Do you and your spouse fight about money? You’re not alone. Anecdotal evidence and scientific studies both reveal the same thing – that roughly half of couples argue about money and spending, and if the couple is in debt or experiencing financial problems the arguments are generally worse.

While it’s common for partners to argue about spending habits — especially when one is a spender and the other is a saver — there are also plenty of fights about who should pay for what within a marriage, and others that start with one partner trying to hide either an expense or a secret stash of cash. Unfortunately, for couples who are unable to resolve these issues, the end result is often divorce. In fact, money comes second only to infidelity when it comes to reasons that couples end up splitting.

If your personal situation is starting to feel untenable and you’re wondering whether your marriage can survive, you might want to consider some of the statistics that have been collected on divorce trends. A survey by financial firm TD Ameritrade found that 29% of baby boomers blamed money arguments for their divorces, and among Gen Xers, that statistic rose to 41%.  Arguing about money early in your relationship is a particularly big vulnerability, but so too is avoiding money discussions.

It is important for couples who want to preserve their relationship to learn how to communicate about their finances, especially if they are facing stress and anxiety over high levels of debt. The more a couple owes, the more important it is that they discuss the situation on a regular basis and address the issue as a team. Partners who can work together to identify their strengths and weaknesses, create a budget and savings plan and eliminate their debt are likely to deepen their trust in one another and to grow even stronger. But those who turn to accusations, hiding expenses, and fighting are far more likely to find their stress and anxiety levels growing, and their sense of distrust or discontent eventually leading them to end their marriage.

If your financial troubles have led to fights with your spouse and you are considering divorce, our experienced attorneys can help. Contact us today to set up a time to meet and discuss your situation.

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