Whether your relationship is new or old, chances are your partner has saved or spent money in a way you might find aggravating. If you’ve encountered money tension in your relationship, you are not alone. Studies show that money is a hot-button topic that causes fights frequently, and it’s the leading cause of divorce.
Experts like Laura Fredricks, author of “The Ask” and host of the “Real Talk Live!” podcast, say that financially healthy couples easily speak their minds about each other’s money habits. “You feel comfortable and you say can say to them, ‘explain to me why you bought that.’” If you find yourself biting your tongue, or holding in your opinions, it might be time to let your frustrations out.
But don’t blurt it out. There’s a right and a wrong way to have these conversations, Fredricks says. “The right way to have this conversation is check on your voice and body language, and I always tell people to say ‘this is important to me.’ The wrong way to have this conversation is bombardment and anger.”
A recent Yahoo Finance survey found that about half the couples surveyed are talking about money weekly. Fredricks says that the sooner this becomes habit, the better off your love life will be.
Instead of making assumptions, speak openly and often. “You owe it to yourself and your partner to have these conversations, so that you can relax, and be stress-free. I’m not going to tell you they’re easy,” she says. “But I can guarantee you in the end it will bring you closer.”
Do you and your partner fight about money? Share your story with us at [email protected].
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