Couples who plan their financial future are much more likely to achieve their goals and dreams.Planning a wonderful wedding is great, but investing just a little in the success of your marriage is at least as important.
Money issues are one of the biggest reasons why marriages end in divorce.
Talk about how you each feel about money before you start planning your wedding. By doing that, you’ll be able to prioritize what’s important to each of you.
Developing a financial plan complete with goals and financial strategies will help build a strong basis for your future together and show you ways to manage financial compatibility issues constructively.
Money means different things to different people and reflects one’s basic feelings about the world. By discussing what money means to each of you and how that influences your financial behavior, you can sort out the role that money will play in your marriage.
It’s really important to find out all the facts about each others financial past and present. Have a money session with your fiance soon after the engagement where you can both reveal and share your financial situation . From student loans to car payments to credit card bills, it's best to be honest about everything you owe before saying "I do."
Get everything out in the open: What you make, what you owe, what you own, any savings and investments you may have. It's also a good idea to swap credit reports from the three credit reporting agencies: After assessing current debts, be sure to discuss individual and joint financial priorities and goals.. Discuss how financial decisions will be handled as a couple. How will household expenses be divided? Will you agree to consult each other before making purchases?
The following is a short quiz that both partners can take and use to open a discussion about money.
Answer true or false to the following and compare your answers:
1) Contemplating your financial future as a couple makes you feel:
That you are able to communicate openly about money issues
2) Budgets are:
Fine for some folks, but often not worth the time and energy consumed in working them out, reviewing them
3) I feel my fiancé avoids sitting down and talking about money with me
4) We’ve decided who will handle the bills after we marry
5) I would feel comfortable if my future spouse made a purchase of $500 without telling me
6) We have the same FINANCIAL DREAMS
7) I know how much debt and savings (including investments) my fiancé is bringing into our marriage.
8) We have a financial plan.
Summary:
Financial matters can be a trigger for deeper issues of areas of a relationship:
Power and control
Dependence and independence
Commitment and trust
So it’s important to resolve your financial compatibility before you make any wedding planning decisions.
Resolve any differences with compassion, generosity and love
Authors:
Sandra Reid MA, CHT, financial, life, weight coaching, reiki, EFT
Mitta Vicki Wise RN, CHT, abundance coaching, EFT, TAT, reflexology
http://www.helpu-heal.com
1-866-696-6010
**** This article may only be used if our names and contact information are shown with it and clearly seen.
