Keeping a marriage or long term relationship strong requires a lot of effort on the part of both the partners and can be quite hard. And if we add the current financial crisis that is being witnessed on a global scale to the mix, it can turn out to be a disaster for many couples.
Mallika and Tanay have been married for three years, but recently things have not been so great on the home front. She complains that he doesn't spend enough time with her and would rather hang out with his friends, whereas he complains that it's all in her head and what she wants is a husband who does not have a life outside of her. All this was going on for a few months but by and large they were able to sort their differences and stay happy for the most part.
However, the current global financial crisis affected Tanay's business considerably as most of his clientele was from the US. He in turn started asking Mallika to cut down on their monthly expenses and tighten their belts. Now with money issues too coming into the picture, even the littlest of arguments gets out of hand and results into a full blown fight. They were having their problems even before the financial crisis, but where they could deal with their issues rationally before, now that seems impossible.
It is the same case with thousands of couples. Thus, here is some advice that may help you to prevent your marriage from falling apart in the current financial scenario.
Financial Advice To Tide Couples Through The Global Meltdown
- Make saving a habit: You were saving 15% of your salary before this crisis occurred but now you're not saving anything. This all or nothing attitude can really hurt your marriage. Even if you cannot save what you used to every month, at least save something. So, if 15% is not feasible now, save at least 5% of your income each month. It's not so much the amount that you set aside, but more importantly the habit of saving even when the going gets a little tough. The crisis won't last forever and when you're a little flush with cash, you can always up your savings.
- Have a Plan B: With most companies trying to cut costs, the first thing to happen is job cuts. If you should happen to get laid off, it can add tremendous strain on the best of marriages. Thus, while you're working your Plan A, give some thought to what you would do if you happen to lose your current job. Basically, put a Plan B into place. Create your resume, do some research and know what your options are. If the worst does happen, at least you won't be sitting on the couch and complaining (while your spouse goes to work), but will be doing something concrete to make money.
- Don't let romance take a backseat: It's easy to romance your partner when you can spend on lavish dinners, go for romantic holidays, and buy expensive presents. But since all this may not be possible right now, it is easy to let the romance fly out of your marriage. But make sure you don't let that happen. There are ways to connect intimately without spending the big bucks. A nice little candlelight dinner at home, a quite walk with your beloved, romantic picnics in the park, a heart felt love note - all these are ways in which you can express your love without spending too much money. Be creative!
- Keep a record of your spending: Most couples are at a loss of how they can cut down on their expenses as they believe that they don't do any 'faltu kharcha' to begin with. But, if you start tracking your spending by writing down where each buck goes, you'll be amazed to see how much money you spend out of habit that can easily be cut down.
- Don't be afraid to dip into your savings: If things get really bad, you can dip into your savings to tide you over the current financial crisis. But remember that you should do so as a last resort and only if you have no other option left. Also keep in mind that you're going to dip into your nest egg only for expenses that just cannot be avoided. For instance, if you're behind on your home loan payments, if a medical emergency comes up etc. And no, your yearly trip abroad doesn't count!
Most importantly, if you do have to remove money from your savings, be ok about it and know that you’ll put it back when times get better. After all, you were saving for a rainy day right? Well, the rainy day is here!
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