How to Manage Finance After Marriage: Smart Tips for Couple
How to manage finance after marriage can help you to have a stable and healthy finances, figure out the ways you should do it.
How to manage finance after marriage wisely so that there is no division or conflict in the household? You can learn financial management from anywhere even after marriage so that there is a sense of security and stability. Here are some tips that can help you manage your finances and achieve common goals.
5 Tips on How to Manage Finance After Marriage
1. Talk About Finances Openly
Husband and wife need to be open with each other about finances by discussing income, savings, and debt. It is also important to understand each other’s lifestyles in order to manage finances more appropriately. Make a joint agreement on financial goals, make sure there is one vision and mission.
By knowing your partner’s debt, you know what to do in managing money to avoid mistakes in spending. For example, prioritizing debt payments and installments before saving for other things that are not so important. The way each partner spends money is also different plus priorities that must be aligned.
2. Combine Finances
Not all couples are willing to combine their finances, so this needs to be discussed openly from the start. There’s nothing wrong with considering opening a joint account for shared spending and savings if it’s desired by the couple. Having a joint account doesn’t mean you no longer need a personal account because you can still have one.
How to manage finances as a couple is not easy, but you can separate your joint and personal accounts. A joint account is for household needs and a personal account can be used for personal needs. You need to be more flexible about this so that any expenses do not become a burden.
3. Create a Monthly Budget
One of the basics of healthy financial management is having a transparent and chronological monthly budget. This method is not only intended to control finances or prevent excessive spending on unimportant things. A monthly budget also helps you achieve financial goals, such as saving for a house, children’s education, and investment.
A monthly budget also helps you more easily evaluate income and expenses so that they remain stable and balanced. From here, you also learn to determine priorities, such as spending on needs or wants. A clear budget is certainly also good for mental health because you avoid unnecessary stress.
4. Prepare Emergency Funds and Insurance
How to manage finance after marriage as a newly married couple can also be started by preparing emergency funds. Set aside a few percent of your income for emergency fund savings that can be used in urgent situations. Ideally, emergency funds are 3-6 months of living expenses and you also need insurance to ensure peace of mind.
5. Plan Investments
If your finances as a couple are in a strong and healthy condition, set aside some for investment. Choose a safe investment instrument with low risk but good returns so you don’t get stressed. Adjust the selection of instruments to your investment goals, such as for children’s education, retirement, or others.
How to manage finance after marriage can prevent you from a wasteful lifestyle and be wiser in using money. In addition, you will also be more prepared to face emergency situations if your finances are healthy. Family finances will also grow better if managed together openly.