Do you fall in love with someone because of how they manage money? It’s unlikely. After all, true love is going to be blind to how much someone earns or how much debt they’re in. That being said, this can sometimes be magical thinking in terms of what a relationship with them could actually look like. If you love someone but can’t trust them to build anything together with, that warm feeling might not last long, or may struggle against the reality of life.

Moreover, to be in love with someone often means respecting them, and having that respect reflected back at you. Without that, nothing else can happen. Love expresses itself in various ways, after all. 
So, let’s say you do have a loved one, and even plan on getting engaged or developing something more substantial with them in mind. Can you encourage your spouse out of bad financial habits? If so, how might that work? It’s not always clear. In this post, we’ll discuss a few methods you might consider to free your spouse from bad financial habits.

Formulate A Structure For Both To Follow

Getting a shared system going is likely to save a lot of arguments down the road, since leaving things to chance is often a recipe for stress. It’s helpful to sit down with a coffee and just agree on how the cash is going to flow, maybe by using a shared app or spreadsheet so everything is out in the open and understood by everyone.

We’d also suggest you see if a credit union is a good fit for a joint account, or if a weekly allowance system is more your speed. It’s nice to get the guesswork out of the way entirely, as giving a plan in place is comforting, so you aren’t blindsided by a random expense on a Tuesday afternoon that your partner didn’t tell you about, and that causes friction.

Set Some Robust Goals You Both Desire

Saving money just for the sake of it is tough, and could even feel like a chore if there’s no fun reward waiting at the end to make it worthwhile. It’s way better to put cash aside for something cool like a trip or a house project because saying no to that impulse purchase is easier if you’re both on the same page and care about it.

Talking about what you both want is good for getting on that same page., and it’ll keep you motivated during the lean months. Knowing you’re working toward something good together should help yo keep your spirits high and make the budgeting feel less like a punishment. After all, financial management is good for you both.

Come To An Arrangement Of Responsibility

Missing bills because nobody knew who was supposed to pay them could lead to arguments if you’re not careful, and so you’ll likely find that it’s smarter to split the jobs up based on what you’re good at. Maybe you handle the big bills and paperwork while they handle the groceries and day-to-day spending. This way, you can make the task feel less prescriptive and more of a team effort.

With this advice, we hope you can more easily encourage a spouse out of bad habits, but without necessarily being condescending.