It's no secret that money is the most popular reason couples split, but what is it about money that causes such a major rift that we're willing to say goodbye to someone we thought we would be with for life? Why isn't it infidelity or even religion a reason?
It's just something about money and the motives behind it that are enough to cause this huge divide more than anything else. It's a powerful thing, that dollar bill, and most of us just want to be able to have control over the money we've worked so hard to earn. So when it looks like someone is infringing on that, there's an issue.
From being raised differently to keeping secrets, money alone isn't the reason people are going their separate ways. It's clearly deeper than that. Read on to learn more about how money comes between an otherwise thriving relationship.
You Were Brought Up Differently
Thankfully, I can say that my husband and I were raised the same way concerning money, and any lack thereof. So we're definitely on the same page when it comes to how important it is to save and spend money in ways that we see as smart. Still, whether you were raised learning about money or it was a topic that was never discussed in your home, there's still a reason you see money the way that you do; much of it has to do with the household you grew up in.
Whether you're the girl who came up from poverty and made a promise to yourself to never look back, or you were raised never having to worry about money and want to keep that lifestyle, one way isn't better than the other. But if your partner was brought up differently, it only makes sense for there to be some friction there.
You Have Different Views Of Money
Our upbringing has an influence on how we view money, but having different perspectives about it is only asking for there to be some serious issues. I was literally just talking to my friend this week who is all about saving, planning, budgeting, and all that responsible jazz. Her boyfriend on the other hand has the motto YOLO when it comes to finances. Because of their differences, among other things, she doesn't feel comfortable doing anything serious with him when it comes to money and wants to keep it all separate for as long as possible. Again, one way isn't necessarily right or wrong, and balance is the major key. Having different opinions about money and refusing to budge will create inevitable problems that you might not be able to bounce back from.
You Keep Secrets About It
This one is kind of hazy because at what point does your financial status become anyone else's business? Of course, you want to make sure someone has the same financial values as you do before things get serious, but when do you actually have this conversation? I think most of us have different perceptions on this one. And then there's the whole question of, what if that person isn't completely honest? This can include lying about everything from their credit score to how much they make, or even downplaying a serious financial problem that's bound to be exposed at any given moment.
Having a secret account for "a rainy day" is nothing out of the ordinary, and I don't even think it's wrong. But this issue goes further than just lying about money. Like most of the points in this article, the question is why? Why lie, or keep it a secret? My thought would be that trust is a major issue, which goes way deeper than the dollar bill.
You Make More
Look, despite the current political and racial climate in this country, we don't live in the 1950s anymore. Still, there are plenty of men (and women) out there who have an issue if their partner makes more than they do. Clearly I'm not a man, but what I do know is that for some, it can trigger their insecurity and cause them to question their status as a provider in the home. So while the issue on the surface is going against tradition, the real problem could be how he feels as a man. If you find yourself constantly battling with your guy over money because you make more, maybe try to find other ways to show him he's still man enough for you.
You Want To Adopt The Control Factor
One of the first things I had to learn when I got married was that when it comes to money, we're a team. I had my own way of doing things and so did he, but ultimately, we had to somehow compromise if we were going to work it out. I'm not against having separate accounts and ish, but that just wasn't the track we wanted to take.
This was really difficult for me because I can be really controlling over money. I have that "It's my money and I want it now!" mindset from those J.G. Wentworth commercials, but we eventually came to the compromise that I had just as much control over our money as he did. It was really hard for me to let go because I felt like he was kind of irresponsible, but in reality, it was just different and not as frugal.
Even though it's still tempting to take the reins because I think I know what's best, seeing our finances as a joint venture is what has helped us to not disagree on money. There are plenty of other things to argue about.
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