Why should we talk about money? We received many “money messages” as children such as how impolite it was to ask how much someone paid for something or how much money someone made. Unfortunately, there can be severe consequences when money is not talked about. Many couples cite money problems as a factor in divorce. Consumers find they have been taken advantage of when they do not ask for estimates before buying goods and services. And many families are forced to deal with additional stress after the death of a loved one when financial matters were not communicated beforehand.
A great activity to start the money communication is to have a list of questions that both spouses answer. Then share your answers with each other and talk about your money experiences. Some ideas for questions are:
- Who managed the money when you were growing up?
- Did you feel rich or poor as a child?
- What did you worry about regarding money growing up?
- What money issues would cause a fight in your family?
- If you received a $25,000 inheritance, how would you spend it?
- What are your financial habits? Are you a saver, a spender, a worrier, or an avoider when it comes to spending?
- What do you really like to save money for?
- What was the poorest choice you ever made with money?