WHile this comes up a lot, mainly because we are a young couple trying to get everything together, it really becomes an issue around tax time. I take care of all the financial stuff in our home, bills, investments, etc., but tax time is when I really get the picture of how much more WE could be doing if WE were doing the stuff together. THere are only so many hours in the day and it is difficult to keep tabs on all of it. My husband hates talking about finances. He's gotten better, but it's still a struggle. Any ideas on how to get your partner involved with financial matters without it becoming the biggest stress in your married lives together?

I guess this is a sensitive issue guys?

I don't think it is necessarily a sensitive issue as much as it is one of those things that everyone is sitting back going hmmm...hoe ca I respond?

I think setting goals together might be one way. Make the first goal a small one to snag him. The small, reachable goal just might want him to go for a larger, more difficult one next. You might also make it something HE really would like to see materialize...say like camping equipment he has his eye on...or a new tennis racket...something that will excite him to see the set-aside savings grow....then, graduate to something else...just some thoughts

JawJaw is right...hmmmmm...how does one respond?
I thought about being flip and saying the way we handle it is...Dave makes it and I spend it...it's a 50/50 split and seems to work well enough for us, at least most of the time.

Okay, now that every one is finished laughing...
We have a rule - which ONE of us has only broken once & been caught <g> that neither of us will spend more than $100 without talking it over with the other person. Another thing that helps us with finances is we're together 24/7. It's hard to spend money on impulse buys when we're together all the time. We're fairly simple people but we do live in a big farmhouse and it's expensive to live here. Windows are 9'x3' and in the winter it's difficult to heat. We make choices...we'd reather live here and have high heating bills than live somewhere else and spend money on something else. The animals cost money but I'd rather have them than a newer car. If I want that new car smell, I'll buy one of those new car smell freshners.

I suppose, coming toward the end of my rambling here...it all boils down to choices. Do you and your husband talk about what you want out of life? Do you have goals? Do you have plans? It sounds trite but putting stuff down in black & white will help both of you. It's easier to "see" and make adjustments, changes, etc. when it's in black & white. And, black & white doesn't mean in stone. Get a pencil with an eraser, makes things easier.

Congratulations on starting out. Life is a grand adventure, especially when you are beside someone you love.

Oh gosh...think I misunderstood your question.

Quicken. Dave swears by it.

My husband and I are trying something we call the US fund. It's the money we spend on maintaining US as a couple and the things we're saving for, for Us. We also have the HIS fund and the HER fund for stuff I want and stuff he wants. And there are limits on each for spending, but not on saving.
All those funds come out of what remains after we contribute to the God fund which is our tithes, etc.

It sounds a little complicated, but it's working so far.

With a lot of help from my friend and yours, QUICKEN-Wow what a program.
smile

Thanks everyone for the suggestions. All of them were good ones. I just have to take it a step at a time. I know he just wants me to take care of it, but I feel weird just making the decisions on my own. Maybe I'll get used to it after a while.
I will try to get more involved a little bit at a time. He did say he would go with me to see a financial planner.

I have quicken fro my freelance stuff and never thought about using it for the home, but it would be perfect.

I understand your frustration. My husband is the same way. He rather i make the financial decisions. We talk about it but the ultimate dceision when coming down to paying for it is me. When he wants something...he uses the line "i wish we had some money"...and he says it in such a way that I know hes wanting it real bad. I answer..."how much money do you wish we had"...he would give me a figure and what it is he wants. I just tried to accomodate he wishes. It works with us. Just communicate. Right now our monies is good but it was very stressful when it wasn't so good.

Candice, another thing you have to remember is the difference between men and boys is the price of their toys! I can't take credit for that saying, but it's true.

There was a time when a Matchbox car did the trick. Now it's a sporty new convertible whatever!

Or, a Gameboy, and now it's a whole new computer system with all the whistles and bells!