Money and Marriage

I remember buying our son a chocolate bar when he was about 5. He reminded me to bring home the receipt for mom.

He knew then we tracked our spending. All our spending. That he reminded me to bring home the receipt took me by surprise. It’s amazing what kids pick up on.

There wasn’t her money and my money. There was just money. If we didn’t know what each other spent, we wouldn’t know what was left.

To add, our son also knew that we didn’t spend anything where the other wasn’t aware of the expenditure in advance. No secret buying. Joint decision making.

Apart from the lessons our son took away with this, we have forever had trust in our relationship. We are transparent with each other.

Red flags refer to behavior that signals there could be bigger problems ahead in a relationship.

Hiding money, spending unilaterally, or controlling spending of another can all be red flags.

Sure there can be a division of labour’s in terms of who may keep track, but when the information is shared, both can plan jointly.

Not a guarantee, but relationships with joint decision making and financial transparency and equity, tend to be more mutually successful.

---

Are you following me on Facebook yet? If not, you are missing many more posts!

I am Gary Direnfeld and I am a social worker. Check out all my services and then call me if you need help with a personal issue, mental health concern, child behavior or relationship, divorce or separation issue or even help growing your practice. I am available in person and by video conferencing.

Gary Direnfeld, MSW, RSW

gary@yoursocialworker.com
www.yoursocialworker.com for counseling and support

www.garydirenfeld.com – to build your successful practice

Gary Direnfeld is a social worker. Courts in Ontario, Canada, consider him an expert in social work, marital and family therapy, child development, parent-child relations and custody and access matters. Gary is the host of the TV reality show, Newlywed, Nearly Dead, former parenting columnist for the Hamilton Spectator and author of Marriage Rescue: Overcoming the ten deadly sins in failing relationships. Gary maintains a private practice in Georgina Ontario, providing a range of services for people in distress. He speaks at conferences and workshops throughout North America. He consults to mental health professionals as well as to mediators and collaborative law professionals about good practice as well as building their practice.