Have you hidden a purchase from your partner?💸
Getting better with money is a challenging task…💸
Getting better with money as a couple is a whole other animal!
Two sets of values, two sets of financial trauma triggers, two sets of debt tolerance… all of these gray areas become even muddier in relationships. How do we make sense of it all?🤔
Have you ever hid a purchase from your significant other? I'm guilty🙋🏽♀️. But hey, we’re not alone: a 2023 Financial Infidelity Report revealed that 64% of people living together in a committed relationship hid a purchase from their partner in the last year.
And wouldn’t you know it, people are complicated! Get this other fact from the same report:
“What surprised us the most about the survey findings was the revelation that, despite 1 in 4 respondents considering hidden financial behaviors as relationship cheating, and 1 in 10 stating that their partner's secret spending would be more hurtful than an emotional affair, the prevalence of such behavior remains high.”
Hear this: Money talks in your relationship also have the incredible opportunity to get you even closer to each other and can protect your money and your sanity in the process.💞 When you do something that would be hurtful if the other person did it, you bury that sh*t deep down. It’s not the story you tell yourself about yourself.
Is financial intimacy awkward? Sure, at first…😬
But does it open up the new layer of closeness your relationship needs? Heck yes!🙌
Talking openly about money with your partner has the potential to:
• Bring you closer together. 🤝
• Help you protect your financial health.💰
• Reduce stress in your relationship. 🧘♀️
It’s not easy, though. These conversations require vulnerability, honesty, and patience. But when done right, they unlock a new level of closeness—one where you feel like true partners tackling life's challenges side by side. 🌟
So, how do you start building financial intimacy? A few ideas to get the ball rolling:
• Set aside dedicated time for money talks. 🕒No distractions, no blaming, just a shared focus on your goals.🎯
• Be honest about your financial past. Sharing your experiences, both good and bad, helps your partner understand your perspective.
• Celebrate your wins together. Paid off a credit card? Hit a savings milestone? Celebrate it as a team. 🎉
And here’s a bonus tip: approach these conversations with curiosity instead of judgment. Ask your partner what money was like for them growing up. What shaped their beliefs about spending, saving, or debt?
These questions can reveal so much more than just financial habits—they uncover deeper parts of each other.💕
When my husband and I started talking openly about money, it completely changed our relationship. It wasn’t just about creating budgets or tackling debt; it was about understanding each other on a deeper level.😊
Yes, financial intimacy can feel awkward at first. But trust me: the payoff—financially and emotionally—is worth every uncomfortable moment.
So, what about you? If you're in a partnership, what’s the #1 difference in your money beliefs?💰💭