Money And Relationships

798 Words4 Pages
20Oct11 Money and Relationships "Often, silence is a shield for the shame, guilt and anxiety people feel about their own ways with money(47)." Olivia Mellan, author of Men, Women and Money, explains how money can be an emotional barrier that drives couples apart. When two people become a couple, whether they just live together or get married, they form a new correlation with their money. One person will earn more, inevitably given the upper hand on financial matters. Others will enter into the relationship with debts but are ashamed to mention it. Becoming a joined pair, they are confronted with a new set of financial decisions that might add unnecessary stress to an otherwise healthy companionship. Money is a polarizing factor in relationships, but through communication and financial literacy, the separation can be prevented. Because of lack of knowledge on financial literacy or planning, couples often disagree with each other. Learning the importance of money should start as a young child, but often the opposite is taught. Children are trained not to not aire out dirty laundry and to keep financial matters within the family. Shame is often the root of the problem and is connected to how money was taught in their households. Mellan writes,…show more content…
Mellan agrees, "the boundary and hierarchical differences between men and women lead to clashes around money decision making (50)." Men are likely to take more risks and do not save for unforeseen emergencies. Men use money as a scorecard and can struggle with self-esteem when there are financial problems. Women tend to see money more as a security issue, so they will gravitate toward the rainy-day fund. Because of their need for security, ladies can have a level of fear when there are money problems. Men and women are different in how they view money, and it is largely because they process problems and opportunities from different view
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