You can face many challenges together as a couple. Raising a puppy together, learning to organise your finances, Handling chores so it feels fair. Figuring out who’s turn it is to pick up the dinner bill. But at the end of the day, it all comes down to communication and building a solid foundation together – especially when it comes to finances. They can be a big source of stress, but they don’t have to be. Combining your finances can present opportunities too and help create more financial stability, and here’s how.
Setting a Joint Budget and Financial Goals
When you’re both on the same page about your budget and you can organise your finances, things are much more harmonious. It’s worth sitting down together to talk about income, expenses, debt and whatnot, whether you’re living together or not. It affects more than just domestic life, as it might make date nights or holidays away more difficult. Openness during these chats is key, as you’ll want to align your wants and needs to create a map for your shared financial journey together.
That could be saving for a house, planning your wedding, or even thinking long into the future with retirement together. In fact, academic studies have even shown that married couples who merge finances may even stay happier for longer than those that don’t.
Managing Bills and Everyday Expenses
One low-level stress that can quickly spiral are your day-to-day expenses if not handled properly. If one of you is buying lunch out every day while the other is pulling together a packed lunch, that might become a source of tension.
Keeping a system of shared costs on rent, utility bills, groceries, internet and any other you have can make sure you split them in a way that works for both of you. A joint account that you both pay the same amount into can be a good solution for this. Then, when it comes to renewals on regular bills, shop around for the best broadband deals or energy tariffs so then you can both capitalise on savings.
Building an Emergency Fund Together
Life has a way of throwing you curveballs, regardless of who you are. While they can test relationships, they can also strengthen them through supporting each other. Having an emergency fund you can both fall back on helps remove some of the stress from unexpected things – like your car breaking down or redundancies. Most money experts suggest having enough for 3-6 months of essential expenses set aside to protect your financial wellbeing and reduce worries.
Planning for Major Purchases and Retirement
While your finances right now present the bulk of the organisation, it’s worth looking long term too. Realistically, you’ll be looking to grow old together, and that requires some degree of financial stability. Investments, pensions and more can contribute to a happy retirement.
The more you have in your pension pot, the better quality of retirement you’ll have – so it’s important to plan for this early. For major purchase, like a new house or car, also talk about your expectations so that you both know how much you’ll spend and can actively start saving that much. The same goes for weddings, so that neither person gets caught out.
By taking these steps to organise your finances as a couple, you’re not just managing money – you’re investing in your relationship and future together.