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Family Budget: How to Talk About It with Your Partner
25.08.2023 11:16
Each family has its own foundations and rules for living together. Most often, they are formed thanks to the example of the families in which the partners lived.
But what if the lovers had completely different lifestyles? Discuss the rules of living together? Write down a plan on a piece of paper? Or leave things as they are?
From the very beginning, it is necessary to discuss everything in a couple so that in the future there are no omissions and accumulated grievances. Therefore, any issue, including the family budget, is very important for discussion, says psychologist Ekaterina Bugrova .
If you introduce such a habit in your relationship as talking, then solving the family budget issue will not be difficult. But how to start talking with your partner on such an important topic if you are not used to doing it?
Set the stage
Talk about plans for the future, joint purchases, building a house, buying a car, etc.
It is necessary to bring it to the point that you are a family (a couple) and you have joint plans, joint purchases are planned, accordingly, it is necessary to start thinking about the family budget.
Find out your partner's opinion
Different families manage their budgets differently. Some put everything into a common piggy bank, leaving a certain amount for pocket money, while others entrust control of the money to a more financially literate partner.
Ask your loved one how his parents managed their budget, what example he had, and how he sees financial management in your couple. Let him know that his opinion is important to you and that you will make a decision only through joint efforts.
Explore all options for managing a family budget
Let us repeat – each family has its own. Simply put, there are three types: separate, common and mixed.
With a separate budget, everyone is responsible for their own finances. The advantage is that if the relationship ends, you won’t reproach yourself for spending extra money on your partner, but it’s worth remembering that sooner or later you will have to make joint purchases, and then disagreements are inevitable.
General budget – you put all your income into one “piggy bank”. Yes, you can afford more for the family, but there may already be questions about personal desires.
Mixed budget – you put aside part of your salary for both of you, and leave the other part for personal expenses. The best option for managing a family budget. The only downside is that one of you will have to take on obligations to pay for family needs. And there is no right or wrong option. You should build a family budget and relationships in a way that is comfortable for you.
Stick to the agreement
If you decide to manage a budget in one way or another, you need to develop a habit and make your brain and psyche understand that this is normal and you just need to change your lifestyle a little for your own comfort.
