Budgeting for Your Marriage

What’s in your family’s budget?

  • mortgage/rent
  • groceries
  • cell phone/internet
  • car payment

The important stuff, right?

As I was going through my own budget the other day I realized I was missing an important category.  One that is arguably more important than any of the others: a marriage maintenance budget.

We all know that keeping a marriage/partnership alive and healthy is tough work.  Many of us would also admit that we don’t prioritize our relationships in the way we should.  So I am proposing a solution: make marriage maintenance a line item in your budget. If we set aside money at the beginning of the each year or each month the effect would be two-fold.  One, it would prompt us to take actually spend quality time with our significant other (and not just say we know we should).  Two, it would keep the health of our marriage a top priority in our lives (at least as important as paying the mortgage/rent on time).

What could you do with the money in your marriage maintenance budget?

  • Go to a movie
  • Hire a babysitter
  • Buy tickets to a baseball game
  • Enroll in tennis lessons (together, of course)
  • Buy a steak for a romantic Tuesday night dinner after the kids are in bed

The possibilities are endless  – but will only happen if we plan ahead and make our most important relationships a priority when deciding how to spend our time and money.  Lawyers will assure you, spending a little extra maintaining your marriage each month is a whole lot cheaper than a divorce!

 

9 thoughts on “Budgeting for Your Marriage

    • drstephaniesmith says:

      Dana
      Thanks for your comment! We all know we need date nights…actually doing it is another story sometimes! Good luck!

  1. Daisy says:

    Excellent point. We’ve been having a rough time financially and health-wise, and we’re hanging in there. A date night, even watching a movie at home, might be called for.

    • drstephaniesmith says:

      Daisy
      I think you’re right – setting aside time to watch a grown-up movie can be just as fun as going out. Add a little popcorn or an ice cream sundae and you’ve got yourself a real date!

  2. ceemee says:

    This makes sense, but what if we are going to have a third addition to our brood, have no one to babysit and had to save up for insurance? It’s been so long since my hubby and I have a date without the kids.

  3. Miriam Thompson says:

    Right we are still adjusting to a family of five and date nights are a distant thought. Your suggestion is worth considering because we could get lost in everything else and neglect our relationship. Good post!

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