Issues related to money are the #1 reason for divorce in the United States.
In reality, it's not money that causes divorce, it's not communicating about money that is the problem that ends many marriages.
One particular example comes to mind.
To protect the guilty, I have changed their names to John and Michelle.
The two have been married for 5 years and as far as John knew, they had very little credit card debt.
On the contrary, Michelle had mounting credit card debt that she had kept hidden from her husband.
The two had separate checking accounts, so John had no clue about Michelle's debt.
She was addicted to using credit cards, like some people are addicted to drugs and alcohol.
Well, the stress of hiding the debt became unbearable and the credit card debt became unmanageable for Michelle.
After years of hiding her debt from John, she decided to admit her wrong-doing.
By the time Michelle told her husband the truth, she had accumulated nearly $30,000 in credit card debt.
Needless to say, John and Michelle's marriage became strained.
Michelle had violated John's trust, the very foundation on which their marriage was built.
Fortunately, the situation did not end in divorce.
John and Michelle are still together and have devised a plan to pay off Michelle's debt.
Meanwhile, they are working to restore trust in their relationship.
The two now communicate openly about their finances and have consolidated their checking accounts and other finances.
Effective communication is a key component of a successful marriage.
Whether it's about money, sex, feelings, children or something as small as leaving the toilet seat up.
Communication about little things adds up to a fulfilling marriage, whereas, not communicating or about little things can add up to an unhappy marriage.
Below are a few money tips, to help avoid strain on your marriage.
Money Tips for Married Couples * Don't hide your savings from your spouse * Don't lie to your spouse about credit cards and other debt * Don't focus on who makes the most money between the two of you as a form of power * Discuss finances and major expenses on a monthly basis * Speak the unspeakable - Discuss difficult financial topics with your spouse.
Talk about and have a will prepared.
Make sure you have sufficient life insurance.
Even before getting married, discuss having a prenuptial agreement.
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