5 Habits Of Financially Savvy Couples
We know you've heard it before, but it's time to get your finances in order. That goes for the both of you.
Managing money can be daunting, especially when there's debt involved. But it's a crucial practice, especially in a relationship, where one partner's bad habits can bring both partners down.
We asked several money- and relationship-smart YourTango Experts to tell us how financially savvy couples live. How do they spend, save and talk about money? Does being financially responsible mean never straying from an uber-strict budget?
The Experts sounded in and gave us a list of the top 10 habits financially smart couples keep. Get five transformative tips here and then head to YourTango to read the rest.
1. Have the dreaded "money conversation." It's no fun, we know, but the sooner you talk about your attitudes and beliefs about money, the better. People learn wildly different money habits from their families. As a couple, it's time to investigate which beliefs work and which ones don't, so you can get clear on your own shared financial roadmap.
2. Define luxuries. If you define "splurge" as a dinner out while your partner thinks "week in Europe," it's time to get on the same page. Being a money-smart couple doesn't mean you never indulge, it means you indulge responsibly and in a way that you both agree upon.
3. Build a financial bomb shelter. Just because you two are rolling in the dough now doesn't mean it will always be that way. Savvy couples expect the best, financially, but plan for the worst. Which brings us to number four...
4. Save! Like going to the dentist, saving money is one of those activities people tend to put off. But saving doesn't have to be daunting. It can be as simple as bringing instead of buying your lunches twice a week. And coming up with an easy-to-follow savings plan together means you two will feel more connected. Working on a shared goal is surprisingly great foreplay.
5. Create a budget. And don't stop there. Revisit it routinely to make sure it's still working for both of you. Keeping an open dialogue going is the key to avoiding a financial or relationship meltdown.
Get tips on creating a budget as a couple plus 5 additional money-savvy habits from YourTango.
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