It shouldn’t come as a surprise that money disputes are one of the leading causes of divorce. Unfortunately, and realistically, love only goes so far in a relationship. Learning to manage disagreements about money with your partner can be awkward and difficult, but it is extremely important if you want your relationship to be successful. Take a look at some very helpful tips from Quizzle for learning to compromise and handle financial disagreements:

• Set Some Ground Rules: before you get into serious debates about finances, be sure to set some ground rules for discussions. Here are some examples:
  • No shouting.
  • Avoid personal attacks.
  • Try to use “I” statements as much as possible.
  • Take a break if things get heated. Come back to the discussion when you’ve both cooled down.
• Make Sure You Are Both “In the Know”: it’s alright if one partner is more in charge of finances than the other, but both parties should always be aware of what money is coming in and where it is going. When one person isn’t aware of the big picture, it can cause serious problems down the road.
• Get the New Plan Down on Paper: when you make a mutual decisions, write it down and be sure that you are both ok with what appears on paper (or the computer screen). Include financial goals as well as a household budget.
• Talk to a Financial Advisor Together: a 3rd party who happens to be an expert on financial planning can really come in handy when you just can’t agree with your partner. Find a professional who can help you create goals and guide you to the correct budget. They can help both of you put things into perspective and make good money decisions as a couple.

For more great advice, check out Quizzle’s Managing Money Disagreements in Your Relationship.