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!
Love the idea of a line-item for marriage! If it were in my budget, then I’d feel more entitled to prioritize date nights for sure.
Dana
Thanks for your comment! We all know we need date nights…actually doing it is another story sometimes! Good luck!
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.
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!
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.
Ceemee
I agree, making time and having money to spend on date nights is a challenge for sure.
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!
Miriam
Thanks for your comments! I can imagine date nights are tough in a family of 5 – wow!