Can you balance love and money?

If your budget isn’t working, chances are your marriage is alos having a few issues. You might be having a few of the classic money fights that often occur in marriage or you’re newlywed and learning how to do a budget for the first time. Either way we can all learn how to improve our marriage and our budgeting practices as a couple.

10 Reasons Why Your Budget and Marriage Aren’t Working

1. Different Values- Our values are the underlying current of where our money will flow. Having common values is a key to determining how your money will be spent as a couple. This obscure Jewish guy said:

“For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also.”-Matt. 6:19 ESV

2. Mistrust or broken trust- A series of broken promises, blown budgets, or unmet expectations will lead to mistrust. If you don’t trust you’re teammate you’ll stop passing them the basketball.

3. Lying or Hiding something- It could be straight up infidelity or financial infidelity. If one spouse is lying or hiding something from the other, it’s going to reflect in the fiances sooner or later.

4. One spouse has already left the relationship in spirit, but the body hasn’t followed yet. If one spouse constantly doesn’t get a vote in decisions- they’ll check out and eventually find a new place where their voice will be heard.

5. Lost Hope- If one team member looses hope, they drag down the other. A spouse without hope might cope with overspending or expensive overindulgences.

6. You are Lazy- You’ve stopped trying to do a budget and you believe it takes too much time and work. This laziness will leave your marriage and finances in shambles.

7. The budget is too complex- A budget has to be understandable and workable. Unless you both are 10 page excel spreadsheet nerds, make it simple and workable or the budget will just be too hard to follow.

8. Your budget meeting is boring. Spice up your budget meeting and turn it into a budget party that both of you will enjoy.

9. You’ve got a spending addiction- I’m not talking about blowing $50 at Target, but being a compulsive shopper who needs help. Seek professional help if this exists in your home.

10. Selfishness and Entitlement- Focusing on self and getting your needs met, rather than having shared goals and serving your spouse will lead to a lonely road.

Financial issues in a marriage are often symptoms of deeper issues within the marriage that need resolving. If you are facing difficulties in your marriage, don’t be afraid or to macho to attend marriage counseling. Take action today.

Make a commitment to your spouse to grow your relationship and not only your to grow your bank accounts. 

What are your thoughts about budgets and marriage?

If you want to view a few marriage resources, see our list and read some of our marriage story.

Photo credit HikingArtist.com (Creative Commons)