Frequent readers of our blog will know that we’ve been working through Adriane Berg‘s Your Wealth Building Years. Berg is a long time writer on personal finance with a special focus on how financial needs change over the lifespan. She has some interesting thoughts on couples which are worth sharing:
1) Balance is Important: In Berg’s observations two income couples are becoming the norm. Very often in these types of relationships, one person makes more than the other. Because of this, the person who is perceived as breadwinner will usually prevail when a disagreement arises. This can cause resentment.
2) Compromise: Berg feels the way around this is compromise. Where couples are imbalanced financially, a good way out of the problem is the following: first know your own reasons for your money making decisions and second, listening to your partner’s reasons. Finally, the decision about what to do should be based on what’s more sensible and how to minimize the losses, both financial and personal to the relationship. Ultimately, Berg says you’ll have to prioritize, negotiate and reach a compromise to get around the fundamental imbalance.
Food for thought, we hope you won’t have to do this very often.
Best,
James & Miel
Check out Adriane Berg at Powells.com
No Comments yet!