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It’s the root of all evil, doesn’t grow on trees and can’t buy you happiness. Like it or not, the sway of money is all pervading and a constant cause of discord and disagreement. Such disputes are more than capable of driving a wedge between otherwise happy couples and, as a result, many people avoid discussing fiscal matters with their partners. Successful couples discuss everything, however, and on a day where the world’s media is rife with stories of impending financial peril, now seems as appropriate a time as any to discuss how talking about and managing your money can play a big part in maintaining a happy and healthy relationship and preventing separation or divorce. The first thing that any couple needs to do is accept disparity in both their incomes and outlooks. In every married couple that I know one spouse earns more than the other. What’s more, one spouse always seems to be an Ebenezer Scrooge-esque miser whilst the other could quite easily squander the national budget of say, Uruguay, on a weekday morning. Nevertheless, these differences should not bring about conflict. If one person earns more than the other, the lesser earning partner needs to ensure that they do not allow their income to determine their sense of self-worth. Many people’s self-esteem is intrinsically linked to their paycheque but such individuals would do well to swallow their pride and remember that their bank balance is by no means the only thing that shapes their contribution to society or their relationship. If an individual has low self-esteem because they are unable to contribute equally to household bills, then they can compensate for this by doing additional tasks around the home. Doing the washing up or a bit of dusting costs nothing, after all, and can help people feel that they are making a stable and useful contribution to the relationship. On the other hand, if an individual earns more than their partner, it would be advisable that they do their best to remain sensitive to the fact that this can affect their confidence and do all they can to remind their partner that they are, in the context of their relationship, equals. Praising a partner for the other things that they bring to the relationship will also go a long way towards helping them to maintain their self-confidence. Before a couple begin cohabitation, it is extremely important that they each sit down with one another, discuss their personal finances in a manner that is completely transparent and then decide who will pay for what. It is extremely important, however, that monetary responsibility is shared. This will allow a sense of equality and will also ensure that one half of the relationship does not feel overburdened. A joint account for household essentials and bills is a good idea, also, but separate accounts for disposable income, coupled with an agreement that each individual is entitled to spend their money in any way they see fit, will prevent unnecessary arguments and potential resentment whilst also ensuring that each individual still maintains a sense of financial independence. Ultimately, maintaining regular, healthy and honest communication with your partner on all matters, not just money, is imperative to the success of a relationship. Ignoring problems in the hope of avoiding an argument is little more than a short term fix and separate or divorce will soon follow.