Where da dollars at?

Couples who have challenges typically report that money problems are at the root of it all. What is interesting is that is not always the couples who report not having enough money to cover basic needs, but also for those couples who have financial stability as well. Those problems can range from differences in financial goals, significant income disparities (and power struggles that may result), overspending and debt, financial infidelity (doesn't just happen in the bedroom!), and external financial pressures.

Each couple is different and how they choose to manage their finances is completely up to them, but they have be on the same page. The only way to get on that same page is to talk about it and to do that often.

Setting up State of our Union meetings with your partner can help create a setting where you can talk about focus areas like money and check in with each other on how things are going. Any new financial happenings coming up or that we just went through and we need to process? What do our finances currently look like? Do we need to renegotiate some previously set rules/ standards that are no longer working in our marriage as it relates to money?

Here's the beauty of it all - the two of you get to decide what makes sense for the marriage. Try to not only be a strong communicator during this time but a listener too. Be sure to hear what your spouse is saying and feeling about money. Think about how to support him or her so you can both be successful in this area of your marriage.