How to Survive Financially After the Honeymoon

You just hopped off the plane with your spouse. You still can feel the warm, powdery soft sand from the soles of your feet and could hear the relaxing, waves of the turquoise waters. It was one of the most unforgettable trips in your life. It was your honeymoon.

But like all the good things, the wedding and honeymoon are over. You’re about to begin living the reality of the married life. And yes, it is absolutely filled with joy, thrills, and excitement. But it comes with challenges too. In fact, money issues are one of the top things married couples fight about. Even if both of you are both financially well prior to getting married, discussing finances with your spouse can be very stressful.

Don’t worry. You got this.

Here are some great tips that should allow you to survive financially after the honeymoon:

Decide who owns the house.

Your family home is going to be your first major investment as a married couple. Before anything else, decide who is going to buy the house. Will both of you fund the purchase or just one? How are you going to divide the mortgage fees? Before actually buying a house, you might start renting first. If that’s the case, who takes care of the bill?

Talk about financial matters early on.

It may be an “off topic” during the honeymoon stage (or even prior the wedding) but the sooner you can sit down and talk about your finances, the more likely you could avoid potential disagreements and arguments in the future. It is important to cover major milestones like buying a house or renting, budgeting household expenses, pulling up a savings account, and planning for the future (such as retirement). It would be great if you can talk about who’s in charge of paying “this” and “that” and how to will deal with unexpected expenses, such as emergencies. If there’s a need to borrow money from the bank or get a cash advance online for paying rent, who takes care of ensuring all repayments are made on time?

Be open to each other. Communication is the key.

There’s not a problem that can’t be fixed when both of you communicate and talk calmly. Communication is the most powerful tool that will strengthen your marriage and make you triumph over all trials, whether it involves finances or not. Communicate openly and without any reservations. Avoid making secrets, even if you think that it’s going to ‘prevent’ arguments. Always be open about your financial choices and decisions. Don’t be among the 6 million people in the U.S. who hid bank accounts from their partners. Hiding accounts or lying about big purchases will just cause great troubles in your relationship.

Learn about each other’s financial views.

We all have different views about how money should be spent. You could be that frugal type of person while your other half is a big spender. Without knowing about how each other treats money, you’re setting up your marriage to a ton of troubles and endless arguments. It is important that you and your spouse talk about it, learn about your differences in money views, and make a compromise.

Create a household budget.

This should be the task of only one person. Both of you should sit down to it. This way, you can have a realistic expectation of your finances, fix problems before they arrive, and settle differences if there are. Your household budget is a major concern and should not be set aside.

Have the same financial goal.

You may have contrasting money views, but it doesn’t mean that you can’t have the same financial goals. As a married couple, you should set your eyes on the same prize. It will greatly help you plan your spending habits, saving money, etc.

Finances may not be the topic you want to talk about especially when you’re just starting out as a married couple. But you should. By talking about your financial views, settling differences, creating a budget, planning finances together, and having the same goal – you can save your marriage from financial troubles and stress and even strengthen your relationship.