The Perfect Money Date
What is the Perfect Money Date?
Alright, so lets cut right to the chase. Time is precious, and you are wondering why would I ever spend time every month talking to my significant other about money? We know what we know, and this sort of conversation always leads to a fight. Why would I go and seek out a fight? I will tell you why you need the perfect money dates! When you schedule it, plan it, and make it fun, it no longer becomes a fight, it becomes an actual fun part of your lives. What if I could tell you that if you commit to a money date every month, for 6 straight months, your marriage will not only be marginally better, it will be thriving?
How Do I Do This?
I will be honest here. Marriage Money Plan was created because my wife and I had a need. We both entered our marriage well off from our careers, and had clear plans for support and how we handled money. But guess what? We never had the official talk of how we are going to handle OUR money. We both were handling our own money for 10 years before we met, and although we had plans, and we talked, there was not a clear plan on how we would talk and plan our lives together. Again with the honesty, but my wife and I manage our money in DRASTICALLY different ways! We both save, we are both frugal, but the big difference is that I was a finance major and brainwashed about the difference between compounding for 20 years at 1.7% vs 1.9% meaning a big difference!! We are closing in on our 5 year anniversary and let me tell you, there are about 5,723 other things that are more important in our lives and relationship than .2%!
That is one of the best things about marriage, you tend to pick up the best qualities from each other and combine to form the power couple within.
Money Date Tips
Okay, here are a few tips for the perfect Money date.
- What do you and your wife like to do together? Wine? Beer? Anything else? This is a requirement!!!! If you and your partner don’t partake, find another way to connect with each other during your monthly money date.
- Establish a common language. Trust me on this one. If you talk in acronyms and your partner doesn't, that is a big issue! If you find yourselves not connecting with each other, write down the terms you are using with each other, and create your own money date dictionary.
- Schedule it in advance and get buy-in from both partners. Do not spring the idea and attempt to hold your first conversation immediately.
- Complete the pre-money date discussion sheet
- Remember to keep calm, and keep the agenda and topics short for your first time.
- As you hold more and more dates, you will find your rhythm and understand what works for you and your partner.
