Some rules for financial engagement

They participated in the 21-day financial fast I created and took to heart Day 10: Marrying Your Money. So now, posted on their refrigerator is a list of 10 rules to help them manage their money together.

There are a number of surveys commissioned by financial companies leading up to Valentines Day that aim to emphasize the need for couples to talk more about money. The results show that most people want mates who are fiscally responsible. But despite what people say they want, many arent doing what it takes to prevent relationship rifts that start over financial disagreements.

In one survey sponsored by Citi, 69 percent of participants said they avoid talking about money to prevent a dispute. Although an overwhelming majority of couples said they generally consult each other before spending more than a certain amount about $653 on average 56 percent admitted that they had in fact made a major purchase without discussing it with their partner.

The Chesleys say they too had their share of disagreements over purchases that were not planned or discussed together.

We didnt really have any rules on spending, Judi said. It was pretty much, if I see it, I get it. The only thing we did was make sure purchases didnt make the checking account bounce.

Now the couple follows rules to stay on the same financial page. They took the first few from my book The 21 Day Financial Fast, came up with their own dollar amounts, and then created several more rules to guide them in their spending. Heres what is posted on their refrigerator:

Rule No. 1: Agree that neither of you can make a purchase above $75 without first consulting the other.

Rule No. 2: Agree that there will be no secret bank accounts, no earnings that are not disclosed, no undisclosed loans, and no secret credit cards. (In the Citi survey, 24 percent of people in a relationship said that they have an account they dont reveal to their significant other. Another quarter of the survey respondents said they would never share certain financial information such as their account balances or how much they spend every month.)

Rule No. 3: It should take two Yeses for any major financial decision. That means if one of you disagrees with a purchase or an investment, it wont happen.

Rule No. 4: Join all your finances together.

Rule No. 5: Budget will be strictly adhered to, except in cases of emergency.

Rule No. 6: Budget will be reviewed at the end of each month.

Rule No. 7: If personal money ($75 each per month) has been spent, it is spent. There will be no arguing, pouting, name-calling, or fighting.

Rule No. 8: Personal money does not have to be spent in that month and may be carried over. There is no borrowing against future months.

Rule No. 9: A car fund will be established and money no less than $50 placed into it every pay period, to be reviewed after three months.

Rule No. 10: $400 ($200 each) in mad money will be allotted out of bonuses, with the rest going to either long-term needs or savings.

Christopher says the rules have brought civility into their financial talks. Before the rules, we both had a sense of entitlement. I didnt think anything of spending $100 on what I thought I needed.

Judi agrees: The rules make our spending more visible. We dont have to defend our choices anymore because everything is much more in the open.

For some couples, the idea of establishing an allowance may seem a childlike way to bring order in the marriage, but the Chesleys say its brought financial freedom. It allows them to have money they can spend any way they want, no questions asked or justification needed.

Michelle Singletary can be reached at [email protected].

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