I was saddled with the consequences of my husband’s debt, even though I’d had nothing to do with itNot knowing what your partner’s finances are like and how they spend can put you in a difficult position , the reality show where people get engaged sight unseen, an important issue has been raised that is rarely given a platform:
Money is as essential a conversation as discussing children and marriage, but is seen to be unromantic, awkward and clinical. Yet some of the biggest problems in a relationship can stem from money, whether that’s having different approaches to spending and saving, disparities in wealth, and something I can personally relate to: when a partner hides the amount of
For women, this is a particular problem because we are socially conditioned to defer financial knowledge to men. In fact, women, on the whole, are more on top of their daily budgeting than men and are less impulsive with their spending, according to oneThe lack of confidence women feel around financial planning
While that is an extreme situation, it is very important that women know what they are getting into when it comes to financial situations in a relationship. Part of why I feel so strongly that women must not fall into the trap of thinking it’s a win if a man pays for things is because Rob’s initial preference of paying for holidays and dinners meant that when it came to questioning him about certain things I thought were amiss, I didn’t feel as if I could ask him about it.