She argues about money
likely, for instance, that you both want the same thing — to be free of debt and have plenty of spare cash.
Communicate freely and honestly. Assess where you are and how each of you have contributed. Be honest. Discuss each of your strengths and weaknesses. The things you are doing right, and doing wrong.
Compromise. Don’t allow past behaviour and events to poison your chance of success. Start afresh and accept that you will both have to agree to do things differently in future. Work as a team – it’s literally in your best interests and you could start by completing a monthly budget planner spread sheet — find out how much it costs to run your lives on a monthly basis. Email me for a free spread sheet (has all the categories and even tots itself up!) Any surpluses you can invest jointly.
ARE you a shopping binger?
Splurging on fun stuff but neglect your bills and fixed costs?
Have more in your wardrobe than in your account?
Well here are a few tips for these challenging times when we all need to review our spending habits:
Redo your annual budget (and then stick to it e.g. €100 clothes does not mean you can spend €200).
Track your discretionary spending (lattes, mags etc).
Give your credit and debit cards a rest and switch to cash for a month (this means you’ll have to think about your purchases).
Set short term financial goals (e.g. your summer holiday, next Christmas).
Choose cheaper entertainment – meet your friends in a coffee shop not a bar!
Only buy what you need – write out a shopping list EVERY time.
Debtors Anonymous meets every Wednesday at 7.30pm in the Dublin Central Mission Methodist church in Lower Abbey Street, Dublin 1 for those who need to talk.