Conversations for Couples: The Money Date

In this final installment of my Conversations for Couples series, let’s discuss the money date. The money date is the critical skill the two of you will develop so that you can maintain and build your entire financial lives together. You’ve even already had quite a few money dates to talk about everything so far in this series alone without even knowing it.

The money date is a designated time at a specified frequency for the two of you to talk about anything money-related with each other. What you talk about can vary each time as your needs and goals change. To start, you can build on the foundation you’ve just worked hard to create through the previous conversations and exercises.

For example, one couple’s money dates might look like thirty minutes every Sunday evening as they are getting ready for the week. Their topics might range from checking on their joint spending month-to-date to opening financial accounts for their newborn-to-be to showing off the new joint brokerage account one partner just opened for the two of them.

Another couple’s money dates might look like one hour every month on a Wednesday wine night and focus more on high-level goals like a new job opportunity with a significant income change (in either direction) or looking up house options in different areas to compare cost of living or thinking about what cash flow changes post-kids might look like too.

What you discuss can change every time as your needs change. It’s just important that you both treat it as a serious meeting and come prepared with an agenda that you both know going into it. Over time these mini money conversations will build your relationship both with each other and with money to use for your goals.

Again, this is a critical piece of maintaining all of the good money habits you build as a couple. Plan to experiment with different time limits, settings, topics, discussion rules, and frequencies so that you can get it right for the two of you. Feel free to experiment with different strategies that sound worth it to you. Calendar your money dates in your phone or app so both partners can see the next upcoming money date.

Looking for more financial advice? Check out what services and programs Momentum offers or schedule a free intro chat with Sarah!