of to help minimize problems with money in your marriage?

Related Articles:

Marriage and Money

Marriage Dynamics: Spenders & Savers

Financial Stress: Avoiding It

Money Can Be A Problem for Marriage

Learn more about Heather Long

Heather Long is 35 years old and currently lives in Wylie, Texas. She has been a freelance writer for six years. Her husband and she met while working together at America Online over ten years ago.

View Full Profile | More from this Blogger