DID you go through any financial challenges in your family? I’m sure we all did.
Trying times in marriage is inevitable. And one common issue that can shake a married couple’s relationship is a money-related one.
You know how the older folks remind younger couples about love flying out of the window when there’s no money? I bet every couple who have had money problems found themselves agreeing to that reminder.
But regardless of how challenging your money problem may be, it is still important to remind yourself that this is all part of marriage and life in general. The question is, are you willing to work with your spouse in order to win over this challenge?
Here are five things you can do to protect your marriage during trying economic times:
- APPROACH MONEY PROBLEMS AS A TEAM
Facing money problems in our marriage can be very draining and sometimes, discouraging. But facing these problems with the assurance that our spouse is with us, we feel more secure and safe.
The assurance of having each other’s back can totally change the way you deal with the problem. Yes, money issues are tough but nothing is too tough for two people who choose to fight alongside each other.
- 2. GET RID OF THE BLAME GAME
One thing that never works in marriage is the blame game. It simply gets you nowhere! While it’s true that some problems can be attributed to the wrong decision or move made by either the husband or the wife, the solution to that error is never achieved by pointing fingers at each other.
So get rid of it. Accept the circumstance and move forward and just drop the blame card.
- PRACTICE OPEN COMMUNICATION WITH YOUR SPOUSE
We all know that one key ingredient to a successful marriage is communication. And guess what? It is also the number one problem-solving strategy!
But the chances of having a non-therapeutic communication becomes higher during tough economic times because we simply want to express the frustration and disappointment in whatever way we can, even if that means shouting at the top of our lungs – and the only way we can avoid this from happening is by practicing open communication.
Allowing each other to vent out the emotions and listening with understanding. You’ll be surprised on how effective open communication can be during difficult times in your marriage.
- AGREE TO TAKE ACTIONS ABOUT THE PROBLEM TOGETHER
Because couples are wired uniquely from each other, chances are, they can also have different personal solutions and suggestions about the money problems. But agreeing on a course of action delivers the clarity of reason needed in finding a solution for the problem.
Therefore, it is always best to agree on the same solution even if that means compromising some of your personal ones, after all, this is a team effort, so your spouse’s proposition also has a say.
- AVOID SELF-PITY AT ALL COSTS
Feeling sorry for your situation or yourself has never provided solutions to money-related problems. In fact, self-pity only worsens the problem because it takes away your confidence and it diminishes your hope of winning over the financial challenges.
So when you feel like you’re heading down that road of feeling sorry for your circumstance, talk to your spouse and gather strength and encouragement from each other, instead.
Times occasionally get challenging and difficult in marriage but the bottom line is, if you have a trusting and loving relationship with your spouse, you’ll get through the worst! The economic problem will come to pass but your love for each other will be there to sustain you until the end.
THINK. REFLECT. APPLY.
Recall a time when you and your spouse had a money-related problem. How did you overcome the challenge? Why is it important to remind each other about teamwork in marriage? Among the five things suggested above, which one do you think you need to work on the most as a couple? Why?
