Question:
How can I convince my husband that budgeting is important? I’m a firm believer in it, but my husband doesn’t think it will work in our situation.
Answer: Finances are a significant issue in any marriage. Disagreements about money can create huge problems between husband and wife, but the need for good communication is even more important. In fact, it's absolutely fundamental to the health and longevity of your relationship. So before tackling the question of a budget, we’d suggest you take steps to strengthen the foundation of your marriage, including some serious reading on the subject of marital communication and goal setting.
That said, we’ll hazard a guess that “your situation” is probably one that’s faced by millions of families: your bills are bigger than your paycheck and you're spending more than you're earning. The good news is that things are not really as hopeless as they seem. You may need to seek professional assistance, but if you can learn to communicate with each other, you and your husband can come up with a workable plan for gaining control of your finances.
The key is to learn how to live on less than you earn. A budget will enable you to do this. In the process, it will also:
- Establish a spending plan
- Encourage saving
- Reduce stress
- Allow for the unexpected
- Encourage charitable giving
- Discourage debt
- Facilitate flexibility
To set up a budget, you have to discuss and establish your priorities – which can take you a long way in the direction of relational and financial harmony.
For more financial advice, explore our Resources.
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