Money Conversations for Married Couples

1. Schedule a money date. You have to have these conversations or you'll end up with bigger money problems down the road. Since it's a difficult subject for you two, you should set aside some quality time during which the whole discussion should be about spending and saving and investing and debt. That conversation can't happen over coffee when you're checking your watch to see if it's time to go to work; it has to be a more meaningful meeting. Do it at a fancy restaurant, order pizza, or take a picnic to a spot where you both feel relaxed. Make it an actual date and then just dive into all the nitty-gritty money talk that's been so hard for you in the past. For even more in-depth money date ideas, check out TheMoneyCouple.com

2. Listen. Discussions about money often end in fights because people feel defensive and then get a little combative. Those feelings become even stronger when someone doesn't feel heard. When you have your money date, make sure you both get a chance to talk. Even if one of you pays all the bills and manages the credit card and is essentially the family accountant, you still need to make sure both parties get equal speaking time. It's usually the person left out of the money decisions who feels the most overwhelmed and really needs to get some stuff off their chest. If money makes your spouse anxious, you have to ask why and really listen to the answer.

3. Make a plan. If finance remains a hot-button issue in your house, your marriage will suffer because of it. There has to be a consistent effort made to get you both on the same page and comfortable with your money relationship. If you don't already know your Money Personalities, go to 5MoneyPersonalities.com and take the free quiz. This will give you a new vocabulary to use when you're discussing the ways you handle your finances. Once you've got the communication part down, you can start making things happen—whether it's paying down debt or saving for a house—together.