My wife and I a couple of weeks ago had the privelege of teaching a workshop at the Married Couples Retreat is Seaside, Oregon. In summary we shared with the couples four principles for long term financial peace and success in their marriage.
Must maintain a positive mindset and attitude about life first and then about finances.
- What you put into your brain is what comes out. If you feel like you are always broke, you will continue to be broke. How you look at your expenses will propel you to a positive or negative attitude. It is important that we look at our finances as blessings not burdens.
Must have a consistent time for quality communication about finances.
- Consistent communication is no longer a thing of the past when it comes to finances. Couples need to find a time weekly to partner together for continual understanding, planning, and working through the details of their finances.
Must have a plan and a budget.
- Most couples when they think about finances only think about a budget. This is only part of having long term success in your finances. It is important that you have a plan before you even have a budget. Your plan tells you where you are going, your budget is the tool that helps you get your budget accomplished.
Must make sure that you don't over extend your self.
- In today's society of plastic and instant gratification, most couples are over extended. Statistics show that people who use plastic for their purchases spend 20% more on average per month. We believe that using cash is becoming the best tool for those expenses that are variable. Cash is the tool that allows couples to consistently stay in budget.
