Successful projects are done as a team. The greatest example of a team is a family. The way my family runs is this; I am an equal partner in our marriage. I take responsibility without prejudice when Christina makes a financial mistake; Christina takes responsibility without prejudice when I make a financial mistake (much more frequent!).
We don’t have “his and hers” accounts, we don’t have “his car” or “her car” - we have our accounts, we have our family cars. Do we each drive one more vehicle more than the other? Sure. Do we have a small amount of money Christina may be saving up towards a clothing haul or that I may be saving towards hunting or fishing equipment? Absolutely.
There is no way that people living together, married, but acting as roommates living separate financial lives could do what we've done as a family. It takes pulling together as a team to emotionally manage doing things that look “weird” from the outside, saying “no” a ton, working on financial projects that take a long time, that take a lot of focus.
I’m in complete agreement with Dave Ramsey; money is 80% behaviour and only 20% head knowledge. You need to be in agreement with your spouse on what your direction is financially. You and your spouse could end up talking about selling a car, moving for work opportunities, reducing the grocery budget, decreasing the entertainment budget - for now. You’re living like no one else, so later, you can live and give like no one else.
Marriage is work, but it’s fun work. It’s fun to watch it grow and develop. Last month, Christina and I celebrated seven years of marriage. We were just starting our Total Money Makeover late winter/early spring of 2019 - it’s interesting to think about then vs. now - we’re so secure and we’ve done so much since then!
If you’re married, you’re part of a sacred, God given team with clear instructions outlined for you. Take advantage of the strength of this bond - there’s no limit to what you can do working together.
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