MONEY AND MARRIAGE: HOW COUPLES CAN MANAGE EXPENSES AND INVESTMENTS

Marriages are made in heaven, but can unravel on earth due to financial friction. Money anxiety stems from insecurity and uncertainty, which breeds fights among couples.

- SURESH SADAGOPAN

But it need not be so. There are many things a couple can do to ensure money matters do not contribute to marital discord.

Managing investments and expenses

In cases where both husband and wife are working, it's common for one to spend while the other invests. As a result, all investments are made by one partner, which can cause friction. If the couple parts ways, this skewed pattern becomes a bone of contention, with the investor claiming the assets—unjustly so. The best way to tackle this is to spend and invest in proportion to each partner's income. For instance, if A earns ₹1 lakh and the spouse earns ₹150,000, and the household spends ₹50,000 (one-third of the total income), A should bear two-thirds of the expenses, and the spouse one-third. The remaining income should be invested, with the other partner listed as joint holder or nominee. This ensures a fair arrangement. For expenses, couples can either split responsibilities or pool funds into a joint account and spend from there.

Money fidelity