photo credit: LabyrinthX
Living frugally can be pretty hard, sometimes. It requires a lot of self-discipline and determination to withstand all of the temptation you’ll face each time you shop, hang out with friends, or prepare meals. Being frugal becomes even harder, however, when your spouse isn’t on the same page as you are on, financially speaking.
Imagine for a moment that you’ve scrimped and saved to pay down your credit card debt, only to find that your spouse has splurged on a new television. That’s an argument just waiting to be had. You’re likely to be frustrated that all of your sacrifice has been for naught. And your spouse may feel like you’re trying to make him make sacrifices that aren’t necessary.
The only way to make a situation like this work for you is to find some common ground. Sit down with your spouse and have a really down-to-Earth talk about what you can agree on. You may start by explaining why you feel that your family should live more frivolously. Who knows; you may sway him or her to your way of thinking.
If your spouse is standing firm on his less than frugal ground, you can still find a way to get through this tough spot. Setting a few rules may help you avoid any conflicts in the future. Here are a few examples that will help you get your conversation started:
Split up different types of spending and assign the responsibility for those types between you. Agree to give your spouse full-rein over his spending area and accept full responsibility for your own. You can exercise your frugality to your heart’s content in your own responsibilities.
Agree to a spending limit for a single member of the household. Simply put, you and your spouse agree not to spend more than the agreed upon without consulting the other one first. The limit can be as high or low as you both want, as long as it makes sense to your family finances.
Make a few savings goals. Agree to earmark your savings for specific items like a vacation, debt reduction, or whatever else your family needs.
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