Marriages suffer setbacks for many reasons, the majority of which comes from money problems. At no time has this become more evident than with the recent downward turn of the economy. Now, many relationships that were once thriving, are finding themselves struggling just to stay above water. When the economy is tough, stress over how the money should be put into good use is always a common problem. For instance, when one spouse is a saver while the other likes to spend, the dissimilarity between them may be a cause of more disagreements than when extra money is readily available.
A spender may not be willing to change their old habits even though the same amount of money is no longer available for them to spend. Another problem is when one person is not on board with reality. At the first sign of a financial issue, the couple needs to sit down together, discuss their financial needs, and reassess their spending and their debt. Denying there is a problem won’t make the financial issue go away. If changes have to be made then they have to start then, before an issue arises. Waiting until after disaster strikes are too late. There is no shame in cutting back.
Extracurricular activities are great to have, but they can only be enjoyed when you can really afford them. Having to cancel items of expense on a temporary basis doesn’t mean you are a failure: it means you are generating temporary income to help you get by. Once financial matters improve, you can then add these services back in. The economy has the ability to quickly do away with major parts of an income, or even an entire job. Since money worries are the number one reason couples fight, many couples who have always managed before, now find they are in trouble.
The important thing to remember here is not to panic. Panic, arguing and resentment only tear the family apart more and more. You have to come up with a plan to get through the crisis. If you need to, sit down with a financial counsellor and discuss your situation. Getting ideas from an outside party always puts a new perspective on the subject. Plus, the pressure isn’t solely on either of you to come up with a solution. Some couples live by a high amount of money so when their money source is threatened, they don’t know how to react. You need to realize the economy might be down now, but it will recover. If you do not use this opportunity to band together, then you will not survive as a couple.
