HOW TO MAKE YOUR PARTNER YOUR FINANCIAL PARTNER

By John Ingrisano

How to Become a Team

By John Ingrisano

Director, Family Finance Conference Center

[The following is taken from The Back to Basics Book of Money: A Couple’s Guide to Financial Peace, by John Ingrisano.  It is based on Wealth Builder # 2 from the Workbook.  For more information, click on the title above.]

Working as a Team

Turning your partner into your financial partner is really very easy and simple.  This project you are about to begin is a habit-building exercise that you can and should continue for the rest of your lives.  It involves two things:

1. Blocking out several times a week to meet to discuss your finances with your spouse.

1. Learning how to work as a team on an ongoing basis.

If you are married or have a significant other, we strongly recommend that you read this book, The Back to Basics Book of Money: A Couple’s Guide to Financial Peace, out loud together, commenting and sharing your thoughts and opinions.  If time is a challenge, one of you can read while the other cooks dinner or cleans up the kitchen after a meal.

Or wait until the children are in bed and the dog is snoozing at your feet.  Turn off the television and try to avoid interruptions.  If possible, set aside some time (even just 30 to 60 minutes) every day several days each week.  (One successful strategy is to block out an hour before a favorite television program.  Devote that hour to building up your money management skills, followed by an opportunity to kick back and relax together in front of the television.)  Remember, learning how to build financial peace and stability is not an afterthought.  It is a significant and potentially challenging undertaking. Take it seriously.

If your partner is not interested in becoming deeply involved in this process, but is at least willing to listen and possibly make changes, provide him or her with summaries and discuss the ideas, steps and strategies and new skills you are learning each week.

The first step, if you haven’t already done so, is to meet with your other half and review the opening pages of The Back to Basics Book of Money: A Couple’s Guide to Financial Peace, Go through the book together.  Then print out and sign the pledge below.

So, work together, as partners. This is how financially stable couples build wealth. Start today.

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