How to Save Money » Frugal Living

How do I save money when my partner doesn’t want to?

Partner doesn’t want to save money.

MoneyTroubles

Did you know that the number one reason for divorce is money troubles? That’s what my friend Gail says, and my research tells me that she’s right.

Getting your partner on board with your finances is not always the easiest thing to do, but it is absolutely necessary if you want to have a long, happy marriage.

If you’re finding it difficult to talk to your partner about money, and you feel that they are not on board with your plan to save money, it’s time to get things ironed out – and this means talking about the problem.

Here are a few tips for getting your partner on board with saving money.

Explain why this is important to you

Everyone knows that it’s important to save money, but some are more apt to “live in the moment”, instead. If this is your spouse, explain to them why saving money now is important to you.

Maybe you want to retire early, travel the world or move to a new home. Whatever the reason, make sure you communicate with your spouse why you want to save money. I’m sure you don’t want to save money just for the fact of saving money – you have a reason. Let them know what that reason is.

Don’t nag – ever

Nagging rarely ever works. Don’t spend any time nagging your spouse about money. This often leads to resentment and resentment is never good in any relationship. So don’t nag.

Instead, have a talk with your spouse about money and explain your feelings about how things have been going lately. If you’re unhappy about something, tell them, but don’t nag them about it. Don’t point fingers. Explain the problem, and then work on a solution together.

Come up with a plan together

What are your goals in life? What are your partner’s goals? Do you want to travel? Buy expensive cars? Live in a fancy home? Start your own company? Or maybe you just want to retire comfortably, without worrying about whether or not you’ll have enough money to make it until the end of the month.

Whatever your goals are, come up with a plan to reach those goals. Make sure that both you and your spouse are respectful to each others’ dreams and ambitions. Help each other reach their goals by getting a plan in place to make them happen.

Goals List

Make saving automatic

When it comes to saving money, there are 3 types of savers. Those that save every last cent that they possibly can, those that save whatever is left over after paying bills (which is usually nothing – or not very much), and those that save a pre-determined amount of money every month.

Go for person #3. To make saving money easy, it needs to be automatic. Once you have decided on your goals, determine how much those goals will cost you and how long you have to save the money. Start putting aside money right away. The sooner you save, the sooner you reach your goals.

Forgive mistakes

Your spouse has likely made some money mistakes and you have likely made some, too. Instead of constantly thinking about those mistakes, forgive yourself and forgive your partner. Move on. Spend your energy on the positive things in your life.

Once you’ve set goals and made a savings plan, you are on your way to a better financial future. Don’t dwell on mistakes that were made in the past. It’s time to move forward.

Don’t let financial troubles destroy your relationship with your partner. Have regular talks about money, goals, and all of your dreams in life.

You can easily make those dreams a reality with lots of hard work, determination, and a partner that is on board with the plan.

Is your partner on board with saving money?

Comments

  1. sally

    When guys don’t want to save, it’s a good idea to show him with something he likes. Like getting something for his beloved car – nearly free. He will be hooked. : )

  2. Lisa Anne

    The one thing I have learned about money is that it is just money. It comes and goes and it is not worth arguing over. Both of us have made money mistakes some large and some small but none the less mistakes. Sticking to a budget is not always easy and if your partner is not ready to commit to this then they are simply not ready. One piece of advice we were given to help us was to keep our finances separate from each other and not have joint accounts etc. This way we have control over our own money. We shared the living expenses that we were able to base on amount of money brought into the relationship by each person. Those bills went in that person’s name and therefore that person was responsible. That also makes that person accountable to the utility providers and not always the partner in the relationship. We have a place where the unpaid bills live and the paid bills are stacked just below so we can review and manage the finances together and remind each other that payments are required. This area is in our kitchen and central so we do not forget and we check this “in box” often. I personally prefer the “out box” as it means something is paid and ready to be filed.

    • Cassie Howard

      Great idea to have separate accounts. This works better for some couples. You have to do what is best for YOU.

Leave a reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked*