Marriage is a challenge when financially broke

This is such a true statement. However, it does not have to remain a challenge if you and the husband are willing to talk about money issues in marriage and establish a plan to get out of debt. Let me share what happens to a married husband and wife when you are financially broke:

(1) Communication can become strained. Why you ask? Because your every thought somehow centers around money. We need money to pay this bill, that bill, we need money for groceries and more. If you are not careful, you will get to  a point where you communicate less and less about money issues in marriage in order to keep the peace.

(2) Blame – Even though marriage involves two people, it can become really easy to place all of the blame on one person when people are broke. Hmmm, more than likely you could say the shopper is responsible. Now that might not be true. It could be the person who is managing the money does not fully understand money management. That could be two different people.

(3) Stress – The level of stress that incurs when couples are broke keep them from enjoying their relationship. They cannot pamper each other, go to restaurants for a nice dinner, celebrate anniversaries or even take a vacation. Then they are thinking to themselves, are we ever going to get out of this mess that we are in.

(4) No Light Appears – I know firsthand how it seems that there is no light at the end of the tunnel when you are broke. It might seem as if you have a plan to pay one bill off and then another appears. Or even if one of you were to get a bonus, then it automatically has to go to another bill. Therefore, you did not even get to enjoy any of it.

(5) Others Prospering for wrong reasons – This is one I have witnessed all too well. Seems like when you are broke and it is straining your marriage, there are people that you know who are getting money and it seems as if they should not be. You begin to think to yourself what am I doing wrong? What did I miss? Let me assure you, it is not that you did anything. Step back from your situation, take a deep breath and evaluate what you are doing.

Solutions:

(1) When it comes to communciation, do not let your financial challenges cause you to be silent. Go to your spouse and say you know this is not a spot he likes, nor do you. So you propose that you work it out together. Ask him, how can you help.

(2) Remove the blame. Let’s face it – if one of you have financial challenges – both of you do. Talk about who is managing money and both of your styles when it comes to spending and or saving. What works and what does not. How you can establish healthy financial boundaries so that the shopper can spend within agreed upon limits and the saver can save for family vacations, etc.

(3) Change the negative thinking. This day say we are not going to be broke anymore. We will take the necessary steps to have plenty versus not enough. That comes with reviewing the financial budget to include expenses. If there are items you are spending money on but not taking advantage of then stop them. Especially if they are subscriptions to magazines, etc.

(4) Light is there – There is light at the end of this tunnel. As a matter of fact, your taking a step to be a member of this site that provides financial guidance is a step in the right direction. You are able to ask questions if you do not understand something as well as here from other experts that have been in various financial situations and what they did.

(5) Plan for Plenty – You have to get your mindset right and know that you can have more instead of living in lack. It is up to you. Take the time to understand what got you into the position of being broke.