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Can’t agree with your spouse’s spending habits? Here’s what to do

You and your spouse can’t seem to agree on anything when it comes to spending money. You want to save for the future, but your spouse wants to enjoy life now. What do you do?

There’s no straightforward answer, but it’s crucial to take some time to figure out what’s important to you both. Maybe you can compromise by saving a little bit each month, or by scaling back on other expenses so you can put more money towards your savings.

Whatever you do, don’t ignore the issue. It will only get worse over time. Talk to your spouse and try to find a solution that works for both of you.

Have a conversation about their spending habits

You need to have a conversation with your spouse about their spending habits. You can’t just keep silent and hope that things will change. Be honest with each other and open about the family’s financial situation.

Come up with a plan together that will help you both stay within your budget. If needed, you can also seek the help of a financial advisor to get both of you guys on track. Start being transparent with each other and take small steps to fix the problem.

Set a budget that you both can agree on

You both agree that you need to set a budget, but you can’t seem to agree on how much money you should be spending each month. You want to be frugal, while your spouse wants to live a little more extravagantly.

How can you compromise? Well, one way to compromise is by setting a budget that’s somewhere in the middle. This way, you’re both getting what you want, and you won’t be fighting unnecessarily about money anymore. Win-win!

Understand their spending triggers

a toy cart with miniature shopping bags and boxes

Image Credits: africa.businessinsider.com

If you can’t seem to agree with your spouse’s spending habits, it’s necessary to take a step back and understand what’s driving that behavior. For example, is your spouse constantly spending money because they’re stressed? Or are they trying to compensate for something they feel insecure about?

Once you understand what’s triggering the spending, you can start working on solutions together. Maybe that means finding different ways to deal with stress or communicating more openly about money. But it’s going to take some effort from both of you to get on the same page. So don’t be afraid to have more conversations—it could be the key to a more financially secure future for both of you.

Manage your expectations

This means that you can’t constantly be nagging them about the money they’re spending—that’s only going to put more stress on the relationship. Instead, try to discuss it.

Agree on how much money each of you is allowed to spend without asking the other for permission. And try not to get too hung up on the small stuff. At the end of the day, you’re going to have to learn to live with your spouse’s spending habits—or, at the very least, learn to endure the situation.

Build up your savings

Ultimately, if you and your spouse can’t seem to agree on how to handle your finances, it’s time to start building up your savings. That way, you will have a cushion to fall back on if things get tough. Start by setting a budget and sticking to it. Track where every penny goes, so you have a clear understanding of where your money is being spent.

When you and your spouse can’t agree on spending habits, it’s wise to sit down and talk about it. Come up with a budget that works for both of you, and stick to it. If you’re feeling overwhelmed, take it one step at a time. Tackle the biggest expenses first, and work your way down. There will be times when you will have to make tough decisions, but remember that it’s good to compromise and put yourselves in each other’s shoes. With a little bit of effort, you can create a healthy financial future for yourself and your family.

How To Deal With Finances As A Married Couple

A CLOSER LOOK AT YOUR SPENDING HABITS

Getting married marks a significant chapter in one’s life. This new chapter comes with overwhelming changes and unique transitions that go beyond your personal boundaries. You are now planning a life that is beyond taking care of yourself. This huge responsibility comes with financial trials.

Start with being transparent with your partner when it comes to your finances and spending habits. Awareness is the first step. After all, you are responsible of your partner’s well being too. It is your duty to remind each other about making conscious efforts when it comes to money. Many of our spending habits are influenced by marketing traps and mental biases. These hinder us from thinking straight. You are stronger as a team. Keep that in mind.

Let me give you an example of the common traps or biases that both of you can encounter. Firstly, you the status quo bias may consume you. This bias occurs when you are more likely to prefer the product that you know more despite having better options available in the market. For instance, you may prefer an Apple iPhone over a Samsung Galaxy phone due to your familiarity with the iOS software. You simply want to maintain the routine that you have started.

Similar to status quo bias is the familiarity bias. This happens when you favor products or services that you are exposed more of. Start-ups and smaller companies are not able to afford hefty advertising, thus you may skip on the products or services that they offer. When this happens, it is best to help each other out. Purchase appliances or home decorations together. Do you want to purchase a Samsung Inverter or a Kolin Inverter? Be mindful when you are buying an air-conditioned or other items. Do it for reasons that will both benefit you and your spouse.

Lastly, you may fall for the post-purchase rationalization. This is something that most of us experience. Many of us are stubborn to admit that we made a mistake. We would rather settle for what we purchased. We make excuses to convince ourselves that we made the right decision. Please, ask your partner’s opinion. If the quality of the product does not suit your standards, consider returning it within the company’s terms. Retailers often offer 7 to 30 days return policy. Ask for it!

