Be it an opposite-sex or same-sex, marriage is a sacred bond. It is a relationship which is born as a result of intense love and holds emotional and sentimental value for both spouses. Even though marriage is a beautiful relationship, a married couple is brought together using a fragile thread.
Four factors hold this thread in its position and save it from breaking, and these are love, loyalty, respect, and understanding. If any of these factors go missing from a marriage, it becomes almost impossible to keep the marriage intact.
Do you know what can disrupt the balance in marriage and affect these factors that hold the thin thread of marriage? Well, it is money.
Yes, life without money gets way more challenging than it already is, but money and finances can affect your marriage. It disrupts the balance of the four factors that bring and bounds a couple together forever. It is not just for male-female marriage but happens in same-sex marriages as well.
With same-sex marriage becoming a trend and with more and more gay couples coming out, we must discuss the importance of financial matters in same-sex marriage. Nobody wants their marriage to break off just because of a wrong financial decision, but it does happen!
Don’t want to see your marriage break and end up in divorce just because of money and finances? Here are some financial tips that can help your marriage work!
Talk About Money
A lot of couples avoid talking about money as for them it is one of the taboo topics. All couples need to know that talking and discussing money is what strengthens a marriage. Make it a habit to have weekly or monthly financial meetings with your better half.
Just discussing the finances can help you avoid many arguments. Build an environment in your marriage, where you and spouse can openly discuss finances. Sooner or later, you will have to talk about finances. The sooner you start talking money, the better it is for your marriage.
Planning is the Key
Future planning is something that all couples know is important to make a marriage work, but a significant percentage of these couples keep their finances out of it. It may help in avoiding the arguments at present, but it will pave the way for more serious arguments and fights in the future.
Each individual has a different meaning attached to the term “financial stability,” and couples need to respect that. Discuss the financial goals with each other and see how you both can help each other reach the goals.
When you plan, you can even design a strategy when you both can contribute to help each other achieve their financial goals. It builds trust between a couple and intensifies the bond of marriage!
Splitting Expenses
Depending entirely upon one spouse to manage the expense is unfair, and it is one of the many reasons that marriages begin to fall apart. If both you and your spouse are earning, it is smart to split all the expenses.
Burdening one spouse with financial responsibilities is not smart, and it can negatively impact your marriage. The one responsible for the expenses may not say anything, but in their minds, they think that is unjust.
You can discuss it with your spouse and choose the expenses you are willing to manage and ask your partner to do the same. It will instill trust in the couple!
Do Not Compromise on the Fun
Many gay couples realize that discussing and planning finances is a fundamental requirement for a marriage to work. They are so determined to arrange their finances that they forget to add the element of fun.
It is essential to plan for retirement, but it is also important that you make the most of your marriage. You can save money together for a luxurious gay-cation, away from the stressful lives. Going on vacations and planning road trips are some essential elements of financial planning.
Yes, managing and planning finances are very important, but do not get so immersed into it that you drive the love of your life away! The element of fun is one of the essential factors that keep a marriage going on for long!
An Emergency Fund
An emergency fund is one of the essential financial steps for a married couple. Life is unpredictable, and no one really knows what it has in store for them. Therefore, it is a wise approach to expect the unexpected.
You and your spouse can both agree on contributing a fixed amount to the emergency funds. Remember that the contribution must depend upon the earning capacity of each spouse. If you earn more than your spouse, make sure you contribute more than the other.
Life Insurance is Important
Life insurance is one of the very first financial steps that a married couple has to take. Life insurance is much more than the protection of the family members. Many same-sex couples who do not have kids do not give much thought to it, which is something not advisable. Make sure you discuss purchasing life-insurance with your spouse.
Discussing finances is essential for making marriages work, whether it’s same-sex marriage or not. Make sure you keep these tips in mind when it’s time to talk about money with your spouse!