Financial Conversation - Starters For Couples

Money matters in marriage.

- Sudha Chandrasekaran

Why do we find it so hard to discuss finances with the person we plan to spend the rest of our lives with? Money experts have many theories. We might be drawn to our financial opposite, so we naturally clash over spending versus saving decisions. Most couples would rather have a talk about the birds and the bees than any conversation related to finances. As per several researches, money outranked several other uncomfortable topics among couples. We find it easy to argue about money, of course, with some caution, when discussing finance matters with friends and to some extent family as well, but the one person you need to come out clean with is your partner.

Financial matters play a major role in a successful marriage, although it seems to be highly unromantic. Money is the No. 1 cause of stress in a relationship. On a brighter note surveys on money have revealed that couples who have trust in their partners in financial matters had a greater feeling of security, argued less, and had more fulfilling sex lives.

For many couples the hardest part is simply getting started. You and your partner will not have the same views on finances. There are always variations in thinking about how much goes to what and which goal should take top priority. If you are having trouble getting your partner to open up, follow these tips to steer the conversation in a productive direction.

Pose a hypothetical question: