I get it. Not everyone likes to talk about money. Some people struggle to talk about money. This could be tricky if you are in a marriage and don’t talk about your finances. If you find yourself in this situation, then read on to discover how to get your spouse on board with budgeting.

My husband was just like this. It took us years to get on the same financial page. But when we did, it was a total game changer. We now budget together, we have money goals and we work together to stay accountable.

If you are in a similar situation then do not fret. I became a finance blogger and a finance coach to give people in similar situations hope. 

Let me share my tips with you on how you can get your spouse on board with budgeting. 

Plan a money date

Take my advice, don’t ask to go through the budget without giving your spouse notice. If your spouse is overwhelmed or reluctant then they will need time to mentally prepare for the budget meeting. When my spouse is in a good mood, I begin a conversation with something like, “We haven’t gone over the budget in a little while, could we look over the cash flow this weekend?” This is a great way to plan a budget meeting. 

Low stress environment

When the time comes, create a low stress environment. Don’t be in a rush to go somewhere, and don’t have the meeting when you are expecting guests in 10 minutes!

Preparation is the key

If you can, prepare the spreadsheet in advance. If you’re looking for a budgeting tool to get you started, then take a look at The Happy Couple’s Budgeting Tool. It’s super simple to use and completley FREE!

By preparing the spreadsheet in advance, your meeting will be shorter and this is a good thing for your spouse.

Show grace

As you look back at last month’s budget, remember to be calm and show grace. Not everything goes to plan and this is ok. It takes a few months to get the budget working well. 

Remember your why

Remember your ‘Why’. What is your why, what is your dream? Do you desire to be debt free, build an emergency fund or go on the holiday of a life time.

Have pictures around the house with your ‘Why’, for example, when we were saving for DisneyWorld, we had pictures of the hotel and the fun rides that we were going to enjoy. This was a great conversation starter when friends came around, they wanted to know all about it! 

Celebrate the small wins

Congratulate yourselves on the small steps. Clearing debt or saving an emergency fund can take time but remember that a journey of 1000 miles begins with one step. 

Favourite beverage

When you meet, have your favourite beverage with you. As you go through the numbers, take your time. It’s important not to rush these things. 

Fun money

Don’t forget to allocate some fun money. When people think of a budget, they think that it’s a restriction, that they won’t be able to spend any money. However, in reality, a budget is telling your money where to go, instead of wondering where it went! You can still have some fun money and go out, you just need to review the budget and see how much you can allocate in this budget line. 

Miscellaneous

In my experience, a budget line for ‘miscellaneous’ is a brilliant idea. Having some money to cover those unexpected costs is always a winner. 

Fun!

Plan something fun for after your budget meeting. Go for a walk or watch a movie together.

Although my husband is the spender and I’m the saver, together, we have gone on to accomplish the huge financial goal of getting out of debt and building up our emergency fund. What we could have allowed to become a point of contention has only made our relationship stronger by choosing to respect our differences and work together.

Even when a husband and wife have very different habits, you can successfully work together to achieve the same financial goal! Be encouraged! Even ‘spenders’ can eventually get excited about budgeting!

If you enjoyed this blog, then download my FREE E-Book on How To Get On The Same Financial Page As Your Spouse.

Did you know that I also offer a five week coaching programme called Get On The Same Financial Page As Your Spouse?

It’s perfect in helping couples to understand each other when it comes to money. 

Over the five weeks, we’ll discuss your money stories, where you are now and where you want to be. 

By listening to your partner and understanding where they are coming from, you will gain insights on why they behave they do and how you can work together as a team.

I believe that you’ll find it very valuable.

Ultimately, we’ll be talking about our money stories.

We’ll learn that you and your money stories are not intertwined. The course will challenge you to question the beliefs that you grew up with and  who you want to be in the next chapter of your life. 

It might be that you weren’t good with money growing up but now you’re changing that.

Whatever your story was, you can ask yourself do you want to change that story.

You have more control over your story and your money than you can possibly imagine!

The coaching programme is open to all couples – no matter the length of time they may have been together! 

My aim is for it to be like going to a friend’s house for coffee, sitting on the comfy sofa and having an honest and open chat about what we believe about money and where those beliefs come from.

Just think, a year from now, you’re going to be a year older. Will you be living the life you want?

If you’d like to find out more, leave a comment below or email me hello@moneyandmarriage.net and let’s book a 30 minute complimentary call so that you can find out more!