Although it might be unsexy to discuss money when in a relationship, the truth is that transparency in this area of your life with your partner can really strengthen your relationship bond. 7 out of 10 Australian couples have agreed that money causes tension in their relationship. In fact, this tension is also a common cause for divorce. Relationship counselling can really help couples open up about finances. Here are 3 tips you can implement during counselling to avoid letting money come in between you and your partner.
Openly Lay Out Debt and Assets
While letting your partner know about any financial issues you might have had in the past may seem embarrassing or uncomfortable, it's important for both parties to come clean before getting married or before taking their relationship to the next step. During your counselling sessions, you'll want to openly lay out all of the debts and assets that you have with your partner. You'll want to provide some insight as to how you're handling your debts. Knowing about each other's financial situation can really help clarify many misunderstandings.
Discuss Financial Responsibilities
Before taking your relationship to the next step, whether this means marriage or moving in together, you'll also want to discuss financial responsibilities and expectations in your counselling session. In particular, you and your partner will want to come up with a reasonable budget on how money should be combined and spent. For example, if you make more money than your partner, you may offer to pay a larger portion of the bills. Knowing what each person expects can help couples become more compatible.
Build Financial Dreams Together
Growing together also means building a future together. While many couples have dreams of buying a house together some day or going on a long vacation together, not many couples actually agree on what they should do with their finances. During your counselling sessions, you'll want to prioritize your dreams based on finances as well and come up with a reasonable and feasible plan that will bring you and your partner together. For example, you might agree to both put away a set amount of money each month to buy the house you have both always dreamed of. Knowing how much to put away and how much is needed can help eliminate financial problems.
The key to avoiding financial problems is to be transparent and to talk about money. Unfortunately, this is something that many couples find to be difficult. If you or your partner has problems opening up about finances, several sessions of counselling with your partner may be just what you both need.
Share26 September 2016
My husband and I have been trying to have a baby for nearly a decade. It has been really hard to deal with the stress and guilt of the process, including grieving the babies that we have lost through miscarriages. We have both gone through periods of feeling guilty and responsible for the problems we have had conceiving; although, the doctors have never been able to work out exactly why we haven't been able to have a baby. Counselling has helped us to deal with our grief and has helped us to draw closer through this hard time rather than growing apart.
