It’s not uncommon for couples to encounter marital stress
over their finances. Money related issues have the potential to drive many
committed relationships to the edge of divorce. The most obvious concern is the
conflict of not having enough money for the current financial responsibilities
that must be met. In today’s culture most people equate their financial
security to status and success. Many people will attach their self-worth to the
number of possessions that they have.
Love of money
Researcher Jason Carroll a professor of family life at
Brigham Young University reported in their new research that materialists have
more dissatisfaction with their marriage than couples who don’t care about
possessions. This held true among all socioeconomic levels. The least
satisfying marriages were those where both spouses cared strongly about
material goods. “We thought it would be the incongruent or unmatched pattern
that would be most problematic, where one’s a saver and one’s a spender,”
Carroll told Live Science. “Our study found that it’s the couple where both
spouses have high levels of materialism that struggle the most.” Previous
research has also confirmed that people who are materialistic are also more
anxious, depressed and insecure than others who are not materialistic.
Individuals who valued money more also had trouble at home since there was no
balance between their work and personal life.
Balance the budget
One out of five couples have admitted to a strong love of
money. Human being’s desire connection and material items can create distance
in a relationship. Couples that have been married for 20 years or more have
made time for each other and really care about their relationship. If you have
concerns about your finances, talk to your partner about your future as a
family. Then together set responsible financial steps to attain that vision
together. Realize that this will be a long term commitment and not a goal that
will be instantly gratified.
It will be important to listen to each other, compromise and
put a plan into action. If you have any credit card debt or payday loans they
should be a priority to pay off. The short and long term goals of savings,
retirement, college funds, and vacation can all be obtained with collaborative
planning. If you hit an impasse consult with a marriage counselor, coach or
mediator. Your marriage is also an investment to your future.
