Money is the lifeblood of any business and it is the singularly most important commodity within our society and this is eloquently demonstrated by virtue of the fact that it can buy us education, good health, property and even our freedom. It should not come as much of a surprise for us then that money can also play an essential role in the progress and health of a marriage, and it should be noted that it is not just the money itself that is of concern but the manner in which it is used.
First off, the spouses may want to retain some degree of personal autonomy and independence and therefore to that extent then, they will have their own personal account. This may prove to be a bone of contention for the other spouse who wants to share everything on an equal basis, and who wants to be able to monitor their partner's spending habits very carefully indeed. The other spouse will no doubt feel rather restricted by this unwarranted level of intrusion in their privacy and may feel resentful at the rather controlling nature of their partner.
As touched upon briefly earlier within the article the attitude that the marriage partners have to the marital resources can also be a flash point. If one spouse is careless with their money, prone to rash and reckless decisions and impulsive purchases then this will create friction between the spouse that is more responsible. The impulsive spouse on their part, will feel aggrieved at the controlling and mean nature of their partner and when both parties are absolutely insistent that they are both right...that is a bona fide recipe for disaster of dreadful proportions.
Money is and can be also wielded as a weapon within the marriage, and this is a common symptom within an abusive relationship whereby the abusive spouse will keep a tight grip on the marital purse strings in order to more effectively control their partner.
Whatever the form in which money troubles manifest themselves within the marriage, it is imperative that the parties take the time and effort to reach some sort of compromise so that they do not get polarized into the positions of one spouse who must keep a baleful eye on the finances and the other who gets to spend indiscriminately. Compromise and communication are the keys to any successful relationship.