Do not put yourself into harms way. Accomplish big financial decisions as a team and discuss your spending habits with your partner. You are in this ride together!

THE POSSIBILITY OF SHARING A BANK ACCOUNT

As you build a relationship on mutual trust and honesty, it is normal to gravitate towards having a joint account. Trusting your partner with significant decisions, such as choosing your own home, can pave the way for having deeper understanding to each other’s finances. Some couples experience difficulties when it comes to spending habits and financial priorities. This is why some opt to have a joint account, while others do not.

Finding a mutual ground begins with having the same financial goals. Your goals can vary from paying off your household bills or going to an expensive honeymoon. Set up a joint account for financial goals that you both want to accomplish. You may put your household fund here too.

Then, have concrete rules such as how much each of you will contribute each month and where each portion of your funds will go. Consider having individual bank accounts too. These individual accounts will enable you to treat yourselves or your partner without affecting the household fund. To keep things transparent, you may communicate about your spending habits bi-weekly or every month. Stay on track when it comes to each other’s expenses and goals. Help each other out!

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You may also discuss if you can make cutbacks or if switching banks are necessary. To put it in simpler terms, you are merging two companies when you have a joint account. Everyone has an equal say and contribution to this shared account. So, respect each other’s views and practice compromise to minimize potential disputes.

Boost Your Savings With These Lifestyle Changes

Much of the world has been given a small portion due to the grave effects of the pandemic. Sickness, unemployment, budget cuts, and other painful transitions can give us a taste of poverty. Being in this situation allows to take a closer look at our finances.

How is your financial health? Before anything else, evaluate your financial objectives and assess your spending and saving patterns. Ask yourself why you want to save and what your priorities are. This is to ensure that you know which path to take to reach your desired goals. Afterwards, review your cashflow and create an allocation plan. Move any excess funds to a bank account to help facilitate discipline against impulsive spending. Choose a bank with a high interest rate.

Other lifestyle changes include automating your finances, shopping smartly in supermarkets, switching to generic products, discussing about household finances, and going on a cash-only diet. Let us start with automating your finances.

Most bills can be paid online and many establishments have the option of setting up automatic payments. Try automating consistent payments for fixed costs such as your telecom, insurance, Netlix, or Spotify bill. This way, you will not miss a billing statement and will not incur late fees. You may also apply automation to your credit-card bills, if you want smoother transactions.

Secondly, you must use savvy shopping strategies in the supermarket such as using a coupon. Coupons can help you save a lot, especially when you are buying in bulk. Grocery tricks such as employing the numbers game – wherein they will put an irrational price of “S$3.99 or S$3.96” (instead of S$4) can trick your mind into saving more. Watch out for this!

If you are grocery shopping, it is best to shop on a full stomach. Shopping on an empty stomach may cost you a lot. Your feelings of hunger can make everything enticing, including junk food and other unnecessary items. Try eating a healthy snack before heading to the store. Your wallet and your tummy will thank you for that.

Thirdly, you may switch to generic products whenever possible. My sister and I recently went to the pharmacy to pick up some antibiotics. Interestingly, the generic brand was three times cheaper than the branded ones. You have to weigh your options and consider generic products for items such as toiletries and pet supplies. What is important to you? What are you willing to sacrifice? Only you can answer these questions.

Fourthly, you must discuss your finances with your spouse or partner. Knowing each other’s spending patterns and financial plans can help you set a life of success. Dealing with financial issues is something that most couples have to do. However, you have to do it as a team. Get comfortable talking about money, because a single conversation will not suffice. Reduce your electric and water bills by conserving water and switching off the lights when not in use. Use money-saving household cleaning hacks that enable you to make your own cleaning products.

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Lastly, you may go on a cash-only diet. This entails that you will ditch you plastic cards for a month or a certain period. It takes a lot of self-control and patience. Buy things that can only be bought through your allocated cash. When your cash runs out, you will be out of funds until your next scheduled withdrawal. Spend and plan wisely!

Unhealthy Spending Habits To Kick To The Curb

How you spend your dollar is just as important to your financial health as your decision to save or to pay for debt. Savvy spending habits keep you from overspending on an item or a service. Nobody needs a stack of infomercial items paid for by impulse buying.

Spending smartly by kicking your bad habits to the curb allows your dollar to go further. Lead a resolute year by leaving these spending habits in 2019! A better 2020 is up ahead.

ADDITIONAL ATM FEES

I am guilty of paying for out-of-network ATM fees at the expense of my convenience. I withdraw money from other banking institutions from time to time as it is more favorable proximity-wise. The service fee may be minimal, but it adds up. A good solution is to open up an account at a bank that is more favorable to where you live in or where you work at.

