There are many forms of intimacy; it’s not just a sexual thing. One of those types of intimacy is financial intimacy.
What is it?
This is a form of intimacy that involves you and your partner having a shared ground in regards to your finances. When the two of you save up for a vacation, that’s financial intimacy. If you are honest about how much money you have, that is financial intimacy.
Finances are an important aspect of any relationship. One of the major reasons why people get a divorce is because of financial issues. In a time of the pandemic, where many of us are unemployed or have our salaries slashed, having good financial intimacy is more important than ever.
How can one enhance their financial intimacy in a pandemic? Let’s look at some ways.
Be Honest About Your Fears
As mentioned, one aspect of financial intimacy is being honest about finances. If you’re married or in a long-term relationship, it’s important that you be honest about your fears. Listen to your spouse’s problems and express your own. Don’t feel like you’re being overdramatic with your fears; it’s a valid time to express your fears, even if they may be hyperbolic.
Once this happens, the next step in achieving good financial intimacy tends to happen.
Plan!
Good couples love to make plans together. When it comes to finances, one example is planning for a vacation. However, in the age of COVID-19, that may not be as likely, especially if you have less money or the place you want to visit is further away.
When making a plan, think about your budget. How much money can you spend on things that make you entertained? What should you slash? It’s definitely limiting, but sitting down with your spouse monthly to figure out what you’re going to spend your money on can increase your financial intimacy. The two of you are working together as a team in order to have financial peace of mind. If one person is a saver and the other is a spender, planning a budget can allow the two of you to come together in solidarity, too.
Avoid Going Into More Debt
During a pandemic, it’s tempting to take out a loan or max out your credit card, but one should avoid giving in to the temptation.
Having more debt can lead to more stress. More stress means that the two of you are going to argue more. For example, you may blame your spouse for taking on too much debt, and this can have a negative impact on your marriage.
Don’t do this! See if your budget will allow for the basic needs. If you have some emergency money, try using that. You can work towards paying off any debt you have currently, but avoid piling it on if you can.
Of course, there are some cases where you have no other option. At that point, it’s important you get together and have a smart way to pay it off. You may be able to decrease your debt by paying off the smaller debts first, then working your way up.
It’s Okay to Have Dreams Still
During a pandemic, you may believe that talking about buying a house or visiting your dream location is a little tasteless. However, it does not have to be. When you are in a lockdown, it’s still ideal to think about the future and build your dreams up. Think about what country you want to visit when this is all over. Look at what places are the least impacted and think about moving to there. Obviously, it will take more time, but that’s okay. Many dreams do not come true overnight.
Seek Help If You Must
In order to be financially intimate, another way to do so is to admit when you need help. If the two of you are arguing about finances day and night or you can’t get your spending partner to save, then it’s important that you speak to a financial counselor.
In many cases, you may have to spend some money to talk to one, but the advice you get from them can save you much more money in the long run. A counselor won’t be your accountant but will tell you ways to come to an agreement and to avoid the temptation of spending excessively.
Intimacy is Complex
With that said, financial intimacy is just one part of the relationship. If you want to have a happy and healthy relationship, it’s important that you have all parts of intimacy going strong. If you want to learn more about intimacy and everything that surrounds it, you can click on the following link below if you want any information.
https://www.regain.us/advice/intimacy/
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