"I Now Pronounce You..."

[Jenifer Madson]

"Money? My husband handles our financial stuff, I don't mess with it."

"If my wife didn't take care of our checkbook, I'd be in serious trouble."

"My partner and I have completely different attitudes about money, so we each do our own thing and hope it all works out."

"If I could just get my (husband, wife, significant other) to see things my way financially, we'd be ok."

These statements, and a thousand variations on their themes, are what couples are telling me about how they're handling their finances. Or not handling, as the case more often is. If we fail to come together about money, is it any surprise that it has such power to drive us apart?

Take A Minute:
Are you on completely separate pages financially, or is there an area of compatibility with money from which to rebuild your relationship?

Make A Minute:
Identify the top financial area that you are in complete agreement about, such as saving for your retirement, building emergency funds, or your investment strategy. Honor this commitment collectively before directing money to any individual concerns, to affirm your desire to operate from common values.

Building a strong financial partnership doesn't have to be hard; just a consistent process as a couple of matching your money to what matters most. We'll dive deeper into the details of creating a relationship with each other financially that will help you make love—& money—last.