SPENDING MONEY YOU DO NOT HAVE

Many Singaporeans are guilty of spending money that they do not have. How is this so? They spend money through taking loans, cash advances, or credit cards. Spending money you have yet to earn creates a pile of debt for year 2020. It will continue to grow, if you do not fully repay your debt each month.

Image Credits: pixabay.com

Solve this bad habit by cutting down your expenses and relying on your debit card or income to pay for your essentials and wants. Prioritize your needs first.

BOTTLED WATER EXPENSE

Speaking of expenses that pile up, you must look into your bottled water expenses. Water is a necessity, which we cannot escape from. Your daily water consumption can cost you more than S$1,000 per year. Reduce this number by drinking from the just-as-healthy tap water from the tap. In the long run, a little savings goes a long way.

CREATING MORE DEBT

Using debt to pay off your debt is not healthy. You are lying to yourself when you think that you are solving your problems by paying your initial debts with other cards. You are simply shuffling your debt around and incurring more interest in the process.

Using debt to “pay off” debt can only be beneficial if you can transfer a balance from a high-interest rate credit card to a lower limit one. Be careful when you do this. Transferring balance to take advantage of a good rate is different from continually dodging your credit card payments.

LIVING WITHOUT A TRACKER

Last year, I refrained from using a money tracking app. I lived without a financial tracker to see how my finances will be affected. Interestingly, I spent more within the year than I ever did in the past couple of years. Keeping up with your expenses is a healthy way to ensure your financial health.

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You can either whip out a ledger or download a money tracking app. Start using a budget tool such as Mint or Spendee to stay on top of your spending habits and to eliminate unnecessary expenses.

Sources: 1 & 2

6 Helpful Tips To Put A Halt On Impulsive Purchases

As you dig thru the pile of the items that you regret purchasing, you realize that you have one recurring problem. You keep on engaging on impulse purchases! Your credit cards do not seem to help you either. Instead, it invites you to shop more as if it calls out your name.

How can you reduce this tendency to shop without forethought? Well, start by planning ahead.

#1: IT PAYS TO PLAN AHEAD

When it comes to eliminating your unwanted expenses, it pays to plan ahead. Make a list of all the items that you need to purchase before shopping. Make it a habit to plan for upcoming occasions, birthdays, and other large purchases.

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Equipping yourself with this list as you shop around ensures that your purchases are more deliberate and less spontaneous. Furthermore, you may anticipate the upcoming clearance sales and other promotions.

#2: PINPOINT YOUR TRIGGERS

Take control over your shopping habits by monitoring your urges. Using a piece of paper or your handphone’s notes, mark each time you experience the urge to purchase. Describe the situation and the feelings attached to it. This helps you to increase your awareness while you shop.

Be aware of the different symptoms such as faster heart rate or a change in breathing. Becoming more aware of the changes in your body and mind can help you control the urge.

#3: IT TAKES 30 DAYS

You heard about contemplating for 24 hours before committing to a purchase. However, have you heard about the 30-day waiting period? Yes! You read that right. Stick your wish-list on your refrigerator and put a date to each item. You must wait for a month before making a purchase.

The mechanics may sound easy, but it takes a lot of patience and self-control to overcome the urge at first. These feelings are valid and can fade soon. You will take delight sketching out items off the list! The only exemptions to the 30-day period are groceries and other necessities.

#4: AVOID THE TEMPTATIONS

A surefire-way to reduce your impulse buys is to avoid going to shopping areas or shopping websites. Do not even go to dollar or budget stores as you might get trap in the process.

When purchasing, follow a list religiously. Get out as quickly as you can afterwards. Avoid walking around the shopping center for entertainment and find other ways to stimulate fun.

#5: IT IS ALL ABOUT THE BUDGET

Trimming down your expenses does not mean that you have to take out the fun. Give yourself a “splurge budget” that you can follow thru each month.

Decide whether you are willing to allot a budget for a new clothing item or a fancy restaurant date each month. Whatever it is, ensure that you are willing to spend a discretionary amount every once in a while. Take it as a way to reward yourself for straightening your finances. It is healthier that way!

#6: DO NOT MIX WITH THE WRONG CROWD

Surrounding yourself with people who are addicted to retail therapy may not be the best idea. It is easy to get out of track when your shopping buddies convince you that all the outfits you have tried looks great!

Image Credits: pixabay.comIf you want to shop with your friends, do it with people who have savvy spending habit. This way, you will be able to tell spend your money in a frugal manner.

Sources: 1 & 2

Have a conversation about their spending habits

Set a budget that you both can agree on

Understand their spending triggers

Manage your expectations

Build up your savings

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