Love Your Life Not TheirsSample

Day 5
Habit 4: Talk About Money—Even When It's Hard

"That is why a man leaves his father and mother and is united to his wife, and they become one flesh." (Genesis 2:24 NIV)

You've probably heard that opposites attract. And, in marriage, that truth really plays out in handling money.

If you've been married more than two minutes, you know that one spouse is probably more of a spender than a saver (and vice versa). One of you may love to do budgets, while the other likes making money decisions on the fly. One might have a long-term focus, while the other lives in the moment.

That's normal. God didn't create all of us to be the same, so it's okay to be wired differently from your spouse. But those differences also have the potential to create a boatload of problems when you mix marriage and money.

Which is why couples need to talk about money—even when it's hard.

A great place to start is the budgeting process. When you give every dollar a name together, you can identify mutual priorities and keep your lives and dreams in alignment with one another.

Genesis 2 recounts the story of creation, including how God made Adam and Eve. The Bible says that when God brings two people together, they become "one flesh." That means every part of the relationship comes together—including your finances. So, you need to talk about it.

I'll admit that Winston and I still hit speed bumps with our money. We struggle with a lot of the same things other young couples wrestle with. But things would be a lot worse without communication. Talking about money actually makes our marriage stronger because we are acting like "one flesh."

You and your spouse are a team, and you won't start talking about money by accident. So, be intentional. The talks might be hard at first, but they'll help you move toward a life you can love.