Getting into a relationship is all cute and kilig. Your heart flutters at the sight of the person, and you get all those butterflies with every exchange of sweet nothings. It’s like walking on cloud nine—a world full of possibilities and hopes for the future.
But if you truly like to get to know a person beyond sweet words and promises, one of the best things that you can do is to talk about money with that person.
Why You Should Talk about Money with Your Lover
While the Cebuano psyche is all but positive and hopeful, we can’t deny the fact that the narrative changes when it comes to financial aspects. In fact, in some cultures, talking about finances is even more taboo than talking about politics or sex.
Talking about money is surely a daunting task, but more than anything else, it is an important conversation to have. Why? Here are a few reasons why it is important to talk about money early on in your relationship:
For sure, you’ve heard the adage about the inability of money to buy happiness. Sure, but we can definitely agree that money can purchase some of the things that we love or crave—and one way or another, you can experience happiness through them.
Whether we accept it or not, financial matters can have a profound impact on our well-being. Hence, it is essential to understand how your lover manages his or her money. Discussing this early in the relationship can help prevent misunderstandings and conflicts in the future.
As The Guardian puts it: “Money shows up in our lives every step of the way as something that appears, on the surface, like a problem to be solved. But usually, it reveals something deeper about something in our life that needs to change, grow, or shift.” The way your lover (or you) handles money can reveal a lot about values and priorities, including long-term goals.
For example, if your partner prioritizes saving for retirement while you prefer to invest it in experiences, this may lead to disagreements down the road. Understanding each other’s values and goals can truly help build a stronger foundation for the relationship.
Discussing money at an early stage of your relationship can help you plan your future together. Open discussions about expenses, like rent, groceries, and bills, including long-term goals of buying a house, starting a family, and saving for retirement, establish the kind of relationship that you are bound to have in the upcoming years.
Having a partner who’s also financially knowledgeable can help you better understand how money comes and goes—and how you can make the most of it. Say, does your partner know about digital banks and their perks? How about the benefits of getting a credit card? Or that there are short-term financial solutions for people who struggle with bad credit? Yes, like online auto lending solutions!
In the words of Manulife Philippines President and CEO, Ryan Charland: “While it’s positive that Filipinos demonstrate good financial discipline, managing day-to-day spending to avoid falling into debt and having clear plans help you get the most out of your savings in the long run.”
Talking about money requires a certain level of transparency and honesty that can strengthen the bond between partners. By being open about your expenses, savings, income, and plans, you get to build trust and demonstrate that you are willing to take your relationship to a more serious level.
Money Matters: In a Nutshell
Truth be told, talking about money on your first date may be a little off. But as you go along in your relationship, having this kind of conversation is something that you must have, as it can help establish financial goals, avoid conflicts and misunderstandings, and ensure that both partners are on the same page when it comes to managing finances. Being open and honest about money can also strengthen trust and intimacy in the relationship.
If you are in a relationship right now, don’t hesitate to open this topic with your partner. Who knows, this may even spark another kind of interest level between the two of you. Stay open-minded!
